Cremation Memorials: Everything You Need to Know
Jill Darby 
There was a time when you could walk through a cemetery or memorial park and safely assume the majority of people laid to rest were buried in a traditional manner. As cremation rates continue to rise, you will see more and more grave markers commemorating the lives of loved ones who were cremated. These cremation memorials very much resemble typical markers, but have integrated repositories that house cremated remains.
Recently, it was brought to my attention that many people don’t have a clear understanding of what cremation memorials are and the various purposes they can serve. That being so, I wanted to take a little time and answer some general questions about these products.
Are There Different Types of Cremation Memorials?
Yes, there are several types. The most common are made from bronze and granite, both of which have an in-ground vessel to house cremated remains underneath the nameplate. The product’s overall size will depend on if it is a single memorial or a companion (double) memorial that pays tribute to two people.
Many families are drawn to the strength and elegance of bronze and the stately presentation it makes when mounted on granite. Other families prefer granite because they appreciate the material’s unique colors, patterns, and textures.
Some of the more distinctive styles of markers include cremation rocks, benches, and bird baths. They are ideal for those who enjoyed spending time outdoors and will have a name plate or plaque along with a discrete compartment that holds the cremated remains.
Can Cremation Markers Be Personalized?
Of course! The extent to which a memorial can be customized depends on the marker’s design and the amount of space dedicated to memorialization.
Standard-sized bronze and granite memorials should have enough room for 5 or so words of endearment to be inscribed under the deceased’s name. Flower vases and emblems symbolizing the loved ones’ beliefs, values, hobbies, etc. can also be added.
Some companies offer larger options that allow for more pronounced personalization features. Trigard Memorials, for example, recently introduced a 10”x20” Companion Deluxe marker that can be mounted to a generous slab of granite. This product’s oxide finished lettering and emblems are greater in size and more spread out than the 12”x12” option.
Do Cremation Memorials Protect Cremated Remains?
The degree to which a loved one’s remains are safeguarded from water, dirt, and other graveside elements depends on the vessel used to hold the remains.
Most repositories are made from polymer and have a cylinder base with a separate top. They have a Tupperware-like closing mechanism that helps ensure the contents are not disturbed.
Trigard has taken extra measures to protect the cremated remains of loved ones. Our memorials are engineered in a way so water gets routed away from the cylinder’s entrance. They also have a rubber gasket on the bottom of the nameplate that forms an air-tight seal with the cylinder.
Are Companion Cremation Markers Only for Husbands and Wives?
Traditionally, double memorials were used for husbands and wives, but that is no longer the case. They can be used for siblings, or any two people who had a special relationship in life and want to be connected in death as they were in life.
Companion markers are the perfect way to commemorate a loved one individually, while representing the joint achievements and bond of two people.
Are There Always People’s Cremated Remains in a Companion Memorial?
No, not always. Making the decision to be cremated is highly personal. There are times when two people are honored and remembered together, but only one individual’s cremated remains are interred at the gravesite. This is often the case when one person was cremated and the other person was buried in a traditional manner.
For this very reason, companion markers can have either one or two vessels. Double memorials with one receptacle can hold the full amount of cremated remains for one person or a combined portion of two people’s remains. Markers that have two repositories, including Trigard’s Companion Deluxe memorials, can hold the entire amount of two individuals remains separately.
In Closing
One of the main reasons cremation is so popular is due to its flexibility in terms of service offerings, remembrance options, and final resting place opportunities.
Those who want their own cremated remains or those of a loved one laid to rest in a cemetery or memorial park are creating a special place for family and friends to visit and share memories for years to come. Having a personalized cremation memorial mark this site is a loving, everlasting tribute to a life well lived.
Jill Darby
Jill is a member of the Marketing Team and copywriter for Trigard Memorials and all affiliated Greenwood Inc. companies. She grew up in the funeral industry, as her family owned funeral homes in the Midwest. After graduating from Miami University, Ohio in 2003 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business, Jill worked in sales and customer relations for a global funeral product manufacturer. Her experience also includes merchandising, cemetery operations, and aftercare. Jill and her husband, Rich enjoy spending time with family, traveling, watching college basketball, and spoiling their 5 grandchildren.
4 responses to “Cremation Memorials: Everything You Need to Know”
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Wednesday, January 28, 2026
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Friday, October 31, 2025
Please send info for a double memorial on a granite slab with vase
Hi Norma, of course we can send you more information on a double memorial marker with a granite slab and vase. I have reached out to our project manager, Blake Swinford to give you the information requested. He will be reaching out to you shortly.
Do you make headstones out of the ashes? Would it me possible to have the ashes mixed into the material the headstone is made out of?
Hi Pam, Thank you for reaching out with your question. Trigard Memorials does not offer a product that allows cremated remains (ashes) to be mixed into our bronze grave markers. To my knowledge, there aren’t any companies that make full-size markers that meet this requirement. Most families looking to lay a loved one to rest in a cemetery choose a cremation memorial, where the cremated remains can be placed with care in an inground cremation vessel. You can find more information about this product on our website.
Best regards, Jill