FAQs

The type of material used, the size and shape of the memorial, the detail of the design and how many sides are finished can influence the cost. The shape of a memorial can be standard or customized. The range is from about $300 to over $10,000. Standard upright monuments average around $3000 to $5000.

This is a good question to ask the cemetery where the memorial will be placed—is a picture allowed on the memorial? If it is allowed, what type can you have? We have several types of pictures available for the memorials. We can tell you which type will work best for the memorial you would like.

Yes, we have several types of pet memorials. To see them, look under Pet Memorials.

Yes, we can carve the memorials with non-English letters. We have the fonts for Hebrew, Russian, Greek, Vietnamese, and Korean letters. When the family gives the lettering to us, we can also carve Chinese, Japanese and Farsi, to name a few.

The time frame for completion of your memorial will vary depending on the availability of granite, the customization of the memorial, photos, and number of drawings done for approval. Ceramic photos take about a month to arrive, and granite can take anywhere from 3 to 8 months to ship from the quarry. For a standard design on a memorial we have in stock, we can complete engraving in four to six weeks (shipping time not included).

Most cemeteries and local monument companies add final dates on a regular basis for a nominal charge.

1. Remove lid and put aside.
2. Set urn on soft cloth with opening facing upward.
3. Remains should be sealed inside of a plastic bag and then placed into the urn.
4. Open and squeeze a bead of silicone caulk around the inside of the container.
5. Press lid into place.
6. Wipe off excess caulk with paper towel.
7. Allow 24 hours for curing.

Once a year– perhaps on Memorial Day, an anniversary, or a birthday– use a mild solution of three to four tablespoons of an automatic dish washing detergent and one quart of water. Never use cleaners with chlorine or abrasives on polished granite.

With a stiff-bristled nylon brush (no wire brushes), wet the stone with clear water before applying the detergent solution. It is very important that you rinse properly and remove all of the detergent from the memorial and the surrounding grass after washing. For a more thorough cleaning you can use a pressure washer with up to 2000 lbs of water pressure. Take care not to get the solution in your eyes by wearing appropriate eye protection.

Do not use waxes or polishes to “brighten” up granite. Any ammonia-based cleaner like Glass Plus or Windex will restore the natural luster of the surface of the stone if used on a regular basis.

Funerals can be one of the most expensive purchases a person will make. A traditional funeral can range from $2000 to $10,000, depending on where you live and what services you choose. If you need to purchase cemetery property and pay the charges for a burial, you could be adding thousands of dollars more, also depending on where you live. Flowers, an obituary notice, folders or limousines, also add to your total.

By thinking ahead, you can make an informed and thoughtful decision about your funeral and disposition arrangements. Preplanning allows you to choose the items you want and gives you time to compare prices.

Look in your local listing and talk with the funeral home or cemetery of your choice. You can also arrange through a funeral planning or memorial society. Next, talk with your local monument dealer or with us to get information for your memorial.

Consider where the remains will be buried, entombed or scattered. Once a death has occurred, many family members find themselves frantic to buy a cemetery plot or grave. Consider the number of graves or spaces you will want to purchase and the type of memorial you’ll want to cover those graves.

You can, but it is better to put your preferences in writing and give copies to family members or your attorney and keep a copy in an accessible place. If you put a copy in your safe deposit box, make sure you have another copy that can be found if it is needed on a weekend when the banks are not open. If you put it in your will, it may not be found or read until after the service.

This is a good question to ask when you make your arrangements. There may be many items you can pay for now and freeze the cost. Be sure to tell your family about the plans you’ve made and where you made them. If they don’t know about them, they may pay for the same services somewhere else.

It is a good idea to review and revise your decisions every few years if necessary. If you do change your mind, make sure your family knows about it. You’ll want to let them know where you have your arrangements made about any changes—they may want them in writing.

The Funeral Rule, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, obligates funeral directors to provide written itemized prices to persons when they inquire in person and verbally if they call on the phone. The Funeral Rule also requires funeral directors to present you with a written price list with a description before you look at goods and services like caskets.

The Funeral Rule affords a person the right to choose the memorial services and goods they want. The funeral provider must state this in writing on the general price list. If the state or local law requires you to buy any specific item, it must be listed on the price list along with a reference to the law. The rule also states that if a casket is bought elsewhere, a funeral provider cannot charge a handling fee or refuse the casket. If cremation is offered, alternative containers for cremation must also be offered.

The Funeral Rule allows funeral homes to charge a fee for basic services. The fee for basic services includes services that are common to all arrangements. Some of the fees included are for securing the necessary permits and copies of the death certificates, preparing the notices, sheltering the remains and coordinating the arrangements with the cemetery, crematory or other third parties.

You are not legally required to use a funeral home to plan and conduct a funeral. But because most of us do not have experience with the details and legal requirements involved, the services of a professional funeral home may be necessary and helpful.

People may select a funeral home because it is close to home or has served the family in the past. Whatever your reason for choosing a funeral home, you may want to shop around and compare prices and services. Visit the facility in person to see if will meet your needs. While you are visiting, pick up a price list and talk to someone.

Embalming is not required by law except in certain special cases like having a viewing or visitation or a service with an open casket. If embalming is required, the reason must be given to you in writing. The funeral provider must disclose in writing that some funeral arrangements make embalming necessary and a required purchase. They must also disclose in writing that you have the right to choose a disposition that does not require embalming.

An average casket may cost between $2000 and $4000, depending on your area. Some caskets such as those made of copper can sell for as much as $10,000. When you select a casket, you should get a copy of the casket list with descriptions and prices.

The purpose of a casket is to provide a dignified way to move the body before burial or cremation. No casket will preserve a body forever. Many metal caskets will have a rubber gasket or some other feature meant to delay the penetration of water into the casket.

If you choose cremation and are having a visitation or a funeral service, you may want to ask about a rental casket. If you are choosing direct cremation without a service or viewing, the funeral provider must offer an inexpensive, unfinished wood box or alternative container that is cremated with the body.

State laws do not require a burial vault or liner. Many cemeteries will require some type of outer burial container for the casket to prevent the grave from collapsing as the casket deteriorates over time. Before looking at any outer burial containers, the funeral home must present you with a list of prices and descriptions.

Look around at cemeteries in your area and close to home. Ask yourself if they meet the requirements of your family’s religion, are there any restrictions for plantings or flowerpots or vases. Does the cemetery allow you to have the type of memorial you desire? Do they have restrictions for the size and type of memorial? Can you have a bench on the plot?

In addition to the cost for the grave, the cemetery may have a cost for endowment care. Endowment care is the care fee for maintenance and grounds keeping for the life of the cemetery. Talk to the cemetery about what type of maintenance and care the endowment care covers. In most cemeteries it is a one-time fee.

All veterans are entitled to a free burial in a national cemetery and a grave marker in any cemetery. Spouses and dependent children are also entitled to a lot and marker when interred in a national cemetery. In a national cemetery, there are no charges for opening or closing of the grave, for an outer burial container, or for setting the marker. In a private cemetery, in addition to the costs of the grave and the burial, there is a cost for setting the veteran’s provided marker.