What Should I Write on a Headstone

If you are asking yourself, "What should I write on a headstone?", you'll be surprised to know that you have many choices on what you can include to pay homage to your loved one. Read what you can write on a headstone for the perfect memorial.

If you've ever taken a walk through a cemetery, you'll notice that headstones differ slightly not only by their designs but also the writing on them. When choosing what to write on a headstone, consider basic information first:

Having your loved one's name on the headstone will mark the site as the final resting place for the person. For as long as the headstone remains, people will know who lies there.

Engraving the birth and death date tells people how long your loved one lived.

Many people choose to only include their loved one's name and birth and death dates on the headstone. However, some people like to add more personalization to it. When deciding what you should write on the headstone, think about how you would like others to know your loved one. When someone visits the gravesite and reads your headstone message, the person will feel something about the person. Sharing the goodness the person gave to the world and how much love and remembrance there is, will shed a warm spiritual light on your loved one.

Consider the following when deciding on headstone phrases:

Quotes about the person's life can include something your loved one used to say or something that he/she contributed:

• "Here lies a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother who always cared."
• "Here lies a son, brother, husband, and father who always put his family first."
• "Life was a journey and now it's time to rest."
• "I will stop fighting life when life stops fighting me."
• "My last ride will be to Heaven."

• "The Lord is now my caretaker."
• "Lying peacefully for eternity"
• "We will cherish you always…"
• "We will never forget you."
• "May you rejoice in the arms of the Lord for eternity."

Some headstones are large enough to write a short poem on them. You can write your own poem or use one already written by someone else and give the poet credit. Twain Quotes has a great example of a poem on a headstone

Read the Bible and find scriptures that speak to you about your loved one's death. Here are examples of scriptures you may want to consider:

• "Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." - John 3:15
• "Thy remembrance shall endure into all generations." - 102nd Psalm

For more Bible scriptures to use, check out these websites:

• Everlife Memorials
• Scripture Menu

If you need more ideas on what to write on a headstone, read these articles:

• Ideas for Headstone Inscriptions
• Headstone Phrases
• Headstone Sayings

If you are still asking yourself, "What should I write on a headstone?", consider asking family and friends for their help. When you lose someone close to you, it's difficult to choose something as sensitive as writing for a headstone. Take suggestions from your loved ones and then make the final decision based on what you feel is the perfect tribute to the deceased life. Bold text

• Dying Celebrities
• Books on Grief for a Stillborn Child
• Children's Books About Death

• Free Funeral Program Template
• Sample Funeral Program
• Poems Related to Grief
• Bereavement Poems by Unknown Authors
• Poem about Death of a Dog

• Free Memorial Obituary Template
• Main Page
• Local Newspaper Obituaries
• Category:Burial and Cremation
• Headstone Phrases