Why Might A Grave Need A Temporary Marker?

It's curious to think that the final stage of a person's final resting place is generally added some months after the person has passed away. When burying a loved one, you will need to start planning their headstone. Cemetery headstones are added at a later stage—months after burial, in fact. But why is this, and what happens in the meantime?

Soil Compaction After Burial

Burial at a cemetery is more involved than what might be expected. A casket is placed in the ground, and then buried—and the cemetery is expected to do this hundreds (if not thousands) of times without destabilizing the ground above. The soil above your loved one must settle and compact, allowing you (and other cemetery users) to safely visit the site, while also maintaining the esthetics of the ground. If a headstone is added before the soil has sufficiently compacted, a sunken or tilted headstone becomes more likely. 

A Waiting Period

It's for this reason that a delay is often mandatory. There's no universal rule for this, but it's likely the cemetery management will require that you wait a minimum of six months before adding the headstone. Some sites may recommend a longer waiting period. Please ask cemetery management for specific details, as it may vary depending on locality. This is because the consistency of the soil and the typical weather conditions in the area can also play a role in determining the best schedule.

Advantages of a Delay

This waiting period may be unexpected, but it has its advantages. You can use the extra time to choose the best possible material and design for the headstone, along with allowing some additional time to pay for it. But what happens in the meantime? Will your loved one essentially be buried in an unmarked grave until it's safe to install their headstone?

A Temporary Solution

Ask the company supplying your headstone about their temporary grave markers. These are, as the name suggests, a temporary way of marking your loved one's grave. They can be little more than a wooden cross with your loved one's name etched into the wood. They're often a metal plaque attached to a stake that can be pressed into the ground. You must liaise with the cemetery to ensure that they don't have any restrictions about the design of a temporary grave marker.

A temporary grave marker can be very useful—allowing mourners to find the grave without its final headstone. Remember that the delay exists for a reason, and in the meantime, a temporary grave marker offers a valuable service.

For more information on cemetery headstones, contact a professional near you.