When you're planning your own funeral, there are many details you want to get just right. One of the most important details to consider is the grave marker. Grave markers are used to honor the deceased long after they have passed. Although all grave markers and headstones are unique, there are conventions to follow when choosing the engravings on them. Here are the most common and important details to have engraved on your grave marker.

Identifying Information

One of the primary purposes of a grave marker is to identify the deceased person who rests beneath it. Take a walk through a cemetery, and you will find yourself surrounded by the names of those who have passed on. Beyond a name, grave markers typically list birth and death dates. These dates are among the most important in a person's life, but there may be other dates that you want to include on your grave marker, like a marriage date or a term of public office. Your custom-engraved grave marker is the representation of you that will stand the test of time, so make sure it represents the fullness of the life you lived.

Family Connections

Another important detail to include on your grave marker is your treasured family connections. Many grave markers include a simple list like "sister, daughter, mother, grandmother." Some grave markers offer more information, including the names of those connected to the deceased. If your family connections are very important to you, you may consider detailing them on your grave marker. Listing your significant family members on your grave marker will connect them to you even after your death, providing you and them some comfort. Just make sure you factor in the cost of a large grave marker that will be able to accommodate as much information as you wish to include.

Words of Wisdom

In many ways, a grave marker represents a person's last words to the world. Your grave marker will be read by friends, family members, and strangers. This gives you a unique opportunity to share philosophical or religious wisdom with the generations that follow you. Whether you write your own statement or share a saying or passage that shaped your view of the world, your grave marker will preserve an important part of you: your beliefs. 

To learn more about custom-engraved grave markers and to get advice on laying out the words you wish to have immortalized over your grave, contact grave marker engravers in your area.

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