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What To Notice When Composing An Epitaph
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.
Nearly every grave marker starts out with the same basic identifying information. They state with the deceased's name and the date of their birth followed by when they passed away. Some people choose to stop there, but many opt to include additional statements, sentiments or facts that either describe the individual, or speak to their life or personality.
These additional statements are quite often short sentiments about how much the individual will be missed, how special they were or wishes for a peaceful afterlife. They might list their familial positions such as child, sibling, parent or spouse, or it may be a record of their time in the military or other organization. Spiritual scripture is also very commonly used.
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.
Another approach many people take when composing their inscription is to leave a final bit of advice to those who read their marker. They may warn against taking life for granted or suggest that the living make the most of every moment. There are no limitations as to what one might choose to place on their stone.
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