Category: Uncategorized

Memorials are a way of honouring and remembering those who have passed away, but the way in which we approach remembrance can vary widely between different cultures. Understanding these differences is important for appreciating the diverse ways in which people express grief, honour their loved ones, and celebrate their lives. 

What Are Some of the Differences?

In most cultures, funerals and memorials are solemn occasions where family and friends dress in black and pay their respects in a quiet and sombre setting. In others, they are colourful celebrations filled with music, dance, and feasting. For example, in Mexico, the Day of the Dead is a festive holiday where families gather to remember and honour their ancestors with colourful altars, marigolds, and sugar skulls. In Japan, the Obon festival is a time when people visit and clean the graves of their ancestors, light lanterns, and perform traditional dances.

In many indigenous cultures, memorials are closely tied to the natural world and involve rituals that honour the deceased and their relationship to the environment. For example, some Native American tribes hold a ceremony known as the Ghost Dance, which is believed to allow the living to communicate with the dead and ask for their guidance. In Australia, Aboriginal communities hold a “sorry business” ceremony to mourn the loss of a loved one and reconnect with their spiritual ancestors. 

Traditions Can Change

It’s also important to note that memorial traditions can evolve over time and vary within cultures. For example, in the United States, Memorial Day began as a way to respect soldiers who died in the Civil War, but has since expanded to include all those who have died in military service. Similarly, the tradition of leaving flowers at gravesites has ancient roots but has evolved to include a wide range of commemorative items, such as photographs, stuffed animals, and other personal mementos. 

Understanding these different approaches to remembrance can help us appreciate the diversity of human expression and deepen our understanding of the grieving process. Whether we celebrate with music, dance, or quiet reflection, the act of honouring those who have passed on is an important part of the human experience that brings us together in shared mourning and remembrance.

Cope Memorials

Here at Cope Memorials, we are a family-run business with over 110 years of experience working as stonemasons. We pride ourselves on delivering high quality headstones and memorials for customers in Derby and the surrounding areas. Please give us a call today on 01773 602 187. Alternatively, you can fill out our online enquiry form where a member of our team will be in touch with you shortly.

For many years, guests and family members have used flowers as a way of expressing their condolences at funerals. Most commonly used on top of the coffin, beautiful wreaths and arrangements can also be sent as a gift. It can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to funeral flowers, which is why we’ve created this blog post. Below, we take you through the different types of flower arrangements and what each flower represents.

What Are the Different Types of Flower Arrangements?

Floral arrangements can come in a wide range of different styles, with the most popular being sheaves, sprays and wreaths. Sheaves and sprays are a large bouquet which is laid flat onto the coffin. A wide range of colours, sizes and shapes are available to suit all kinds of budgets.

The biggest, and most distinctive flower arrangement is the floral tribute, which is used as a centrepiece at the funeral or in the window of the hearse. They’re usually chosen by members of the immediate family, as they’re personal to the deceased – sometimes spelling out their name or relationship to others, such as ‘mum’ or ‘dad’.

Popular Choices

It’s always the aim to create a flower arrangement that captures the essence of the loved one, so if they had a favourite flower or if there’s a flower that reminds you of them, it’s best to start from there. While you can choose any flowers that you’d like, here are some common flowers used at funerals: 

Lilies

Lilies, especially white stargazer lilies, are a very popular choice due to representing purity, innocence and rebirth. They also give off a distinctive smell, which often reminds people of special occasions such as Easter and Mothers day. 

Roses

Depending on which colour you use, roses can express multiple sentiments. For example, red roses are the classic symbol of love, yellow represents friendship and white roses denote purity and innocence. Roses also work well alongside other flowers, in addition to leaves, berries and sprigs for those wanting a larger floral arrangement. 

Daffodils

Daffodils often appear on the coffin at funerals because of their association with rebirth and new beginnings. These blooms indicate the end of a long winter of grief and pain and the beginning of joy, peace and understanding. While daffodil breeds can vary, many of these yellow flowers feature six petals, which many view as a harmonic number. 

Cope Memorials 

At Cope Memorials, we specialise in producing high-quality headstones and memorials. We are a team of highly skilled professionals, with over 115 years of experience passed down from family members. If you’re in the need of reliable and professional stonemasons, we’d be more than happy to help. Please give us a call today on 01773 602 187. Alternatively, you can complete our online enquiry form where a member of our team will be in contact shortly.

After losing a loved one, a funeral is a chance to celebrate their life, and there are many ways to bring personality into the service. Funeral readings, often referred to as a eulogy, offer family and friends the opportunity to express their feelings and memories that honour the deceased. When being asked to give a reading at a funeral, it can be difficult to know what to say. In this blog post, we take you through some things to consider when writing a funeral speech.

Remember to Introduce Yourself

At the beginning of the reading, it’s important to introduce yourself and say how you know the deceased. Some attendees at the funeral may not know who you are, so it’s wise to give some context. 

Keep It Short

For most, funerals are emotionally draining, so there’s no need to speak for a long period of time as emotions are understandably heightened. Keeping a reading short and sweet will hold the room’s attention, in addition to making it easier to get through. If you’re wanting to read a poem, it’s recommended to keep it to two or three verses. Additionally, it’s important to add that most funeral venues will allocate a specific time for a funeral. If you’re still unsure, the funeral director will be able to direct you.

Personalisation

While it’s common to include funeral readings that have been prepared by someone else, it can be fitting to write them yourself, as it allows you to be personal. This may include stories of the deceased, your memories with them, their personality – all of which will provide comfort to family and friends in the audience.

Cope Memorials

Here at Cope Memorials, we hold over 100 years of passed down experience working as stonemasons, so you’re sure to receive the highest quality memorials and headstones. We also pride ourselves on delivering excellent customer service throughout the whole process, as we know how difficult this time can be. If you require a high quality memorial or headstone, please give us a call on 01773 602 187. Alternatively, you can complete our online enquiry form where a member of our team will be in contact with you shortly.

As we start the new year, it can be a great opportunity to get things in order. This may include starting to think about your own memorial arrangements. With many family members being left with the hard task of planning their loved ones memorial or headstone, with preplanning, you can create a design that you truly want. In this blog post, we take you through a few things to consider:

Location

The location of your memorial is very important, with many people deciding to have it placed near to where they live or grew up. Additionally, with loved ones visiting regularly, it’s best to choose a cemetery which is easily accessible. It’s key to add that all cemeteries have different rules and regulations regarding placement, size, material etc, so it’s best to plan ahead if you’re wanting a specific design.

Inscriptions

It’s common for families to struggle with inscriptions, especially when there were no wishes made by the deceased. To relieve some of the burden off your loved ones, it’s beneficial to think about what you may want on your headstone. Usually, headstones will be inscribed with your name, birth and death date and a few words to pay tribute, either with a poem, song or completely original wording. 

Material

The main purpose of your headstone is to serve as a lasting tribute, which is why materials like granite and marble are used, due to being highly durable. Other materials can be used for non-conventional headstones. Click through to one of our previous blog posts where we discuss the different materials used for headstones and memorials. 

Cope Memorials 

Here at Cope Memorials, we are a family-run memorial maker with over 110 years of experience working in our trade. We pride ourselves on providing high quality memorials and headstones which are produced by highly-skilled stonemasons. In addition to this, we endeavour to provide excellent and considerate customer service to all of our clients. Give us a call today on 01773 602 187, or you can fill out our online enquiry form where a member of our team will be in touch shortly.

Throughout the years of working as stonemasons, we tend to notice and speak to our clients about the different funerals that they are having for their loved ones. It seems that the ‘traditional’ funeral, where attendees wear black and the service follows a religious path, could be taking a shift. In this blog post, we take a look at some alternative funeral ideas:

Celebration of Life

A celebration of life is a gathering of friends and family where individuals can reminisce on the good times and celebrate the life of their loved one. It can be held after a funeral, or instead of. For those who choose to have a celebration of life, families tend to have a direct cremation beforehand. Instead of having to focus on the sadness of saying goodbye, a celebration of life is a positive send off. 

Unique Funeral Locations 

While most aren’t aware that it’s possible to hold a funeral at different locations, it’s certainly increased in popularity. As long as you have the permission from the owner of the location, there are no rules on where a funeral can be held. Funeral options can include: burial at sea, at home, natural grounds and many more. 

Colourful attires 

A recent survey from the Co-op Funeral Care suggests that 87% of their funeral directors conducted a funeral where guests wore colourful outfits, with some being fancy dress themed. It’s very common for family and guests to wear their loved ones’ favourite colours, as it brings a sense of comfort and joy to an otherwise sad day. 

Cope Memorials

While funerals may be changing, a headstone and memorial plaque will always be a lovely way to remember your loved one. Here at Cope Memorials, we hold over 100 years of passed down experience in stonemasonry and pride ourselves on delivering excellent customer service throughout the experience. If you require a high-quality headstone or memorial, please give us a call today on 01773 602 187. Moreover, you can fill out our online enquiry form where a member of our team will be in contact shortly.

Memorials have been used for thousands of years, with evidence dating back to the Egyptian era. As you can imagine, over the years, there have been new and creative ways to remember our loved ones. In this blog post, we take you through some unique memorial ideas. 

Memorial Jewellery

Also known as remembrance jewellery, memorial jewellery takes a small amount of the individual’s ashes or hair which is then sealed within the jewellery. They are commonly used in rings and pendant necklaces, but can be implemented into any design of your choice. Memorial jewellery is a lovely way to remember close ones and is popular for families and friends who want to keep their loved one close. 

Online Memorials

An online memorial can range from a one page document, through to a fully functioning website which commemorates a person’s life in entirety. An online memorial allows people from around the world to pay their respects and memories, including photos, messages and videos. It can also be revisited anywhere and any time, which is a great comfort to most. 

Memorial Ornaments

Memorial Ornaments are another lovely way of remembering your loved ones. You can choose from a wide range of designs, from Christmas decorations to garden ornaments, with most being able to be personalised. A small amount of ashes and hair can be encapsulated into ornaments, which allows you to feel close to your loved one. 

Cope Memorials 

No matter what memorial you’re wanting, we’re sure to be able to help here at Cope Memorials. We’re a family run business who have over 115 years of experience passed down, allowing us to offer high-quality headstones and memorials which are carried out by skilled craftsmen. Give us a call today on 01773 602 187. Moreover, you can complete our online enquiry form where a member of our team will be in contact shortly.

Here at Cope Memorials, we know just how individual and personal memorials can be. When you lose someone, it can be comforting to some to celebrate their life with a memorial. Due to a wide range available in today’s society, we’ve created a guide where we go through some of the most favoured. 

Cremation memorials

Cremation urns are a popular memorial for most. Urns are decorative containers used to store your loved ones ashes. Usually in the shape of a vase, urns can be made from an array of different materials, such as wood, ceramic, stone, glass etc. They are usually kept at home, where they can later be scattered or buried if you choose to do so. 

Memorial Plaques

Memorial plaques provide a long-lasting memory of your loved one. The plaque can be placed as a standalone piece, or it can accompany another memorial such as a tree or bench. Typically made out of metal or stone, they feature inscriptions which have the person’s name, birth date and death date, but it can be completely personalised by you. If you’d like further advice on inscriptions for memorial plaques, just click through to this page. 

Headstone Memorials

Also known as a gravestone, a headstone is another long-term memorial that is placed over the grave to commemorate them. It also features inscriptions, with headstones being favoured if you’re wanting long transcripts, as there is more space than a memorial plaque. At Cope Memorials, we can also engrave detailed designs and images of your choice, just take a look at our current collection of headstone memorials. It’s important to mention that there is typically a gap in-between the burial and the placing of a headstone (6-12 months) as the soil needs to settle beforehand. 

Cope Memorials

No matter what memorial you’re wanting, we’re sure to be able to help here at Cope Memorials. As a family run business, we’ve been making headstones and memorials for over 115 years, offering high-quality work carried out by skilled craftsmen. Please get in touch with us today on 01773 602 187. Additionally, you can fill out our online enquiry form where a member of our team will be in contact shortly.

When you lose a loved one, it’s important to make sure that the following arrangements are dignified and as memorable as possible. It can be even more difficult to choose the ‘right’ headstone because it acts as a lasting memory of the one you’ve lost, and can often be visited by relatives and friends. There are many different styles of headstones, which we will discuss in this blog post. 

What Are Headstones?

Headstones have been used for many years to commemorate our loved ones, with tombstones dating back to around 3000 BC for the Roman and Celtic society. Stone memorials were originally large monuments which were built to remember a whole burial site, rather than an individual headstone that we see more commonly today. As discussed before, choosing the perfect headstone can be a challenging task, but thankfully, there are many different styles of headstones available, with most being able to be personalised. Below, we take a look at the most popular styles used within the UK:

Upright Headstones

This style of headstone is very traditional and timeless, as they’ve been used in the UK for hundreds of years. They are commonly fixed onto a concrete base, with an array of different choices for materials. However, the most common materials used for an upright headstone are granite, marble or limestone due to its durability and guarantee of lasting decades. Upright headstones can be crafted into a plethora of shapes, but they are most traditionally seen as an arc or oval shape. 

Flat Headstones

Flat Headstones are usually rectangular, and have a choice of being flush with the ground, or moderately raised on an angle to allow water to run off the headstone. They can withstand locations that have poor weather conditions, due to mainly being made from granite or bronze. Similarly to upright headstones, they are a good choice if you’re wanting to engrave a lot of words or images, due to the space available on both styles. 

Full Length Kerb Headstones

Kerb Headstones lie flat on the ground and have a rectangular edge covering the whole grave’s perimeter. They usually feature a headstone as well, which is commonly made of the same stone as the kerb, but it can be different if preferred. The biggest advantage of full length kerb headstones is that they provide more space for personal expression and gifts. For example, friends and family can place numerous flowers, candles and teddys which add a personal finish to the grave. 

If you’d like to see more styles of headstones, take a look through our extensive collections. 

Cope Memorials

Here at Cope Memorials, we have over 100 years of experience working within the industry, and are experts in the field of stonemasonry. If you’re still struggling to find the perfect headstone for your loved one, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us where we will happily discuss options with you. Just give us a call on 01773 602 187, or fill out our online enquiry form where we will get back to you shortly.

Pets are seen as part of the family by many owners, so their passing can cause distress and upset. Creating a memorial for your pet can be a lovely way to honour them and celebrate the time that you spent together. There are many ways to remember your animal best friend, but here’s just a few: 

Pet Memorial Plaques and Stones

One way to remember your beloved pet is with a memorial stone or plaque. Both of these memorial options hold a sense of timelessness, as they generally stay in the same place until someone moves them and they are made of long-lasting materials. While there are many different options for pet memorial stones and plaques, they are most commonly made out of thick and durable granite, ensuring that they last for years to come. 

When it comes to engraving, in general, pet memorial stones will feature a picture or script, sometimes even both. The script is similar to a human memorial, where it will state the pet’s name, dates of birth to death and a personal statement or quote of your choice. Once a plaque or stone has been decided, it’s always hard to find a special place to admire it. When it comes to pet memorials, it’s usually a nice idea to keep them in the garden or yard, as this is where they would have loved to play and where special memories would have been created.  

Additional Ways to Remember Pets

Keeping your pets ashes can provide a great comfort to some, as it can feel like they’re still with us in our homes. If you don’t feel comfortable keeping them in the house, scattering the ashes can also bring a sense of closure and peace. This can be done at a favourite place of your choice, whether that’s in nature on a walk or kept close in your backyard. 

Cope Memorials

Here at Cope Memorials, we can create bespoke memorials and headstones. If you’re after a unique memorial from a reliable stonemasons company, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on 01773 602 187. Alternatively, you can fill out our online contact form where a member of our team will get back to you shortly.

We may be biased, but we believe stonemasonry is one of the best industries to work in. In this blog, we look at what a stonemason does and the different avenues you can take within the industry. 

What is Stonemasonry?

As mentioned in one of our previous blog posts about the history of stonemasonry, it’s suggested that the technique dates back to the Egyptian pyramids. Since then, the work of stonemasons can be seen on historical buildings, castles, monuments, and famous statues. As the skill dates back thousands of years, most people think that there isn’t much of a market for it within the modern world. However, stonemasonry is very much still in demand. In short, stonemasons cut and prepare stone by hand and specialised machine cutting tools. There are many avenues that you can take as a stonemason, but the three main ones include: 

Banker Masons

Banker masons usually work in workshops, preparing stone that’s commonly used in and on buildings. Working with stone that’s taken straight from the quarry, banker masons work from designs and drawings, ensuring that the stone is cut to specific shapes and sizes. They also use a technique called dressing, which involves texturing and polishing the stone. Some advanced banker masons may also need to carve figures and patterns. 

Fixer Masons

Working with architects and designers, fixer stonemasons are mostly situated on site putting prepared stones together and securing them in place. It’s a highly skilled job and can be very heavy duty at times. Fixer masons are required to fix heavy pieces of stone with mortar, before attaching to walls or metal frames. They can also replace, repair and restore already existing stonework that needs updating. 

Memorial Masons

Memorial masons are best known for carving lettering, patterns and designs into stone. They’re most commonly used for headstones, plaques, gravestones and statues. It requires the utmost concentration, and you need to have an eye for design, placement and detail.  

How to Become a Stonemason

Stonemasonry is one of those fields that values experience, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn over higher level qualifications. There are also many routes and options to becoming a stonemason. The most popular would be to qualify through a college or training provider. As a minimum, you need to have at least 1 or 2 GCSEs at grades 3 to 1 (D to G) in order to enrol onto a level one stonemasons course. Additionally, you can choose an apprenticeship which means you are employed by a company, while also having guidance from a college or training provider for written work. Apprenticeships allow you to learn on the job from experienced stonemasons, all while earning a wage. As well as this, most companies will offer a full-time job afterwards, offering you security and reassurance that your hard work has paid off. 

Cope Memorials 

Here at Cope Memorials, we specialise in producing headstones and memorials. We are a team of highly skilled professionals, with over 115 years of experience passed down from family members. If you’re after a reliable stonemasons company, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on 01773 602 187, or fill out our online contact form where a member of our team will get back to you shortly.