When making final arrangements for someone who has passed away, there are a lot of details that require attention. These duties generally fall to family members of the deceased and may be handled by a single person, or the responsibilities may be distributed to make it easier. One such task is writing an appropriate epitaph for the gravestone.
This is a brief statement or phrase, sometimes a poem or prose, that is inscribed on an individual's headstone or commemorative plaque. It says something about the person it represents. There are several different forms this tribute can take, mostly dependent on the deceased's personality, life choices and who is writing it.
There are some things that practically each grave marker will have in common. Nearly all will contain the person's full name and the dates that encompassed their life. Though a good many individual's choose to stop at just that basic information, others will opt to say a little extra by including statements, sentiments or personal remarks.
For many, traditional sentiments such as wishes for a peaceful slumber or an explanation of how loved the deceased was is all they add. The statement may be an attestation about their family relations, community work, military service or other accomplishments. It is also quite the popular choice to use a meaningful piece of scripture for this purpose.
Some individuals choose to write their own inscription prior to their death. This allows them to ensure that they get exactly what they want on their stone and gives them the freedom to be creative. Those with a keen sense of humor often take this opportunity to make a witty final remark or write an entertaining remark that will bring smiles to visitors for years to come.
Those who write their own might also like to use this as a platform to impart a last bit of wise advice to others. Often this involves encouraging people to be happy and live life well. One can be as creative as they wish with their final statement.
