‘There is no time to leave important words unsaid’ – Paolo Coelho
Writing something for a loved one isn’t always easy. In fact, the area that most people tend to struggle with is the epitaph – in other words – what to include in the inscription on a headstone. At Mindful Memorials, we pride ourselves on a wealth of experience that enables us to help you (and your family) create a bespoke and meaningful memorial.
“The best Nana.” 14 year-old Lisa about her Nane, Lila also drew the Lily which adorns her Nana’s memorial.
Whether you wish to keep your homage simple, or simply give an insight to your loved one’s personality, their passion or profession, or just say what they meant to those left behind – we can guide you every step of the way.
When thinking about your epitaph, our advice is to take your time and reflect on your loved one. We recommend this because at the height of your grief, it can be very difficult to write a fitting and everlasting memorial; but by allowing a few weeks or months to pass, you can be sure you have found the right words. There’s nothing worse than regretting saying something in haste or not saying the right words because we were not in the right frame of mind.
“…and I flew, I flew happily. Higher than the sun and even higher.” Perfect for a pilot.
Consider whether you wish your memorial to simply be the marker of a person, or if it is to be a place where family celebrate the life of a loved one; maybe you wish for the memorial to tell the world more about who the person was.
If you’re stuck, start with the simple things; a personality trait, or something that might sum up the character of your loved one, then build and develop those thoughts. Taking a walk around local churchyards and cemeteries, and reflecting on what others have said, may also give you some inspiration to find the right sentiments. Alternatively, we are happy to help you through this process.
“An inspirational lady who made a difference to so many.” A lady whose memorial features hand-carved bluebells – her favourite flower, drawn by her daughter.
Some examples of our favourite epitaphs can be seen below.
Always leaving a mug of tea on her Dad’s memorial after each visit, Tracey had inscribed “Always here for a natter.”
“A True Gentleman.” Helen’s words when perfectly summing up her husband.
Words chosen with such care by a bereaved daughter and her father, “True to Herself and Others, Dry but Shy, Quietly Kind, Loving and Much Loved.”
“Watch and Clockmaker of Preston and York.” Engraved on a newly fitted memorial to a Victorian grave.
The memorial of a Professor from Stourbridge gives us an insight into his profession, “Roman Archaeologist and Glass Scholar.”
And “A man for whom the earth was both his work and play.”
Not forgetting “Knight, poet, anarchist.”
Article by Anna Buckley
Mindful Memorials
Published in Edition 15
