My name is Evan, and I am a funeral director at a busy funeral home in the Midwestern United States. I have found that many loved ones want to personalize the funeral experience, but they simply don't know how. I am going to outline some ways that you can make a funeral unique to the person you are celebrating. From dramatic readings to favorite music to decorated caskets, the only limit is your imagination when it comes to planning the perfect funeral. I hope your mind will be open to the possibilities the next time you are in the unfortunate situation of having to plan a funeral.
Add Unique Touches to a Funeral
How To Create a Respectful Co-Headstone When One Person Is Deceased
Christina Clarke
For most couples, being buried next to one another is a foregone conclusion. Considering headstones ahead of time can save grief later. When one part of the couple dies, it can be easiest and most cost effective to purchase a two-person headstone. A co-headstone is a good idea for couples who wish to save money and to prepare the grave ahead of time so that loved ones have less funeral planning to do later on. But there can be touchiness when it comes to creating a co-headstone when one person is still living. Here are some ways to create a respectful co-headstone when only one person in the marriage is deceased.
Place the family name at the top of the headstone
The best way to note that the headstone is for two people who are married is to have the family name at the top of the headstone. In the top center, add the last name of the couple when the headstone is being made. The family name makes it clear that the people buried here are related without specifically needing to name two people. Be sure that the headstone that is selected is large enough to be able to host two names and birth and death years, along with the name at the top.
Leave the living person's side blank
It is a good idea to leave the headstone side that belongs to the living person blank. Having to stare at a headstone that has one's name already engraved can be an uneasy feeling for someone. It can cause even more grief when the living spouse is having to bury the person that they love. Do not engrave anything on the side of the person who is still living. It is possible that the living person may have a name change after the death of the spouse. He or she may also decide on a nickname being used instead of a formal name. It is also possible that a child may need to be buried next to a parent if the child dies suddenly, which could change the person on the other side of the headstone entirely.
Allow the living person to choose a quote
Many people who lose a spouse tend to visit their spouse at the cemetery. Underneath the family name, have the person who is still living select a quote. This can be a saying that the couple lived by, or it can be a comforting statement that helps the living spouse deal with the death of his or her spouse. A nice quote is a beautiful way to memorialize a person, even in death.
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