Traditions

Memorial Engraving Inspiration & Meanings

What Are Memorial Engravings?

Personalizing a grave is a meaningful way to pay tribute to a loved one. Beyond customizing a gravestone to have the name and the date of birth and passing, memorial engravings on benches, mausoleums, and niches allow families to add short stories that celebrate the life of their loved ones. If you are pre-planning your burial arrangements, or are looking for inspiration for a loved one, keep reading to learn more about memorial engravings and ideas to consider.

What’s an Epitaph?

An epitaph is a short text placed on headstones or grave markers honoring the deceased person. Some people choose their own epitaphs when they pre-plan their burial arrangements. The phrases often used in an inscription are related to the deceased’s life, their accomplishments, and their personality. An epitaph aims to praise the virtues of the person and remind us of the bond between the living and the dead. At The Gardens, families can choose an epitaph to be placed on a plaque to go with memorial benches or a columbarium glass niche. In addition, families can choose to engrave the marble or granite crypts available in our indoor and outdoor mausoleums.

How to Choose Epitaphs?

When choosing the right epitaph, our funeral specialists recommend to keep them short and simple. Remember you have minimal space, and there are a few things you must include, such as the name and dates. Try to choose timeless phrases, staying away from harsh feelings or other emotions that can cloud your judgment. Another way to find inspiration for your epitaph is to look at literature, poems, and lyrics that speak to your connection with the deceased one.

Ideas for Memorial Engraving

If you’re still unsure as to what to write for a loved one’s epitaph, our funeral specialists have compiled a list of ideas. These phrases are meant to celebrate, commemorate, and cherish the memories of your loved one.

For Loved Ones

When choosing an epitaph for a loved one, you want to find a phrase that speaks to your love and relationship. These are some short phrases to consider when choosing an epitaph for a loved one.

You’ll forever be my person
Love means forever
Love is eternal
Real love stores never have endings
Our love is love forever
Life is not forever. Love is
Our brief partings on Earth will appear one day as nothing beside the joy of eternity together
What we keep in our memory is ours unchanged forever
To live in the hearts of those we love is not to die
I am I, and you are you, whatever we were to each other, that we still are

For Mothers

Engraving your mother’s grave marker can be an emotional moment. A loving quote, a short dedication, a memory, are all possible ideas to engrave your mom’s grave marker.

Home is wherever mom is
Best mom ever
Love you forever and ever
Thank you for loving me
Forever your child
The greatest mother
My mom, my friend
I love you, mom
A mom, a spouse, a friend
No one spread more love in a lifetime

For Fathers

Father’s quotes tend to be shorter and more related to what they loved the most. Some families choose to add quotes from their favorite sports players, for example. Whatever message you choose, here are some ideas to consider.

To our first role model
To the best dad
Nice shot dad
You worked hard so I could succeed, thank you
Always your little boy/girl
Where he leads me, I can safely go
He was one who followed dreams, stars, and ships
Your love will light my way
Those we love don’t go away. They walk beside us every day
His life a beautiful memory, his absence a silent grief

When looking for memorial engraving inspiration, you can always reach out to our funeral counselors to see what they would recommend. Based on the size of the grave and the material you choose to engrave, you can find different messages to celebrate the life of your loved ones.