Definition: A phrase or statement written in memory of a person who has died, especially as an inscription on a tombstone.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF AN EPITAPH
When a loved one has been laid to rest in a cemetery the final stage of closure involves the placement of a tombstone or grave marker identifying their grave. It is here that we are given one final occasion to communicate to the world the significance of our loved one.
Tombstone epitaphs are a reflection of one’s existence highlighting their personality traits or accomplishments in life. In some cases they may also tell the story of the circumstances that brought them to their death.
Even though tombstone epitaphs have varied over time one thing remains a constant. That is that epitaphs are a meaningful way to give respect to the deceased.
WRITING AN EPITAPH
Tombstone epitaphs take on many forms and are derived from many sources. One of the most popular forms is taken from biblical scripture. Bereaved family members often choose a biblical verse as an epitaph as it may exhibit some virtuous quality that was a characteristic of the decedent’s life.
Some choose to write an tombstone epitaph detailing the accomplishments of the decedent’s life. Maybe the person was a great doctor who selflessly gave his time tending to the sick or one who was known for their philanthropy or community service.
Whatever the subject a epitaph allows us to post our reflections of the personalities and achievements of the departed, marking their existence here on Earth.
GREAT FOR ANYONE
G-1 Earth has no sorrows that heaven cannot heal.
G-2 I think of you as watching from a time and space beyond the sky, a place where we might someday come.
G-3 May the journey on your next adventure is as joy-filled as your time with us. See you soon!
G-4 To the world you may have just been somebody, but to all of us you were the world. Thank you for the time you spent here!
G-5 Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
G-6 Behold my friends as you pass by as you are now, so once was I as I am now, soon you shall be give thyself to God and follow me.
G-7 The kiss of the sun for pardon, the song of the birds for mirth, one’s nearer God’s heart in a garden, than anywhere else on earth
G-8 Your presence is a gift to the world, you’re unique and one of a kind. Your life can be what you want it to be take it one day at a time.
G-9 I can only hope we shall see each other again in that place where there is only love and no shadows fall. You have touched my very being…I shall remember you.
G-10 We miss you very much and love you dearly we know our God is taking care of you and you are now one of his special angels you are forever in our hearts. We can’t wait to be with you again.
G-11 You taught all that knew you what courage meant and has shown us an example in death as you did in life. God give me strength in my life without you.
G-12 I pray you can see me now and be proud of what I have become because of your example, but most of all I thank you because you loved me so much
G-13 Don’t mourn my loss, whatever you do. My leaving brings you closer to the loved ones I have left behind and all the joys the future holds.
G-14 Shed not for her the bitter tear nor give the heart to vain regret tis but mere ashes that lie here. The gem that filled it sparkles yet.
G-15 Beneath this simple stone that marks his resting place Our precious darling sleeps alone in the Lord’s long embrace.
G-16 No pain, no grief, no anxious fear can reach our loved one sleeping here.
G-17 Gone, but not forgotten
G-18 In Loving Memory of ………….
G-19 To live in the hearts of those we love is never to die.
G-20 Entered into rest
G-21 Until we meet again
G-22 Rest in Peace
G-23 Forever in our hearts
G-24 Always in our hearts
G-25 At rest with God
G-26 Too well loved to ever be forgotten
G-27 Asleep in Jesus
G-28 Home with God, which is far better
G-29 Ours for a little while, with Jesus forever
G-30 Everlasting life through Christ
G-31 Asleep in Christ Jesus
G-32 Beloved of the Lord
G-33 The song is ended, but the melody lingers on
G-34 Rest in thine, sweet memory ours
G-35 Sweetly sleeping
G-36 Loving memories last forever
G-37 Hasten, oh blessed hour of reunion
G-38 Not lost to memory! Not lost to love! But gone to our Father’s house above!
G-39 Step softly, a dream lies buried here.
G-40 Your love will light my way, your memory will ever be with me.
G-41 What we keep in memory is ours unchanged forever.
G-42 Death is only a shadow across the path to heaven.
G-43 At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
G-44 He gave thee, He took thee, and He will restore thee
G-45 God would not have made earthly ties so strong to break them in eternity
FAMOUS QUOTATIONS
CL-1 The soul that suffers is stronger than the soul that rejoices. E. Shepard
CL-5 Death is the golden key that opens the palace of Eternity. Milton
CL-7 Earth hath no sorrow that heaven cannot heal. Moore
CL-8 Heaven, the treasury of everlasting joy. Shakespeare
CL-9 Death is not a foe, but an inevitable adventure. Sir Oliver Lodge
CL-10 Every man’s life is a plan of God. Horace Bushnell
CL-11 The acts of this life are the destiny of the next. (Eastern proverb)
CL-13 The heart of him who truly loves is a paradise on earth. Lamennais
CL-14 Mutual love, the crown of all our bliss. Milton
CL-15 To love is to place our happiness in the happiness of another. Leibnitz
CL-16 Humble love, and not proud service, keeps the door of heaven. Young
CL-17 The greatest attribute of Heaven is mercy. Beaumont and Fletcher
CL-18 Mercy to him that shows it is the rule. Cowper
CL-19 Nature loves proxy, the watchful mother. Bulwer
CL-20 Dust thou art, to dust returnest, was not spoken of the soul. Longfellow
CL-21 The kiss of the sun for pardon, the song of the birds for mirth, One’s nearer God’s heart in a garden, than anywhere else on earth. Dorothy Francis
CL-22 Till the master of all good workmen shall set us to work anew. Rudyard Kipling
CL-23 The end and the reward of toil is rest. James Beattie
CL-24 In His will is our peace. Dante
CL-25 Safe in the hallowed quiets of the past. Lowell
CL-26 Music, when soft voices die, vibrates in the memory. Shelley
CL-27 Each lonely scene shall thee restore. William Collins
CL-28 Things past belong to memory alone, things future are the property of hope. John Home
CL-29 Yet in this heart’s most sacred place, thou, alone, shall dwell forever. Moore
CL-30…There hath pass’d away a glory from the earth. Wordsworth
CL-31 joy, joy forever! -My task is done -the gates are pass’d and heaven is won. Moore
CL-32 The cross leads generations on. Shelley
CL-33…The heart of man is restless until it finds its rest in Thee. St. Augustine
CL-34 God is and all is well. Whittier
CL-35 Death’s but a path to be trod if man would ever pass to God. T. Parnell
CL-36 Onward to thy glory! ‘Tis always morning somewhere in the world. R.H. Horne
CL-37 Life’s a voyage that’s homeward bound. H. Melville
CL-38 He hath awakened from the dream of life. Shelley
CL-39 Beyond is the infinite morning of a day without tomorrow. W.S. Abbott
CL-40 Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak whispers the o’erfraught heart and bids it break… Shakespeare
CL-41 Where He leads me I can safely go. Millay
CL-42 God gives us love. Something to love He lends us. Tennyson
CL-43 Whither thou goest, I will go. Ruth i: 16
CL-44 But in the night of death hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing. Ingeresoll
CL-45 There never was night that had no morn. D.M.N. Craik
CL-46 Faith builds a bridge across the gulf of death. Young
CL-47 Until the day break and the shadows flee away. Cant. Ii: 17
CL-48 ‘Tis not the whole of life to live, nor all of death to die. J. Montgomery
CL-49 Where there is sorrow there is holy ground. Wilde
CL-50 Now twilight lets her curtain down and pins it with a star. L.M. Child
CL-51 Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal. Moore
CL-52 Where there is much light, the shadows are deepest. Goethe
CL-53 His daily prayer, far better understood in acts than words, was simple doing good. Whittier
CHRISTIAN’S FAVORITE VERSES
B-1 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. 23rd Psalm
B-2 Believe on Him to life everlasting. 1 Timothy 1:16
B-3 He shall receive in the world to come eternal life. Mark 10:30
B-4 The righteous shall go into life eternal. Matthew 25:46
B-5 Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:15
B-6 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8
B-7 He that endureth to the end shall be saved. Matthew 10:22
B-8 The Lord hath given him rest from all his enemies. 11 Samuel 7:1
B-9 Thy remembrance shall endure into all generations. 102nd Psalm
B-10 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Philippians 1:3
B-11 He that believeth in the Son hath everlasting life. John 3:16
B-12 I rejoice in thy salvation. 1 Samuel 2:1
B-13 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 23rd Psalm
B-14 This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well please. Matthew 3:17
B-15 Blessed is the man who maketh the Lord his trust. Psalms 40:4
B-16 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden. Matthew 11:28
B-17 Sleep on now, and take your rest. Matthew 26:45
B-18 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4
B-19 …Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Matthew 25:21
B-20 I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead yet hall he live. John 11:25
B-21 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. John 14:1
B-22 …All things work together for good to them that love God. Romans 8:28
B-23 …Be thou faith unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Revelation 2:10
B-24 …Not my will, but thine be done. Luke 22:42
B-25 The Lord watch between me and thee, while we are absent, one from the other. Genesis 31:49
B-26 For with thee is the foundation of life: in the light shall we see light. Ps.xxxvi:9
B-27 God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John iv:16
B-28 Greater love than this no one has, that one lay down his life for his friends. John xv:13
B-29 This is the promise… The life everlasting. 1st Epistle of John ii:25
B-30 For of such is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew xix:14
B-31 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. 11 Tim.1v:7my
CHILD’S LOVING REMEMBRANCES
C-1 Hush my dear, be still and slumber: Jolly angels guard your bed
C-2 The dutifulness of children is the foundation of all virtue
C-3 Children bring their own love with them when they come
C-4 What would the world be to us if children were no more?
C-5 Oh, for boyhood’s time of June crowding years into one brief moon
C-6 Sleep undisturbed within the peaceful shrine, Till angels wake thee with a note like thine.
C-7 No jewel is as perfect as the innocence of childhood
C-8 Sleep, my little one, sleep
C-9 Children are a heritage of the Lord. Psalms 127:3
C-11 Little Boy Blue has gone away
C-12 God’s garden has need of little flowers
C-13 Remembering a tiny angel
C-14 So small, so sweet, so soon
C-15 Lord, we give you our littlest angel
C-16 Budded (or blossomed) on earth to bloom in Heaven
C-17 For of such is the Kingdom of Heaven
C-18 His was a man’s courage
C-19 Our littlest angel who went back to Heaven
C-20 Called by one who loves him dearly
C-21 Let thy child rest in hope and rise in glory
C-22 Awaiting the touch of a little hand, and the smile of a little face
C-23 Children are the keys of paradise
C-24 An angel visited the green earth, and took a flower away
C-25 The place of a sleeping angel
C-26 Lost his/her wheels, but gained his/her wings (for a child confined to a wheel chair)
MOTHER’S, WIFE’S AND OTHER BELOVED LADIES’
F-1 To know even one life breathed easier because she lived is to know she truly succeeded while here.
F-2 We can only be said to be alive when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. Let it be forever remembered she was always a diamond to us.
F-3 She never took no for an answer and pushed ahead when others paused. But a kinder, gentler woman you will never meet again.
F-4 She appreciated every moment because she knew she might never be able to experience it again.
F-5 She took in all the wonders of life, wrapped them in a colorful package and gave it to us. We’ll miss you!
F-6 The past is history. The future, a mystery. But we will hold dear our memories of her, her smile, the sound of her laughter…forever.
F-7 She did more than exist, she lived. She did more than listen, she understood. Rest peacefully, dear.
F-8 Goodbye to a wonderful mother and grandmother. She lived a long and wonderful life, and was loved by all who knew her. She will be dearly missed, but will live on in our hearts for generations.
F-9 Sleep on, sweet mother and wife, And take thy rest, God called thee home He thought it best
F-10 My wife, my friend, the mother dear In dreamless sleep repossess here May those whose love to her was given All meet and live with her in heaven
F-11 Mother thou art gone to rest And this shall be our prayer That when we reach our journey’s end His glory we may share
F-12 God’s greatest gift returned to God -my mother O Lord I put her in thy hands She had a kindly word for each and she died beloved by all She lives with us in memory and will for evermore
F-13 May God grant you eternal rest, dear Mother
F-14 She concealed her tears but shared her smiles
F-15 God took her home, it was his will, but in our hearts she liveth still
F-16 God bless thee wheresoe’er thou art in his great universe today
F-17 She is resting peacefully with Jesus in that beautiful home above
F-18 Her memory is enshrined in our hearts
F-19 Her friendship was an inspiration, her love a blessing
F-20 Resting with those she loved
F-21 She served and kept the faith
F-22 She walked in beauty
F-23 Her friends were her world
F-24 She loved people and laughter
F-25 She would rather give than receive
F-26 God called her from among us to a home of eternal rest
F-27 Always loving: always loved
F-28 To know her was to love her
F-29 She gave so much and demanded so little
F-30 Her children arise up and call her blessed
F-31 A mother is a mother still, the holiest thing alive
F-32 Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, in every gesture dignity and love
F-33 When she had passed, it seemed like the ceasing of exquisite music
F-34 She passed through glory’s morning gate and walked in paradise
FATHER’S, BROTHER’S, SON’S AND OTHER WONDERFUL MEN’S
M-1 If there is another world, he lives in bliss If not another, and he made the most of this
M-2 We laughed at him because he was different. He laughed at us because we were all the same. We will never laugh the same again.
M-3 Only those who risk going too far will ever know how far they can go. We will always remember just how far our wonderful boy could go!
M-4 Each life is like a letter of the alphabet. Alone it can be meaningless. Or, like his beautiful years with us, it can be part of a great meaning.
M-5 He always stood for what was right and good. And for this we shall forever cherish his memory.
M-6 What lies behind him and what lies before him are tiny matters compared to what lied within him
M-7 He achieved success here because he lived well, laughed often and loved much. We’ll forever miss you, Daddy!
M-8 He left the world knowing he was loved. Nothing in life could be a more precious gift. You’ll always be in our heart, son!
M-9 He always did the things he thought he couldn’t do. Thank you for your courage and inspiration.
M-10 He never heard opportunity knock Because he was too busy building doors. Don’t forget us!
M-11 His true wealth was in his generous heart. And what endless wealth he did have.
M-12 It is not length of life, but depth of life. He jumped into life and never touched bottom.