What is a Cenotaph Memorial?

A cenotaph memorial is a physical remembrance permanently installed at a site where the individual being honor is not at rest. While a cenotaph is frequently placed within a cemetery at a gravesite, crypt, or niche, the cenotaph is placed on either an unoccupied burial site or on a burial site wherein a different individual is at rest.

‘A cenotaph, is simply a memorial, headstone, or marker honoring a decedent who is buried elsewhere.’

Cenotaphs typically take on the characteristics of the memorials in any given cemetery section. They can be constructed of Granite or Bronze and they can honor a single individual or multiple individuals together.

Each cemetery will have unique rules and regulations about the placement of cenotaph, so it is important to contact the cemetery directly before making arrangements to have a cenotaph made.

Purpose & Characteristics of a Cenotaph Memorial

A cenotaph memorial serves many practical and emotional purposes. As families become more mobile, it is common to have loved ones at rest in different cemeteries across the country, or even the world. By placing a cenotaph alongside local family graves, families can visit, remember, honor and memorialize their loved ones is a single place.

Cenotaphs are often placed for individuals lost in war, lost at sea, or lost in natural disasters as physical marker which helps mourners to cope with unresolved loss In the 21st century, cenotaphs are more frequently used to permanently memorialize individuals who have been cremated and scattered elsewhere. A cenotaph provides a permanent physical place to associate with an individual’s memory as permanent memorialization placed within a cemetery helps to document and record of an individual’s life, connecting visitors to both the past and future.

Purpose & Characteristics of a Memorial

A memorial serves many practical and emotional purposes. Permanent memorialization placed within a cemetery helps to document and record of an individual’s life, connecting visitors to both the past and future. In addition to commemorating an individual in perpetuity, a physical marker also helps mourners to cope with loss during the grieving process. The erecting of a memorial or monument, an installation or dedication ceremony, and on-going visitation are acts of remembrance that help mourners in their grieving process to move from a life with an individual’s physical presence to preserving one’s memory. It is a deep-rooted part of human culture for thousands of years to create memorials.

Cost of Cenotaph Memorials

The cenotaph memorial cost will depend on the type of material used: bronze, granite, or stone, as well as the size, and features included within the memorial. Cenotaph memorials are designed and installed in the same manner as are traditional memorials. When considering a cenotaph memorial, it is important to consider and evaluate the cost of the cenotaph, its installation, and if there are any perpetual care costs.