When a loved one passes, the headstone provides a loving and tangible way to honor and capture the spirit of the person we’ve lost. While names and birth/death dates etched in stone remain important, the headstone provides one last chance to highlight the vibrant personality behind them. To do this, some thoughtful creativity is required when designing this final tribute that’s sure to outlast us all.
There are impactful ways you can work with stonemasons to have the headstone reflect who your loved one genuinely was – the quirks that made them laugh, the passions that gave their life color, and the symbolic representations that meant the most. From customized epitaphs to QR codes, here are four unique ways you can include your loved one’s essence and life spirit within their headstone.
1. Personally Select the Perfect Epitaph
An epitaph is a short inscription carved on the headstone that sums up the personality of your loved one. When choosing an epitaph, think about your family member’s defining qualities, beliefs, interests, or even a quote that embodies their spirit. For example, for someone who loved the outdoors, you could choose “Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.” Or, for a teacher, “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” Let the epitaph reflect what made them special.
2. Incorporate a Meaningful Image or Symbol
Etching a symbol or image on the headstone that holds significance for your loved one is a touching way to celebrate their personality. This could be anything from their favorite flower or animal to a representation of a hobby like sailing or baking. If they loved the sea, a lighthouse or anchor engraving can symbolize that connection. Or if they were always working on art projects, etched paint palettes or a pencil can reflect their creative spirit. Choose an image or more than one that tells the story of who they were.
3. Select a Unique Headstone
The shape and color of the headstone itself can also reflect aspects of a loved one’s personality. If they were eccentric, choosing a funky, asymmetrically-shaped headstone shows they liked to stand out. Or if their favorite color was bright purple, why not get a vivid purple headstone? Flowers that bloom in their favorite color can also be engraved. This can demonstrate they lived life colorful and vibrantly in their own way.
4. Add a QR Code to Link to a Memorial Website
Memorial websites with photos, stories, and more details on your loved one’s full, rich life have become more popular. Incorporating a QR code on the headstone that links directly to such a tailored memorial site is a meaningful way for cemetery visitors to immediately access this content and get an interactive picture of who this person was. It allows their buoyant personality, in all its facets, to truly live on and be discovered by those stopping to pay respects. The memorial site itself can also be designed to capture the uniqueness of their spirit.
With heartfelt thought, love, and creativity as your guide, you can design a headstone that genuinely reflects the details, passions, and personality that made your cherished loved one who they were. Their final resting place can tell their story and share their vibrancy with the world. Any one or a combination of these personalization ideas will help craft a meaningful, memorable tribute.
