It's not always easy to realise the emotional benefit that is gained after the funeral by having somewhere to go, a place that you and your family can visit, knowing that your loved one is there. Today, most cemeteries and crematoria are administered by local councils and offer facilities of small graves that can be purchased solely for cremated remains and marked with a headstone. The cremation gardens are of a communal nature.
At the time of making the arrangement for a funeral, it is not always easy or necessary to determine what your future memorial requirements will be. In the case of existing memorials, it will probably be necessary to remove the headstone from the grave prior to the funeral.
When the funeral has taken place it can take some months, depending on the condition of the ground, before the grave will be ready to take the headstone or a new one. During this period of settlement, it is recommended where possible, that the Monumental Masons remove the memorial back to their yard for safe keeping. This also reduces costs in the longer term should the memorial require additional inscriptions.
A memorial is not just a marker erected on a grave or to remind us of the name of your loved one; it is a lasting symbol of remembrance, a tribute to a life now ended and perhaps a final gift to someone dearly loved. Choose a design and material to meet the regulations of the cemetry or churchyard, harmonised with the surroundings and choose a suitable inscription to withstand the weather; remember, perhaps, a possible inscription in matching lettering. When comparing prices, make sure that the size, style of lettering and all fees have been included. Take extreme care and check thoroughly any inscription and spellings prior to the cutting; the layout is usually left up to the stonemason's expertise.