Memorials for Married Couples

01 Jul Memorials for Married Couples

Whose names should you put on a memorial? What do you do if one partner is still living? Can you have more than two names on a graveside memorial?

These are questions that most people don’t think about until they lose a loved one. Then, when faced with making a decision, they aren’t sure what convention dictates.

Memorials for Married Couples often include both spouse’s names, but not always.

Memorials for Married Couples Include Both Names

If a person was married, then the monument typically has two names on it, husband and wife. Even if one spouse is still living, you would usually put all the information on the stone for both people. Then, when the other spouse eventually does pass, you can add the final death date, This is done on-site, at the cemetery, and does not require you to move the memorial.

Some folks that are still living have a hard time seeing their name on a monument. Rest assured, you can always add your information at the cemetery many years down the road if you don’t want it on now.

A Memorial for Second Marriages

What do you do in the case of a second marriage? Like everything else on your memorial, there is no right answer to this. You can make the monument with one name on it if you so choose or you can have both names on both memorials. Many times, due to unforeseen circumstances, the spouse that passes second is not buried in the same location as the first. You can still have both names listed on the memorial.

So, in the case of a second marriage, the same name could appear on two memorials. Keep in mind the purpose of a monument. It is to give family and friends a place to remember their loved one. It is entirely appropriate to put the spouses’ names together even if only one rests at that location.

Family Memorials

With cremation becoming more and more popular, some families purchase one grave space and place the cremains of multiple family members there, regardless of their marital status. This saves the family a substantial amount of money on cemetery lots since a grave space can cost upwards of a thousand dollars.

Many cemeteries allow placement of up to eight sets of cremains inside of one grave space. This can vary, so you should always check with your cemetery regarding their policies. Even though the sharing of grave spaces can save a family quite a bit of money, it does mean that you can only have one memorial stone. Etching eight names on a small gravestone that physically fits over only one space can present a challenge. In such cases, you may need to forgo epitaphs or images.

Always in Stone makes custom headstones and memorials for the people in Elkhart County Indiana. We would be glad to help you choose the right headstone for your loved one. We are here to provide support during a difficult time. Whether it’s creating the perfect epitaph, or help you select the right color of granite, we support you every step of the way.