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
Three Steps To Take When Visiting A Grave To Maintain The Headstone
Christina Clarke
If you're about to visit a cemetery to see a grave that you haven't visited for a while, you know that it's a common habit to brush away leaves and other natural debris that may have settled on the headstone. Sometimes, though, you may find something has happened to the headstone. Cemetery grounds crews do their best to monitor the property, but in large cemeteries, there is only so much ground they can literally cover each day, and they likely don't have time to inspect every single grave on a daily basis. You can help keep your relative's headstone in good shape by looking for specific problems that can pop up as the grave gets older.
Trim Grass Borders
You may be thinking that this is obvious—it's just respectful to cut away grass and weeds that are starting to grow over a grave marker or headstone, especially if the marker is one of those flat ones that lies almost flush with the ground. The grounds crew will mow what they can regularly, but it's difficult to mow over flat grave markers or right along the base of upright headstones without damaging them or any gifts or flowers that loved ones leave behind.
That means you might see some overgrown grass around the stone. Trimming this away is about more than just respect; letting the grass get unruly and overgrown also encourages pests to hide in those tufts. That can not only make a graveside visit visually unpleasant, but it can also create a health hazard if the pests are ones that bite humans.
Check for Crumbling or Corrosion
New headstones shouldn't be corroding already, but do check out the marker for signs of damage from lawn mowers or from the effect of weather on defective materials. No matter the age or material of the marker, though, report any crumbling, scratches, rust, or other problems. The cemetery may be able to replace newer headstones that are defective and preserve older markers that are simply decaying from age.
Check the Soil Condition
When graves are first filled in, the workers try to tamp down the soil to ensure that there is a level walking surface for people moving throughout the property. However, that soil can still continue to settle over the next few months, creating uneven ground that can trip people and add to erosion problems in rainy weather. Watering the grass around the grave can also create softer soil that settles. That can make the headstone lean a bit or even sink down into the ground.
Cemetery administrators will appreciate finding out about these issues as keeping the graves in good shape can help soothe mourners who visit the cemetery. While these steps may seem small, every little bit helps, and they keep the headstone on your loved one's grave looking well cared for. For more information, contact companies like Pemi-Baker Memorials.
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