Introduction
In the grand tapestry of life, one certainty is that our journey eventually leads to the final resting place. While we may not have control over this inevitability, we can certainly influence how we are remembered and how our loved ones are commemorated. This formal article delves into the advantages of pre-planning and pre-purchasing headstones in Calgary and how Sunset Memorial & Stone can assist you through the process. We understand the importance of crafting lasting tributes, and why pre-planning can be a natural proactive step towards ensuring your legacy is celebrated in the manner you desire.
Securing Your Legacy: The Benefits of Pre-Planning
Why Pre-Plan Your Headstone
Pre-planning your headstone allows you to articulate your wishes with precision. It allows you to be the author of your own epitaph. It ensures that your memorial is a genuine reflection of your personality, values, and life story. By making these decisions in advance, you relieve your loved ones of the burden of guesswork during a sensitive and challenging time.
Assurance of Perpetuity
Pre-purchasing a headstone in Calgary guarantees that your memorial will endure perpetually. It offers peace of mind, knowing that your legacy is secured, and your memory will be honored in the manner you envisioned. This proactive approach safeguards against potential future price increases and ensures that your chosen headstone is available when needed. It is important to know that headstones in Calgary cemeteries can be set in place months, even years before a burial.
A Lasting Tribute to Loved Ones
Pre-planning is not only about preserving your own legacy; it also allows you to consider the memorialization of loved ones. By making these decisions in advance, you provide solace and direction to your family during a time of grief. It offers them the reassurance that your memory will be celebrated with a fitting tribute.
Personalization and Uniqueness
Pre-planning enables you to explore various design options and customization choices for the headstone. From the choice of granite monument styles to a specific color, to precise design elements and features, you can create a unique memorial that tells your story authentically. Your headstone becomes a canvas for personalization, ensuring it stands as a distinct and meaningful tribute.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pre-Planning Headstones
Why should I pre-plan my headstone?
Pre-planning your headstone allows you to articulate your wishes with precision. It allows you to be the author of your own epitaph. It ensures that your memorial is a genuine reflection of your personality, values, and life story. By making these decisions in advance, you relieve your loved ones of the burden of guesswork during an already challenging time.
Why should I consider pre-purchasing a headstone?
Pre-purchasing a headstone in Calgary guarantees that your memorial will endure perpetually. It offers peace of mind, knowing that your legacy is secured, and your memory will be honored in the manner you envisioned. This proactive approach safeguards against potential future price increases and ensures that your chosen headstone is available when needed. It is important to know that headstones in Calgary cemeteries can be set in place before a burial.
Is there a specific time to pre-purchase a headstone?
There is no specific time to pre-purchase a headstone. Some individuals choose to pre-purchase as part of their end-of-life planning, while others do it when they are ready.
What customization options are available for pre-planned headstones?
The customization options when pre-purchasing a headstone in Calgary are infinite. The first phase of the decision-making process is to decide on a monument shape and size that will meet the cemetery’s regulations for the purchased cemetery plot. Once you have chosen the monument style, granite color and size that meets those requirements, the canvas is established. Once the monument is selected, work with one of our talented graphic artists to create a personalized design direction. Some individuals may have a natural talent for design. For these individuals, our graphic art department will listen to your every wish and will accommodate your design preferences and provide you with some tips and techniques that may enhance your vision. For others, designing a custom memorial may seem overwhelming. For those individuals, our experienced team are here to walk you through the design process and provide you with suggestions that will guide you towards a final design.
Example of Shape Carving
There are several design elements to consider when approaching the overall monument effect. The first may be to begin with the font size and style for the names, dates, and epitaphs. At our head office in Calgary, our graphic artists will collaboratively work with you through the design process, you will be able to see the text sizes and fonts in real time while looking at a parallel computer screen. If you are unable to attend a design session in person, our design team can email you design options that will help guide you through the decision-making process. Other design elements can be added to a monument too, such as bronze plaques, appliques, vases, or picture frames. Another popular customized design feature is to set personalized porcelain photography into the layout. Another commonly used option is to sandblast or carve personalized graphic artwork into the polished granite stone’s surface. Specific carving techniques like “flashing” and “v shapes” can be skillfully applied during the sandblasting phase to enhance the text or artwork. Shape carvings or custom crafted carving techniques can also be applied to the granite surface to add depth and detail to the stone. In addition, monument paints can be applied to provide sharp contrast and detail to the headstone’s surface. Our skilled team are true artists who enjoy the creative process of creating unique memorials.
Related: Headstone Pricing Considerations
Pre-purchasing a custom headstone in Calgary at Sunset Memorial & Stone is designed to be a relaxing, stress-free experience for everyone who walks through our showroom doors. If you or your family member cannot find the exact monument style you envision, ask us about our custom memorial design services. This is a wonderful service that provides you with the opportunity to collaborate with our graphic art department to create a unique carved memorial that will meet your exact vision. Our graphic art department has the skill set to create custom 3 D artwork to reveal what the final product will look like before they commit to carving the granite monument. Our experienced design team has the skillset and talent to bring your vision to life.
What are the financial benefits of pre-purchasing a headstone?
Pre-purchasing a headstone safeguards against potential future price increases, ensuring that your chosen memorial is available when needed. It can also offer financial stability to your family during an emotionally challenging time.
Can I pre-plan the headstones of my loved ones as well?
Absolutely, pre-planning allows you to consider the memorialization of loved ones, providing solace and direction to your family during their time of grief.
What does the process of pre-purchasing a headstone require?
Over the years we have seen that more family members are interested in pre-planning their final arrangements which include pre-purchasing a headstone. Once the decisions are made regarding the cemetery and the plot location, the process for purchasing a headstone is straightforward.
- Select a monument style, color, and size
- Confirm the monument meets the requirements for the pre-purchased plot
- Place order and sign contract
- Begin designing artwork with a skilled graphic designer *
- Approve final design
- Obtain permits and registration paperwork for the installation
- Carve or inscribe the monument *
- Ship and install headstone at the cemetery
* Onsite inscriptions of date of death or other details can be inscribed later if so desired. These details simply need to be addressed in the contract.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, pre-planning and pre-purchasing headstones in Calgary is possible. It offers a proactive approach to securing your legacy and ensuring that your memory is celebrated as you envision. This thoughtful process alleviates the burden on your loved ones, offers financial stability during a stressful time, and allows for the creation of a unique and personalized tribute.
Take Action Today: Know more about headstones, Contact Us.
Cemeteries in Calgary: Queens Park Cemetery, Prairie Sky Cemetery, Edenbrook Cemetery, Union Cemetery, Burnsland Cemetery, St. Mary’s Cemetery, Pine Creek Cemetery, St. Patrick Cemetery, Mountain View Cemetery, Muslim Cemetery of Calgary, Beth Tzedec Memorial Park, St. Paul’s Anglican Cemetery
