As much as someone is loved, recalling
what made them special and summarizing those feelings on a granite, marble or bronze
plaque with limited space after their death can be challenging.
However, experts agree that the
process of writing a loved one's epitaph can often actually be
comforting and essential to a normal grieving process.
More than simply stating a person's
name and dates of birth and death, we encourage you to take advantage of
the opportunity to let those viewing the plaque in future years gain a
better sense of the loved one's personality and what he or she meant to
surviving friends and family.
In addition to the following examples,
also consider gathering thoughts for a plaque from friends or family
face-to-face, on the phone or by e-mail.
Their collective memories are certain
to make it easier to create an epitaph that portrays the essence of the
individual who has departed.
Note: Some of these epitaph
examples may not fit within the guidelines allowed for our standard
plaque size.
Words Of Bronze On This Stone
Are A Reminder You're Never Alone
Your Wonderful Life Of So Many Years
We Shall Celebrate Without Any Tears
Gone, But Not Forgotten
Beneath This Stone Rests My Love
Her Soul Long Ago Free As A Dove
When I Come To Visit This Special Place
I Shall Always Recall Her Smiling Face
A Husband And Wife So Dear
Sleep Together As Always Here
Their Spirits Separated Never Again
Their Soul With Christ For Ever Reign
I Am The Resurrection And The Life,
He That Believeth In Me Though
He Die Yet Shall He Live
Beneath This Simple Stone
That Marks His Resting Place
Our Precious Father Sleeps Alone
In The Lord's Long Embrace
They say memories are golden
well maybe that is true.
I never wanted memories,
I only wanted you.
In life I loved you dearly,
In death I love you still.
In my heart you hold a place
no one could ever fill.
A heart of gold stopped beating,
two willing hands at rest,
God broke our hears to prove to us
He only takes the best
Life is not measured by
the breaths we take,
but by the moments
that take our breath away
Sweet little flower
of heavenly birth,
you were too fair
to bloom on earth.
When someone you love
becomes a memory,
the memory becomes
a wonderful treasure
Gone yet not forgotten.
Although we are apart,
your spirit lives within me,
forever in my heart.
I know she's in a special place
our Lord has for such friends,
where meadows, fields & flowers
help make them strong and whole again.
It Matters Not How Long
A Star Shines, What Is
Remembered Is The
Brightness Of The Light
God looked around his garden
and saw an empty place.
He then looked down on
earth, and saw your tired face.
He put his arms around you
and lifted you to rest.
God's garden must be a beautiful
place, He only takes the best.
"When you are sorrowful, look
again in your hear and you
shall see that in truth you are
weeping for that which has
been your delight" - Kahlil Gibran
When you're feeling alone,
just remember our love,
I'm up near the stars
looking down from above.
Wishing today as we wished before; That
God could have spared you many years
more; In our heart your memory is kept;
To love, to cherish and to never forget.
A Mother Kind, A Parent Dear
A Faithful Friend Lies Buried Here
She Is Gone From Our Home
But Not From Our Heart
Be Patient With Life, Despite The Truth.
It Often Seems Oblivious Of Our Pain,
But Just As Often Brings Us Hope Again.
Do believe I'll never leave you:
Always You Will be in My heart.
Don't forget my soul is near you,
And so we'll never be apart.
A Precious One From Us Has Gone
A Voice We Loved Is Stilled
A Place Is Empty In Our Home
Which Never Can Be Filled
No Pain, No Grief
No Anxious Fear
Can Reach Our Loved
One Sleeping Here.
Behold My Friends As You Pass By
As You Are Now, So Once Was I
As I Am Now, Soon You Shall Be
Give Thyself To God And Follow M
I Pray You Can See Me Now And Be
Proud Of What I Have Become Because
Of Your Example, But Most Of All I Thank
You Because You Loved Me So Much
You will never be forgotten
We pledge to you today
A hollowed place within our hearts
Is where you'll always stay
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush of birds in flight.
I am the stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die...
We may not be together
in the way we used to be,
We are still connected by
a cord no eye can see.
So whenever you need to find me,
we're never far apart
If you look beyond the Rainbow
and listen with your heart.
If tears could build a stairway
and heartache make a lane,
I'd walk the path to heaven
and bring you back again.
Our family chain is broken,
and nothing seems the same.
But as God calls us one by one,
the chain will link again.
I know your eyes in the morning sun,
I feel you touch me in the pouring rain.
May the peace of the Lord be with you,
Until I can feel you in my arms again.
With joy still deeper than pain
Gently flows the river
Where we shall meet again.
I thought of you with love today,
but that is nothing new.
I thought about you yesterday
and days before that too.
We'll miss you forever!
Your memory is my keepsake,
with which I'll never part.
God has you in His keeping,
I have you in my heart.
No farewell words were spoken,
No time to say goodbye,
You were gone so very sudden,
And only God knows why.
Remember our love
In a moment you'll see
That I'm still here beside you
When you're thinking of me.
Perhaps my time seemed too brief,
but don't lengthen it with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and share with me,
God wanted me now to set me free.
Wherever a beautiful soul has gone,
there is a trail of beautiful memories.
We'll remember your journeys and
look forward to strolling together again.
Although it's difficult today
To see beyond the sorrow,
May looking back in memory
Help comfort us tomorrow.
