Monday, January 21, 2013

When Should You Add A Monument To A Loved One's Grave?

In most cases, the final step of laying a loved one to rest is placing a monument on their final resting place. For many, this gives them some sort of closure in knowing that they will always have a physical location to remember them by; for others, this is the hardest part of the whole process because there is something final about the decision. So, when is the right time to add a monument to the grave of your loved one?

Firstly, you should consider the religious customs of your family or of the person who has passed away. Whilst most religions don't actually specify when a monument should be placed on a grave, some (such as Judaism) will specify that a marker must be placed on the location as soon as possible so that others can identify the final resting place. Those of the Jewish faith believe that a monument should be placed on the grave no later than a year after the burial.

Secondly, you should consider the requirements of the cemetery that your loved one has been laid to rest in. Most will actually require a certain amount of time to pass before the monument can be erected, as this will allow the dirt that covers the grave time to settle. If the headstone is placed too early, it will shift and move as the dirt around it settles, even causing the marker to sink into the earth, which will require some attention to rectify.

Thirdly, you should consider your own personal grief and that of your family and friends. The loss of a loved one can be a very painful, stressful and grief-filled time for even the strongest of people; often, those responsible for the burial will put off finalizing the monument until they are able to mentally and emotionally handle the decisions. Some people also decide to wait so that they have time to choose a headstone that really represents their loved on.

Whilst there are a number of considerations that you should take into account when making the decision of when to place a monument on the grave of a loved one, it is ultimately up to you. Once you have decided that it is the right time to place a headstone on the grave, you will need to contact the person in charge of the cemetery to arrange having it erected at an appropriate time. Hopefully you will then feel at peace with the conclusion of the process.

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