Angel Monuments Throughout History

Early Christian art featured winged creatures associating the spreading of wings  with a life "beyond what we know and see" on earth. Mankind has since associated these angels with the travel of life into heaven. Guardian angels were thought to protect and guide a particular person through life and/or death. Guardian angel tales can be traced throughout history, and in both Eastern and Western civilizations, it was believed that guardian angels served to protect whichever person they were assigned to.

Guardian angels attending to each and every person has been documented for centuries and can even be seen in both the Old and New Testaments; "how great the dignity of the soul, since each one has from his birth an angel commissioned to guard it". People believed that guardian angels stayed with you from birth, so with the untimely death of a child, the guardian angel for children morphed into a winged-child likeness. The winged-child became popular in both early English and American Colonial cemeteries and became know as a cherub. These representations have became heartfelt additions to children's markers in cemeteries throughout the years.

Many people believed by the 12th century that every soul was assigned a guardian angel the moment it was put into a body. Clement of Alexandria writes in the Eclogae Propheticae: "Scripture says that little children who are exposed are entrusted to a guardian angel, who brings them up and makes them grow; and they shall be, he says, like the faithful here who are a hundred years old."  The existence of angels has been debated throughout the centuries. The mysterious subject matter has even inspired many sculptors to create master works of art with angelic-type themes, such as Michelangelo's Statue of an Angel in the Basilica of San Domenico, Bologna.

By James Steakley (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 

(www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL 

(www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

   
Today, angels bring us comfort, with thoughts of them holding our loved ones and keeping them safe from harm. Adding an angel to your monument can be a very personal and comforting way to memorialize your loved one. There are pre-manufactured angel monuments, ready to personalize, as well as many stock molded angel statues. In-stock statuary usually requires less wait time to install within the cemetery. If you're willing to take some time and work with a sculptor, custom statuary can also be a consideration to create something truly unique. www.centuryharmony.com

After Cremation Options

A body that is cremated must be placed in a container prior to cremation. This can be as simple as a cardboard box or a wooden casket especially built for cremation. A second option is a cardboard box that fits inside a wooden shell, which is designed to look like a traditional casket. After the funeral service, the cardboard box is removed from the casket shell prior to cremation. 

After cremation, the cremated remains are returned in a rectangular plastic container, cardboard box, velvet sack or in an urn, if the family has already purchased one. Cremated remains can be kept in an urn (like the granite urn below) which is then usually housed in a cemetery's columbarium, buried in the ground with a grave marker or headstone, interred within a cremation bench (as shown above) or scattered in accordance with the deceased's wishes.

Cremated remains may be scattered in national parks in the U.S. with a special permit or scattered on private property (with the owner's permission). The final disposition depends on the personal wishes of the deceased, as well as their cultural and religious beliefs. Some religions will even allow the cremated remains to be kept at home. Some religions require the burial or entombment of cremated remains.

A peaceful setting, whether in a cemetery, in a private park, or at your own home can be an enjoyable place for a cremation bench, like the one above. Simple and elegant, utilizing only artwork and a family name, you'll be reminded of those you held so dear. Whether choosing entombment in a cemetery, scattering all of the remains, or keeping them at home in a cremation bench, the decision may just require some more time and further thought to weigh out all of your options.

A Family Plot in the Cemetery

In addition to funeral services, cemetery property is another consideration when you’re making final arrangements. It's important to tour the cemetery so you can select the type and location of cemetery property that is right for you and your family. Regardless of whether your choice is burial or cremation, permanent memorials can create a lasting heritage for your family.

Most people are familiar with the concept of burial but may not be aware of the variety of options that are often available. Private Family Estates (also called Family Plots) are small areas within the cemetery that allow for burial of several members of the same family. They are generally separated by gates, shrubbery, or other dividers, like the granite coping shown above.

Memorial benches are benches that either simply memorialize a loved one scattered or buried in a cremation garden, or actually contain the remains within the bench itself. Many families choose to add a bench to their family plot to create a garden like place where family members can find peace and reflect upon their loved ones.

  

A permanent family plot can also give loved ones a physical place for visitation. The ceremony accompanying the placement of an urn in a cremation niche or a cremation garden in a cemetery provides family and friends with closure after the loss of a loved one. And having a place to come back to can sometimes help keep memories close for those who are still here.

Some cemeteries allow upright headstones, called monuments, to be used with ground burials. Headstones that are flat against the ground are called flat markers or grass markers. It is not unusual to combine the two when creating the perfect family estate. In some cemeteries, or sections of cemeteries, only flat markers are used to preserve the natural appearance of the landscape and help reduce grounds maintenance and lessen the risk of damage to the granite from mowers and lawn equipment.

Many people overlook the importance of cemetery property for those who choose cremation, but permanent placement of the ashes (cremains) is an important part of memorialization too. Having a private place to honor family members that have been cremated is just as important as for those who choose burial. The fact remains that you are still creating a special place for family members now and into the future.

 

As future generations may not feel a connection with the deceased, a permanent family plot can provide a wonderful spot to visit when researching their own family history. Granite mausoleums, like the ones shown in the family estate above, can be considered a blank canvas for personalizing your memorial with names and dates, religious and personal components, versus, and laser etched photos of family or special pets. Make a family plot the place to honor your family's lifestyle and beliefs.

Adding Cemetery Vases to Monuments

There are a few things to consider when deciding to purchase granite or marble cemetery vases. Consider how often you expect to visit the memorial. If your family is going to the cemetery frequently, it would be practical to add vases for your flowers. If your family visits the cemetery occasionally, it may not be a necessary expense. Also, you should consider the type of cemetery in which you have your plot. Some cemeteries remove flowers within a few days or a week of placement. Be sure to check with your cemetery for specific regulations concerning flowers and placement of other memorial items.

When adding a vase, the size of the granite base must be longer than normal size - to accommodate the placement of the vase. Likewise, if two vases are ordered, the base must be long enough to allow clearance on each side of the monument. The size of the vase(s) should be consistent with the size of the monument. Therefore, the larger the monument, the larger the vase(s) that can be added.

Bronze and other metal vases are specially manufactured for flat granite marker bases. They can be removed from the granite base, turned upside down, and sunk below the granite, to form a flush surface with the ground. This allows the cemetery to maintain the grounds without damaging the vases.

The design, look and feel of your monument will determine the size, shape and color of your vases. This is another opportunity to personalize your memorial. Many manufacturers can etch, sandblast or carve designs directly onto your granite or marble vases. Additionally, be sure to protect your investment with a vase liner. This allows water to be removed from the vase - to keep the granite from freezing and cracking in more extreme winter climates. 

Whether you choose a more cylindrical turned granite or marble vase, a more bold square granite vase, or a bronze or metal vase for your flush granite marker, consult with a memorial counselor to see all of the options that are available to you.