Due to the lack of frequent exposure, many people are unfamiliar with many terms used by the funeral industry. For example, people use the words grave markers, headstones, and grave monuments interchangeably. While all three serve the purpose of marking and honoring those who have died, they are not the same things. Here are a few differences between them.
What Are Headstones?
Probably the most common of the three grave site memorials are headstones which are sometimes also referred to as tombstones. These are slabs of stones that sit at the head of the grave that contain information about the deceased. Some of the information displayed about the person includes the following:
- Name
- Date of Birth
- Date of Death
- Signs or Symbols
- Pictures
The headstone may also reveal the person's position within the family such as mother, father, sister, or brother.
Headstones come in numerous styles. Some of these styles include:
- Upright
- Slant
- Beveled
- Bench
- Wing
You can purchase single or double headstones depending on how many graves the stones are covering.
What Are Grave Markers?
Grave markers are smaller, less ornate memorial stones placed on a grave. These stones are most commonly lay flat or flush to the ground. Markers may also be a flat bronze plaque installed on a granite stone.
Grave markers also contain much of the same information that you can find on headstones. Grave markers have become more popular over the last few years due to a couple of reasons.
Cemeteries prefer grave markers due to the ease of maintaining the graves they are on — Because they are flat, they are easy to mow and weed eat around.
Families prefer them due to their reasonable costs — You can purchase grave markers for several hundred dollars versus several thousand for other types of headstones or monuments.
What Are Grave Monuments?
The largest, most ornate markers you can purchase are grave monuments. The very word monument is a form of monumental which means large or big. Most of the time grave monuments are very large three dimension stone structures that are larger than life.
Mausoleums are also often considered grave monuments. These large, ornate structures are designed to hold the remains of the deceased while most other monuments are not.
You can order monuments in any shape but some popular styles seen in cemeteries include the following:
- Angels
- Saints
- Animals
- Soldiers
The size of the monument is only limited by what you want to pay and the rules and regulations of the location where you install it. For more information on grave monuments, contact a professional near you.
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