A Guide to Selecting a Memorial or Headstone.

Whether you are planning a prepaid funeral or trying to decide the best way in which to remember a loved one, a memorial provides an important way to honour a life.

It can be difficult to know where to begin when selecting an appropriate memorial, especially if you are doing so in the emotional wake of a death.

There are a number of aspects you should take into consideration, which we lay out here.

Your Loved One’s Wishes

Your loved one may have left you instructions on how they would like to be memorialised.

If this is not the case, then it is important to consider what they would have wanted and what would reflect their life and personality best.

At Joseph A Hey & Son we can help with inspiration and suggestions according to your budget and wishes.

Where It Will Be Placed

Some memorials will be placed in a graveyard, others may be placed in a public park or on private land.

You need to consider what is allowed in your chosen area before setting your heart on a design or material.

Types of Memorials

There are many different types of memorials, the most common of which are as follows:

• Headstones
  Headstones, whether upright, flat or kerbed, remain one of the most popular and traditional forms of memorialisation.
• Statues
  Statues are favourable for their ability to convey a message visually and stand out from the crowd.
• Plaques
  For something smaller on a lower budget, an engraved plaque makes a simple but beautiful marker of your loved one’s life.
• Benches
  Park benches remain a popular choice, especially for lovers of the outdoors, as they provide a place in which to sit and remember.
• Materials
  The material that you choose for your memorial will depend on budget, durability and aesthetic. Here are some of the most common types of materials used:
• Granite
  Granite is the most popular material for memorials and headstones. It is highly adaptable and durable and it comes in a wide variety of finishes and colours.
• Marble
  Marble can be finished to a very high standard for an attractive look, however it is quite fragile so is often not permitted in graveyards.
• Bronze
  This material is commonly used on plaques in memorial parks or even for headstones. Whilst it creates an attractive look that is very low maintenance, the cost is often prohibitive when compared with more traditional materials like granite.
• Limestone
  Limestone can be found in a few different variations, from beige to grey. Whilst it is often allowed in traditional cemeteries, it is not as durable as granite or marble.

Joseph A Hey & Son provide a personalised service to help you select and create the perfect memorial.

Please call us on 01274 571021 or  visit us at 470 Great Horton Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 3HR.