What are Differences Between a Headstone and a Monument?

If you are reading this post, you may be wondering – what are the differences between a headstone and a monument. The differences between a headstone and a monument are important to learn when picking the right memorial stone. Planning a funeral is difficult enough. During this time, you want to make sure that everything happens as easily as possible. There are various reasons why people may pick one option over the other. Instead of having to worry about doing the research yourself, here is some information that will help you distinguish between the two and pick the right option for your needs.

What is a Headstone?

A headstone is the most common type of memorial stone. It is a simple stone typically made of granite and placed upright at the head of a grave:

Here are some key characteristics that distinguish headstones:

They are designed to identify the deceased individual.
They come in single upright headstones and companion headstones.
They sit upright which allows for information to be read easily.
The information written includes name, date of birth and date of death.
They may also include an epitaph.
They can vary in size. Headstones can be small or very large.
For military headstones, there is usually a sign or symbol of their military outfit or division.

What is a Monument?

A monument is a larger form of a (usually granite) headstone. It is typically much bigger and is created in the form of a sculpture. There are many benefits to picking a monument and here are some key characteristics that distinguish monuments from headstones:

Monuments & civic memorials are designed to show people the story of a deceased individual or group of people’s lives.
They contain the same information as a headstone, but use images, designs and other wording to share the story of a person’s life.
You can shape the monument anyway that you want.
There can be cemetery restrictions on the height and width of the monument.

PRO TIP: If you are interested in speaking to one of New Jersey’s top monument makers, please reach out to Sgobba’s Monument Works. They are located in Passaic County and you can learn more about their story or call today.

How do I know which one is right for me?

How do I know what is the right option for me? Whether you need help deciding between a headstone or monument or just need ideas on what design you want, making the decision can be hard. Here are some tips on making the decision process easier:

Take a walk through local gravesites or cemeteries to get a better idea of the various styles of headstones and monuments.
Take pictures of the style that you prefer to show your monument builder.
Consult a close friend or loved one who you can exchange opinions and ideas with.
Make sure to set a budget before visiting a monument provider.
Consult the cemetery or memorial park to see what regulations they have for the type of headstones or monuments they allow.
Take the time to understand what the different memorial types are so that you know what you are getting with your request.

Summary: These are the key differences between a Headstone and a Monument

Picking the right way to memorialize you or a loved one can be a very challenging task. One of the important factors to consider when deciding is whether you want a headstone or a monument. A headstone is the most common type of memorial stone and is made of granite. A monument is a larger memorial stone. Both include written information about your loved one, but you have more space to work with in a monument.

What can I do to make the decision process easier? We know it is difficult to prepare memorial arrangements. Losing a loved one is hard enough, but there are ways that you can get inspiration. Although walking through a cemetery may sound scary to some of us, it is a good way to get ideas on what you truly want. You can see different memorial stones of all shapes and sizes. At the very least, you will get an idea of what you do not want. Whenever we need to make tough decisions, we usually consult with others. Planning memorial arrangements is no different. Talk to a friend and get feedback. After learning about the differences between headstones and monuments and getting advice from others, you should be able to make the right choice for you.

Choose Sgobba’s Monument Works For NJ Headstones & Grave Monuments

If you are located in New Jersey, reach out to Sgobba’s Monument Works. We are located in Passaic County at address 1 River Terrace, Paterson, NJ 07502. Please take a look at our business listing here or take a look at our location on the map below.

We look forward to assisting during this challenging time and hope you better understand the answer to your question: what are the differences between a headstone and a monument.