Memorial Traditions

One universal tradition (regardless of culture, religion, ethnicity or nationality) is bringing gifts to a loved one’s grave. Many bring photographs, flowers, or mementos that possess a certain emotional resonance. One of the unique traditions that many find especially comforting is placing a grave blanket on the burial site. This is an enduring custom that […]

During the grieving process, many people search for the “correct” answer to all of their questions. What is the right inscription for my loved one’s memorial? Which headstone style should I have? What material should the headstone be? The truth is, there are no simple answers for every question in this process. The family should […]

Table of Contents What are the differences between Protestant and Catholic funerals? What happens at a Protestant visitation or wake? How are Protestant funeral services conducted? Is cremation common in Protestant funerals? What happens during Protestant burials? Additional Protestant funeral traditions When a loved one passes, families are faced with the difficult task of planning […]

Table of Contents How can annual reunions help memorialize you loved one How can a memorial web page honor your loved one How can a memorial scrapbook help you heal Establish a charity to keep their legacy alive Additional ways to memorialize your loved one How a monument company can support your memorial journey Losing […]

Table of Contents What do Carnations Represent? What do Hyacinths Represent? What do Daisies Represent? What do Roses Represent? What do Lillies Represent How to Choose Funeral Flowers? In times of loss, expressing sympathy and support can feel overwhelming. When words fail, many turn to a timeless and compassionate tradition—sending flowers. Funeral flowers offer a […]

Table of Contents History of Cremation Can you bury after cremation? Can you have a funeral after cremation? What is a columbarium? What temperature does cremation use? Is cremation cheaper? Is cremation done individually? How long does cremation take? Where did cremation come from? How do families receive cremains? How to memorialize ashes? How to […]

At St. Charles Monuments, we proudly create headstones on Long Island to honor the brave men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. From personalized military headstones to civic monuments, we help families preserve the memory of their loved ones with dignity and respect. As Memorial Day approaches, we want to reflect on […]

At St. Charles, we have many years of experience crafting custom monuments for grieving Long Island families. As a result, we now have a profound insight into loss and the way it affects people. Our primary mission has always been to help guide those suffering grief through a very stressful and traumatic period and provide […]

Finding a cemetery that can: (1) meet your needs and (2) honor your loved one can be difficult. Whether you’re arranging a funeral or pre-planning, there are a lot of variables to take into consideration. At St. Charles Monuments, guiding you through this difficult time and doing what we can to lessen the pain is […]

Within our cultures, we have very specific ways of honoring those we’ve lost. Obviously, for us that involves creating a stunning monument to pay tribute to their lives. Here on Long Island, we create gorgeous memorials, add new lettering, hold funeral services, etc. But throughout the world, many cultures have very different (and equally specific) […]