Ideas for Headstone Inscriptions

Although, we all know that death is inevitable, the loss of a beloved one is the most distressing and painful moment in life. Death can't be avoided; but the memories of our close ones can be treasured forever. After the funeral ceremony is over, a headstone or gravestone is placed as a marker over the site of a burial in the cemetery. It is generally carved from stone, granite or marble. Headstones are carved with inscriptions or epitaphs in the memory of a deceased. Headstone inscriptions are considered as a long-lasting symbol of remembrance for a person who has passed away. Go through the following thoughtful wordings for headstone inscriptions.

Ideas for Headstone Inscriptions

Writing gravestone epitaphs for your close ones is a difficult task, as you need to carefully select the appropriate words to inscribe. Inscriptions should reflect your personal attachment with the deceased. Through headstone epitaphs, you can express your sentiments, feelings and affection for the deceased person. Inscriptions should be written in such a way that they highlight the personality traits or accomplishments of the dead person. Inscriptions can be carved simply in black or white, or more elaborately in silver or gold. The style of lettering on the epitaphs depend on your personal choice. You can also add images of angels and flowers to give an ethereal feel. A laser image of the deceased can also be etched onto the headstone.

Headstone inscriptions can be as simple as "Here lies.." or "In the memory of....", or they can be popular verses from biblical scriptures or short poems and sayings. The relationship of the deceased to his/her survivors is also mentioned, e.g. mother of, son of, sister of, grandfather of. A typical format of headstone inscriptions constitute a heading, body copy and verse.

Heading is inscribed on the top of the headstone. It includes wordings like 'In loving memory', 'Treasured memories', 'In affectionate remembrance of', 'Precious memories of', 'Rest in peace', 'Sleeping with the angels', etc. In the body copy, the name of deceased and date of birth and death are mentioned. You can also include your feelings and shared thoughts in the body copy. At the bottom of the headstone, bible verses, funeral poems or song lyrics are inscribed. Following are some examples of death verses:

"May the journey on your next adventure be as joy-filled as your time with us. See you soon!"

"God Took You From Our Home
But Never From Our Hearts."

"He shall receive in the world to come eternal life."

"The Lord hath given him rest from all his enemies."

"We miss you very much and love you dearly
We know our God is taking care of you
And you are now one of his special angels
You are forever in our hearts
We can't wait to be with you again."

"To live in the hearts of those we love is never to die."

"Those we love don’t go away,
They walk beside us everyday."

These wordings can be inscribed as headstone epitaphs for children:

"Sleep, my little one, sleep."

"Hush my dear, be still and slumber:
Jolly angels guard your bed."

"Children are a heritage of the Lord."

"Sleep undisturbed within the peaceful shrine,
Till angels wake thee with a note like thine."

You can select unique wordings to highlight the success, generosity and devotion of your father, son, husband or friend who is not with you. Following are some examples:

"Step softly, a dream lies buried here."

"He always stood for what was right and good.
And for this we shall forever cherish his memory."

"He always did the things he thought he couldn't do. Thank you for your courage and inspiration."

"He achieved success here because he
lived well, laughed often and loved much.
We'll forever miss you, Daddy!"

When writing epitaphs for your beloved mother, grandmother, sister or daughter, you should mention their love, affection, care and devotion. Go through the following examples for inscriptions:

"She never took no for an answer and pushed
ahead when others paused. But a kinder, gentler
woman you will never meet again."

"God's greatest gift returned to God - my mother."

"She lives with us in memory
and will for evermore."

"Goodbye to a wonderful mother and grandmother.
She lived a long and wonderful life, and was loved
by all who knew her. She will be dearly missed,
but will live on in our hearts for generations."

Headstone inscriptions are a lasting tribute to a loved one. Every time, you visit the headstone, you will remember the pleasant time spent with the person who is no longer with you. Let the memories of your close ones last for eternity with these sentimental and meaningful inscriptions.