Many people use memorial plaques in Melbourne to mark the burial plot of a loved one who has passed away. They are usually comprised of stone (such as granite or marble) or metal (such as bronze) and include basic information about the person it is commemorating. Because this is a lasting tribute, it is important that you get the wording right from the beginning.
Step 1: Most people begin the plaque with a reverent phrase, such as “In Loving Memory Of” or “Dedicated to the Memory of”. This is completely optional and there are hundreds of variations that you could choose to use instead.
Step 2: This is usually followed with the deceased person’s full name, such as “Jane Anne Doe”. Some people will omit the middle name (especially if the given and surnames are quite long) and others will include a nickname if this is what the person was commonly known as.
Step 3: The person’s lifespan is recorded next. It can be written as complete dates, such as “29/05/1990 – 06/09/2013”, or it can be written as just the year, such as “1990 – 2013”. In some cases, only the date of death is recorded; this is especially common if the person was uncomfortable with their age.
Step 4: Some people will include a personal message beneath all of this basic information. It could be a quote or mantra that was particularly meaningful to the deceased person, it could be a unique fact about them or it could be a list of all the people who were important to them in life.
Step 5: To finish the wording on the plaque, some people will also include a finishing line of sorts. Some common inscriptions include: “Gone but not forgotten”, “May he rest in peace” and “In God’s ever loving care”. There are also hundreds of variations that you could choose to use instead.
Whilst the purpose of a memorial plaque in Melbourne is to sum up the deceased person in a way that all would know them, it is important to use language that is appropriately respectful to the individual. This is why finding the right wording can be such a difficult process. Often, it helps to ask for another perspective from others who also knew your loved one.