How to Choose a Headstone Inscription

Finding the right words can be the most difficult part of choosing a memorial.

It is your personal tribute which tells future generations about the person you are lovingly commemorating.

This page is intended only as a starting point, please remember we are always on hand with expert advice to help you.

It is worth taking time over your choices – If possible, visit the cemetery or churchyard and look at some existing inscriptions: it might help to clarify your likes and dislikes.

Although it is helpful to have a good initial idea of the wording you would like, we will invite you to check the inscription laid out on paper before cutting, so you can change your mind about the wording or the layout if you wish.

If you need help or have any questions please use our Contact Form

A headstone inscription usually consists of a number of elements.

The headline

The name

The relationship

Dates

Epitaph or verse

There is no firm rule to which order you want these to appear in. We understand that choosing the right Headstone inscription for your loved one is a difficult task. We have included some example inscriptions to help you choose.

 

Headstone Example Inscription 1

TREASURED MEMORIES OF (Headline)

MY DEAR HUSBAND (Relationship)

NORMAN SMITH (Full Name)

A MUCH LOVED FATHER AND GRANDAD (Relationship)

CALLED TO REST 23RD NOV. 1993 (Dates)

AGED 79 YEARS (Dates)

GONE FROM OUR HOME (Epitaph)

BUT NOT FROM OUR HEARTS (Epitaph)

Headstone Example Inscription 2

Our Lady of Lourdes Pray for the Soul of (Prayers)

MARY SMITH (Full Name)

A BELOVED WIFE AND GRANDMOTHER (Relationship)

WHO FELL ASLEEP 12TH JUNE 2011 AGED 83 YEARS (Dates)

A SMILE FOR ALL A HEART OF GOLD (VERSES)

THE VERY BEST THIS WORLD COULD HOLD (VERSES)

NEVER SELFISH ALWAYS KIND (VERSES)

THIS IS THE MEMORY YOU LEFT BEHIND (VERSES)

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

TREASURED MEMORIES OF

PRECIOUS MEMORIES OF

CHERISHED MEMORIES OF

WITH LOVE WE REMEMBER

IN MEMORY OF

IN EVER LOVING MEMORY OF

IN EVERLASTING MEMORY OF

IN REMEMBRANCE OF

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF

FOND MEMORIES OF

AT REST

REMEMBERING

TO THE MEMORY OF

LOVING MEMORIES OF

IN GOD’S KEEPING

FONDEST MEMORIES OF

FONDEST MEMORIES OF

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

REMEMBERED WITH LOVE

PRECIOUS ARE THE MEMORIES OF

A TRIBUTE OF LOVE TO

IN GOD’S CARE

REMEMBERED ALWAYS

———

A BELOVED HUSBAND, DAD AND GRANDAD

A LOVING WIFE, MUM AND GRANDMA

A DEVOTED AND DEARLY LOVED HUSBAND, FATHER AND GRANDFATHER

MY DEAR HUSBAND AND A MUCH LOVED FATHER

THE DEARLY LOVED WIFE OF ………..

OUR DEVOTED SON

OUR DARLING DAUGHTER

OUR DEAR PARENTS

A DEARLY LOVED DAUGHTER AND SISTER

THE DARLING DAUGHTER OF MARY AND JOHN

A LOVING AND DEVOTED WIFE, MUM AND NANA

A MUCH LOVED AND SADLY MISSED HUSBAND,

DAD, GRANDAD AND GREAT-GRANDAD

MY DEAREST WIFE AND A DEVOTED MOTHER

A DEVOTED HUSBAND AND FATHER LOVED BY ALL HE KNEW

A DEAR MOTHER WITH A HEART OF GOLD

A LOVING FATHER, MOST SINCERE

———

WHO DIED 25th NOVEMBER 1993, AGED 79 YEARS

DIED 23rd NOVEMBER 1993, AGED 79 YEARS

DIED 23rd NOV. 1993, AGED 79 YEARS

WHO PASSED AWAY 23rd NOV. 1993 AGED 79 YEARS

DIED 23rd NOV. 1993, AGED 79

WHO FELL ASLEEP 23rd NOVEMBER 1993 IN HER 80th YEAR

BORN 22nd MARCH 1914, DIED 23rd NOV. 1993

CALLED TO REST 23rd NOV. 1993, AGED 79

DIED TRAGICALLY 23.11.1993, AGED 79 YEARS

WHO ENTERED INTO REST 23.12.1993 IN HER 80th YEAR

DEPARTED THIS LIFE 23rd NOVEMBER 1993, AGED 79 YEARS

AT REST 23.12.1993, AGED 79 YEARS

DIED 23.11.1993, AGED 79

22.3.1912 – 23.11.1993

1912 – 1993

———

TO LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WE LOVE IS NOT TO DIE

LOVING YOU ALWAYS FORGETTING YOU NEVER

GONE FROM OUR HOME BUT NOT FROM OUR HEARTS

IN GOD’S CARE

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

ONLY GOOD NIGHT BELOVED NOT FAREWELL

LOVES LAST GIFT REMEMBRANCE

GRANT HIM THY ETERNAL REST

REMEMBERED ALWAYS

REST IN PEACE

LOVE LIKE OURS CAN NEVER DIE

GREATLY LOVED AND SADLY MISSED

THOSE WE LOVE DON’T GO AWAY THEY WALK BESIDE US EVERY DAY

GOD’S FINGER TOUCHED HIM AND HE SLEPT

WHERE MEMORIES ARE FAITHFUL NO DISTANCE CAN DIVIDE

IN HEAVENLY LOVE ABIDING

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

PEACE PERFECT PEACE

HIS LIFE A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY HIS ABSENCE A SILENT GRIEF

FATHER IN THY GRACIOUS KEEPING
LEAVE WE NOW OUR LOVED ONES SLEEPING

THY WILL BE DONE

TILL WE MEET AGAIN

REQUIESCANT IN PACE

ALWAYS IN OUR THOUGHTS

SWEET ARE THE MEMORIES THAT NEVER FADE

FOREVER WITH THE LORD

HIS LIFE A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY HIS ABSENCE A SILENT GRIEF

DEEP IN OUR HEARTS YOU WILL ALWAYS STAY
NEVER MORE THAN A THOUGHT AWAY

DEATH IS ONLY A SHADOW ACROSS THE PATH TO HEAVEN

HE WHO DWELLETH IN LOVE DWELLETH IN GOD

GOD’S FINGER TOUCHED HER AND SHE SLEPT

SWEET ARE THE MEMORIES THAT NEVER FADE

THE SAVIOUR HAS MY TREASURE

RESTING WHERE NO SHADOWS FALL

WITH LOVE ALWAYS AND FOREVER

FOREVER IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS

LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDID THING

WE HAVE LOST THEM IN LIFE LET US NOT FORGET THEM IN DEATH

THIS WORLD WAS NEVER MEANT FOR ONE AS BEAUTIFUL AS YOU

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

WILL BE DEARLY MISSED, GOD BLESS

DEAR LORD LOVE HER AS WE ALL LOVED HER WHEN SHE WAS AT HOME

A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY LEFT BEHIND SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE

FLIGHTS OF ANGELS SING THEE TO THY REST

OUR LOVE IS NOW AND FOREVER

LORD IN YOUR MERCY HEAR OUR PRAYER

A VERY SPECIAL PERSON TO KNOW HER WAS TO LOVE HER

YOUR MEMORY WILL ALWAYS BE TREASURED
BY YOUR HEARTBROKEN CHILDREN

NOT GOOD-BYE, JUST GOOD NIGHT

MAY THEY REST IN THE PEACE OF CHRIST

REST AFTER WEARINESS, PEACE AFTER PAIN

ANOTHER FLOWER FOR GOD’S GARDEN

IN OUR HEARTS HE WILL LIVE FOREVER

PRECIOUS MEMORIES LEFT BEHIND

SO DEARLY LOVED – SO SADLY MISSED

FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS

FOREVER IN OUR THOUGHTS

RE-UNITED

MAY PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM

WHAT WE KEEP IN MEMORY IS OURS UNCHANGED FOREVER

NOT LOST TO MEMORY, NOT LOST TO LOVE

WE MADE A PROMISE TILL DEATH DO US PART
BUT WHEN THE TIME CAME IT BROKE MY HEART

THE HOURS PART US BUT THEY BRING US TOGETHER AGAIN

JESUS CALLED A LITTLE CHILD UNTO HIM

SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS

NIGHT, NIGHT, GOD BLESS

———

WE LOST A MOTHER WITH A HEART OF GOLD

HOW MUCH WE MISS HER CAN NEVER BE TOLD

SHE SHARED OUR TROUBLES AND HELPED US ALL ALONG

IF WE FOLLOW HER FOOTSTEPS WE WILL NEVER GO WRONG

WE HOLD YOU CLOSE WITHIN OUR HEARTS

AND THERE YOU SHALL REMAIN

TO WALK WITH US THROUGH OUT OUR LIVES

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

SHE WAS A MOTHER SO VERY RARE

CONTENT IN HER HOME AND ALWAYS THERE

ON EARTH SHE TOILED IN THE HEAVEN SHE RESTS

GOD BLESS YOU MOTHER YOU ONE OF THE BEST

WE GIVE OUR LOVE ONES BACK TO GOD

AND JUST AS HE FIRST GAVE THEM TO US

AND DID NOT LOOSE THEM IN THE GIVING

SO WE HAVE NOT LOST THEM IN RETURNING THEM TO HIM

OUR FAMILY CHAIN IS BROKEN

NOTHING SEEMS THE SAME

BUT AS GOD CALLS US ONE BY ONE

THE LINKS SHALL JOIN AGAIN

HE GAZED AMID THE LITTLE ONES

AND STOPPED TO PICK THE BEST

DEAR…….. WAS THE CHOSEN ONE

WITH JESUS NOW SHE RESTS

TO BE A PRECIOUS MOTHER

THERE WAS ONLY EVER ONE OF YOU

WE LOVE AND MISS YOU

GOD BLESS

DEATH IS NOT EXTINGUISHING THE LIGHT

BUT PUTTING THE LAMP OUT

BECAUSE THE DAWN AS COME

LIFE’S JOURNEY ON THIS EARTH IS

COMPLETED NOW THEY REST TOGETHER

IN THE LOVING CARE OF ALMIGHTY GOD

A BOUQUET OF BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES

SPRAYED WITH A MILLION TEARS

WE WISH THAT GOD COULD HAVE SPARED

YOU IF JUST FOR A FEW MORE YEARS

ETERNAL REST GRANT UNTO THEM O LORD

AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM

MAY THE REST IN PEACE

GOD SAW YOU WERE GETTING WEARY

HE DID WHAT HE THOUGHT BEST

HE PUT HIS ARMS AROUND YOU

AND TOOK YOU HOME TO REST

A SMILE FOR ALL A HEART OF GOLD

THE VERY BEST THIS WORLD COULD HOLD

NEVER SELFISH ALWAYS KIND

THIS IS THE MEMORY YOU LEFT BEHIND

WE HOLD YOU CLOSE IN OUR HEARTS

AND THERE YOU WILL REMAIN

TO WALK WITH US THROUGH OUT OUR LIVES

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

A LIGHT FROM OUR HOUSEHOLD HAS GONE

A VOICE WE LOVED IS STILLED

A PLACE IS VACANT IN OUR HOME

WHICH NEVER CAN BE FILLED

NEVER ANYONE SO LOVED

NEVER ANYONE SO MISSED

HE WILL LIVE FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS

NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN

DEEP IN OUR HEARTS YOU WILL ALWAYS STAY

NEVER MORE THAN A THOUGHT AWAY

IF TEARS COULD BUILD A STAIRWAY AND

MEMORIES BUILD A LANE THEN WE COULD

CLIMB TO HEAVEN & BRING YOU HOME AGAIN

OUR THOUGHTS ARE ALWAYS WITH YOU

MEMORIES NEVER FADE

WE TREASURE ALL THE THINGS YOU DID

ALL THE LOVE YOU GAVE

TWO TIRED EYES ARE SLEEPING

TWO WILLING HANDS ARE STILL

THE ONE WHO WORKED SO HARD FOR US

IS RESTING AT GODS WILL

KEEP YOUR ARMS AROUND HIM LORD

GIVE HIM SPECIAL CARE

MAKE UP FOR ALL HE WENT THROUGH

AND ALL THAT SEEMED UNFAIR

NO FAREWELLS WERE SPOKEN

NO TIME TO SAY GOODBYE

YOU WERE GONE BEFORE WE KNEW IT

AND ONLY GOD KNOWS WHY

SAD ARE THE HEARTS THAT LOVED YOU

SILENT THE TEARS THAT FALL

LIVING OUR LIVES WITHOUT YOU

IS THE SADDEST PART OF ALL

ALONG THE ROAD TO YESTERDAY

THAT LEADS ME STRAIGHT TO YOU

ARE MEMORIES OF HAPPY DAYS

TOGETHER WE ONCE KNEW

A LOVING SMILE AND KINDLY FACE

NO ONE ON EARTH CAN EVER REPLACE OUR MOTHER

I REMEMBER THE DAY I MET YOU

THE DAY GOD MADE YOU MINE

I REMEMBER THE DAY I LOST YOU

AND WILL TO THE END OF TIME

THROUGH ALL MY TEARS AND HEARTACHE

THERE’S ONE THING FOR WHICH I’M GLAD

THAT YOU CHOSE ME TO SHARE WITH YOU

THOSE PRECIOUS YEARS WE HAD

UNSELFISH WITH A HEART OF GOLD

NO TRUER FATHER THIS WORLD COULD HOLD

NO LONGER IN OUR LIVES TO SHARE

BUT IN OUR HEARTS YOU ARE ALWAYS THERE

WE THOUGHT OF YOU TODAY DAD

BUT THEN WE ALWAYS DO

FOR WHAT WOULD ANY OF US BE

IF IT WAS NOT FOR YOU

YOU GAVE US LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING

AND ENCOURAGED US WITH PRIDE

SO NOW WHENEVER WE NEED A FRIEND

WE KNOW YOU ARE BY OUR SIDE

WITHOUT FAREWELL YOU FELL ASLEEP

WITH ONLY MEMORIES LEFT TO KEEP

BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES DEARER THAN GOLD

OF OUR LOVED ONE WHOSE WORTH

CAN NEVER BE TOLD

HAPPY AND SMILING ALWAYS CONTENT

LOVED AND RESPECTED WHEREVER HE WENT

DEEP IN OUR HEARTS YOUR MEMORY IS KEPT

AS LONG AS WE LIVE WE SHALL NEVER FORGET

YOU HAD A SMILE FOR EVERYONE

YOU HAD A HEART OF GOLD

YOU LEFT THE DEAREST MEMORIES

THE WORLD COULD EVER HOLD

SHE WOULD NOT WISH FOR SADNESS

SHE WOULD NOT WISH FOR TEARS

JUST TO BE REMEMBERED

THROUGHOUT THE COMING YEARS

THE HAPPY HOURS WE ONCE ENJOYED

HOW SWEET THEIR MEMORY STILL

YOUR DEATH HAS LEFT A VACANT PLACE

THAT NO ONE ELSE CAN FILL

A BOUQUET OF BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES

SPRAYED WITH A MILLION TEARS

WE WISH THAT GOD COULD HAVE SPARED YOU

IF JUST FOR A FEW MORE YEARS

WE CANNOT BRING THE OLD DAYS BACK

WHEN WE WERE ALL TOGETHER

THE FAMILY CHAIN IS BROKEN NOW

BUT MEMORIES LIVE FOR EVER

WE NEVER SAID GOODBYE

THE REASON WHY NOW WE KNOW

GOD KNEW WE LOVED YOU FAR TO MUCH

TO EVER LET YOU GO

ALTHOUGH WE CANNOT SEE YOU

YOU ARE WITH US ALL EACH DAY

THE LOVE YOU GAVE US ALL IN LIFE

DEATH CANNOT TAKE AWAY

LOOKING BACK WITH MEMORIES

UPON THE PATH YOU TROD

I BLESS THE HOURS I HAD WITH YOU

AND LEAVE THE REST TO GOD

GOD WALKED AROUND HIS GARDEN

AND SAW AN EMPTY SPACE

HE THEN LOOKED DOWN FROM HEAVEN

AND SAW YOUR TIRED FACE

HE PUT HIS ARMS AROUND YOU

AND WHISPERED ‘COME AND REST’

HIS GARDEN MUST BE BEAUTIFUL

FOR HE ONLY TAKES THE BEST

NOTHING IS MORE PRECIOUS

THAN THE THOUGHTS WE HAVE OF YOU

TO US YOU WERE SO SPECIAL

GOD MUST HAVE THOUGHT SO TOO

FROM OUR HEARTS, ALL OUR LOVE

IN OUR MINDS TREASURED MEMORIES

IN OUR QUIET HOURS, REMEMBRANCE

A GOLDEN HEART STOPPED BEATING

HARD WORKING HANDS LAID TO REST

GOD BROKE OUR HEARTS TO PROVE TO US

HE ONLY TAKES THE BEST

‘TIS SWEET TO KNOW THAT WE SHALL MEET

WHERE PARTINGS ARE NO MORE

AND THAT THE ONE I LOVED SO MUCH

HAS ONLY GONE BEFORE

WE SAT AT HER BEDSIDE

WE HEARD HER LAST FAREWELL

GOD CALLED HER TO HIS GARDEN

THE PLACE SHE LOVED SO WELL

A SPECIAL SMILE, A SPECIAL FACE

A SPECIAL DAD WE CAN’T REPLACE

YOU GAVE YOUR LOVE, YOUR WHOLE LIFE THROUGH

GOD BLESS YOU DAD, WE LOVE YOU TOO

———

OUR LADY OF LOURDES

PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

MOST MERCIFUL MOTHER OF JESUS

PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

INTERCEDE FOR THE SOUL OF

OUR LADY OF KNOCK

PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL

PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

MERCIFUL MOTHER GUIDE

AND PROTECT THE SOUL OF

OUR LADY QUEEN OF HEAVEN

PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS

PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

QUEEN OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY

PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

OUR LADY OF FATIMA

PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

SWEET JESUS TAKE TO THY LOVING CARE

ETERNAL REST GRANT O LORD UNTO THE SOUL OF

MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS

HAVE MERCY ON THE SOUL OF

O SACRED HEART OF JESUS

HAVE MERCY ON THE SOUL OF

SWEET JESUS HAVE MERCY ON THE SOUL OF

OF YOUR CHARITY PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

PRAY FOR

PLEASE PRAY FOR

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

ST. ANTHONY PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

ST. FRANCIS PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

ST. THERESA PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

ST. MARTIN DE PORRES PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

ST. JUDE PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

ST. PATRICK PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

OUR LADY OF LOURDES

PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

MOST MERCIFUL MOTHER OF JESUS

PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

INTERCEDE FOR THE SOUL OF

OUR LADY OF KNOCK

PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL

PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

MERCIFUL MOTHER GUIDE

AND PROTECT THE SOUL OF

OUR LADY QUEEN OF HEAVEN

PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS

PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

QUEEN OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY

PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

OUR LADY OF FATIMA

PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

SWEET JESUS TAKE TO THY LOVING CARE

ETERNAL REST GRANT O LORD UNTO THE SOUL OF

MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS

HAVE MERCY ON THE SOUL OF

O SACRED HEART OF JESUS

HAVE MERCY ON THE SOUL OF

SWEET JESUS HAVE MERCY ON THE SOUL OF

OF YOUR CHARITY PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

PRAY FOR

PLEASE PRAY FOR

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

ST. ANTHONY PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

ST. FRANCIS PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

ST. THERESA PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

ST. MARTIN DE PORRES PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

ST. JUDE PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

ST. PATRICK PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF

———