What is an Epitaph?
One way to further personalize the headstone of someone you’ve lost is to include an epitaph. So what is an epitaph? In this guide, we will walk you through the process of writing an epitaph and provide some examples.
Epitaphs are essentially short headstone sayings that are carved into the face of the headstone; typically, epitaphs take the form of short quotes, phrases, or poems. The beauty of an epitaph is that it can be whatever you want it to be. This freedom of expression gives you the opportunity to memorialize your loved one with words that were important to them, or that evoke the spirit of who they were as a person. People often turn to famous poems, movie quotes, speeches, or even song lyrics for epitaph inspiration
How to write an epitaph:
As you cope with the loss of your loved one, you may be finding it hard to get started with writing an epitaph. To help you find the words to best memorialize your loved one, here are a few helpful tips to get started.
Give yourself time. Sometimes if you wait until you’ve given yourself enough time to process the loss of the deceased person you are memorializing, you will find it easier to put words to all of the emotions you are feeling. Taking some time to reflect before you decide on an epitaph will make it easier to find the right words.
Think of quotes, bible verses, poems or songs that either remind you of the deceased person, or were words that you knew were important to them during their life (such as the chorus to their favorite song, or an excerpt from a speech made by their favorite athlete or leader)
Be mindful to make the best use of the limited space you have on the headstone; this should help you really hone in on a short quote or verse that best captures your loved one
Epitaph Examples:
If you’re looking for more concrete epitaph examples, or if you’re curious what the most commonly used short quotes for headstones are, here is a list of some of the most popular epitaphs that we see:
Epitaphs For Mothers:
"All that I am, or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother" - Abraham Lincoln
"A Mother holds her children's hands for a moment, and their hearts forever."
"Your life was a blessing. Your memory is a treasure. You are loved beyond words, and missed beyond measure"
"She asked for so little, but gave so very much"
"To know even one life breathed easier because she lived, is to know she truly succeeded while here"
"A mother's love, like an imperishable sun, cannot go out"
Epitaphs For Fathers:
"His true wealth was his generous heart. And what wealth he did have"
"In loving memory of [Dad name]. We are proud to call you ours."
"He had a kind word for each, and died beloved by all"
"His greatest joy was making others happy"
"His memory will survive in the hearts of his children"
"Dads hold our hands for a little while, and hold our hearts forever"
Epitaphs For Sons:
"In happiest memories of our son, [son's name]"
"Rest peacefully"
"Our son, our greatest gift"
"His absence is a silent grief, and his life's a beautiful memory"
"A life that touches others goes on forever"
"You are loved, you are missed, you are remembered
Epitaphs For Daughters:
"Wherever a beautiful soul has been there is a trail of beautiful memories"
"Forever in our hearts"
"May the winds of heaven blow softly, and whisper in your ear. How much we love and miss you, and wish that you were here"
"She was an artist, and life was her canvas"
"The light of our lives"
"Always in our thoughts"
Epitaphs For Husbands:
"Great love lives on."
"I mourn not his death, but celebrate his life."
"Those we love are never more than a thought away"
"We meet many matches in our lives, but there is always one that burns brighter than the rest"
"My husband, my best friend, my soulmate"
Epitaphs For Wives:
"We lived together in happiness. Now we rest together in peace."
"You will forever be my always"
"In loving memory of my loving wife"
"Even in death we are not divided"
"I will always think of you and smile"
"Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us everyday"
Famous Headstone Quotes:
"Life is a dream walking, death is going home" - Chinese proverb
"A life, like any other, completely unlike any other" - Neil Gaiman
"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past" - F. Scott Fitzgerald
"It is not in length of life, but in depth of life" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Grace, dignity and elegance personified" - Joe DiMaggio's epitaph
If you are thinking of including an epitaph in the headstone that you are designing, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are available as a resource to answer any questions you have about epitaph length, content, and pricing. For more information on the process of engraving your headstone, please be sure to check out this additional blog post: All about cemetery lettering and engraving