Digging for Answers 7/15/2010

Digging for Answers, by Randy Seaver


Welcome to the Digging for Answers column on the Graveyard Rabbit Online Journal.

This column will depend on your submission of questions about cemeteries, gravestones, burial practices, and other topics that concern a Graveyard Rabbit (other than where his next carrot is coming from!). So please send some questions to the editor, who will pass them along and keep the columnist hopping.

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Question: Joanie asks: What do gravestones or grave markers cost these days? How can I comparison shop?

Answer: One of the frustrating things about having to deal with the passing of a loved one, especially if it happens unexpectedly, is deciding on all of the arrangements - casket, cremation, funeral, memorial service, grave marker, etc. Many mortuaries and cemeteries offer "one stop shopping," but many people feel that they were overcharged and are often dismayed when they learn that they could have found some items cheaper. and perhaps with better quality, if they had taken the time to shop around.

The grave marker or gravestone is one of those items that can be provided by either the cemetery or the family of the deceased. The cemetery may have strict requirements on what can be placed on their property, so you should check with the cemetery to determine their requirements. Also be aware that if the family provides the gravestone that there may be a fee for placing the gravestone charged by the cemetery. Also, if the family provides the gravestone, there may be a delay in obtaining the gravestone from a commercial company out of the immediate area.

I've done a little gravestone shopping around for you. You can use these costs to give you an idea of what gravestones cost in the commercial world, which appears to be very competitive (which is good for the consumer).

Affordable Markers -- http://www.affordable-markers.com

Burleson Monuments -- http://www.burlesonmonuments.com/

Headstones USA -- http://www.headstonesusa.com/

Memorials.com -- http://www.memorials.com/

West Memorials - http://westmemorials.com/

and many more! Do a search for [gravestone marker cost {your city}] and see what you can find.

There is a surprising amount of variety in gravestone designs offered by these companies. Flat granite or bronze headstones and grave markers, slant and bevel style stones, upright markers with bases, monuments, memorial benches, statues and many more options are available. Prices vary according to the desires of the customer.

All of those sites quote prices based on the type of gravestone monument or marker, the size of the marker, the design of the marker, etc. On some of the sites, the customer can "create their own" marker to see what it might look like. Some of the sites offer design services, coordination with the cemetery and shipping to the cemetery.

Some examples:

A Flat, 24 inches wide, 12 inches high, 4 inches deep, gray granite marker starts at $320 at Affordable Markers.

A Flat, 24 x 12 x 4 gray granite marker starts at $369 at Headstones USA.

A Flat, 24 x 12 x 4 gray granite marker starts at $610 at West Memorials.

A Flat, 24 x 12 x 4 gray granite marker starts at $495 at Burleson Monuments.

A Flat, 24 x 12 x 4 gray granite marker starts at $684 at Memorials.com.

Obviously, the buyer needs to shop around and find the best quality gravestone for the money that meets their needs. Some of the sites offer testimonials from satisfied customers and may offer references for customers to check.

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Randy Seaver, Chula Vista CA
Member CVGS, SDGS, CGSSD, NEHGS, NGS

Email: rjseaver@cox.net
Genealogy Site: www.genealogy.com/users/s/e/a/Randy-Seaver/
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