Cremation Memorials: Honoring
a Loved One with Lasting Meaning

Cremation memorials provide a deeply personal, permanent way to honor a loved one who has chosen cremation. As families increasingly seek meaningful alternatives to traditional burial, cremation memorials offer the flexibility, beauty, and durability needed to commemorate a life well-lived. At Stoltz Memorials, we design and craft custom cremation memorials that reflect both legacy and love—ensuring each tribute stands the test of time.
What Are Cremation Memorials?

A cremation memorial is a permanent monument that either contains cremated remains or marks the final resting place of an urn. These memorials are typically made from granite, marble, or bronze, and can be placed in cemeteries, memorial gardens, private properties, or columbarium settings.
Cremation memorials offer the same design potential as traditional burial monuments, allowing families to include names, dates, inscriptions, symbols, and artwork. Some cremation memorials are specifically designed with internal urn chambers, while others simply serve as a tribute marker.
Types of Cremation Memorials

Granite Cremation Benches
These elegant, functional memorials serve as both a place to reflect and a resting place for cremated remains. A cremation bench typically includes a sealed compartment within the base or pedestal to hold one or more urns. These benches are ideal for cemeteries, gardens, or private estates and can be personalized with inscriptions, artwork, and etched photos.
Cremation Pedestals
Pedestal cremation memorials are upright structures that house the urn discreetly inside a chamber inside the memorial. They often feature a flat or angled face for engraving and may include decorative accents such as crosses, religious icons, or nature scenes. These are particularly suited for smaller cemetery plots or family memorial spaces.
Columbarium Niches
A columbarium is a structure containing individual niches—small, sealed compartments for urns. Families can personalize the front of the niche with engraved granite or bronze plates, sometimes including glass-front displays. Private columbariums can also be built on personal property, offering families exclusive access and long-term legacy planning.
Flat Cremation Markers
These are similar to traditional flat headstones but include a sealed urn chamber beneath the surface or within a granite base. Flat cremation markers are commonly used in cemeteries with low-profile monument requirements.
Cremation Garden Boulders
Natural-looking memorial boulders crafted from granite or faux-stone materials can include hidden urn chambers. These boulders blend beautifully with landscape settings and are often used in cremation gardens, parks, or personal backyards.

Why Choose a Cremation Memorial?
Permanent Tribute
Unlike scattering ashes or temporary urn storage, a cremation memorial provides a permanent place of remembrance. It gives families and future generations a place to visit, reflect, and celebrate life.
Customization and Personal Meaning
Cremation memorials allow for fully personalized design, including:
- Names and dates
- Scripture verses or poems
- Laser-etched portraits or porcelain photos
- Symbols of faith, service, hobbies, or family
With a wide range of material and design options, each memorial can be made to truly reflect the individual’s story and personality.
Flexible Placement Options
Cremation memorials can be placed in:
- Traditional cemeteries
- Private family burial plots
- Home gardens or estates
- Public memorial gardens
- Church properties
This versatility gives families the freedom to choose a location that feels comforting and meaningful.
Materials and Design Features
Granite
Granite is the most popular material for cremation memorials. It’s known for its strength, resistance to weather, and ability to hold intricate engravings. Available in a variety of colors—such as Jet Black, Georgia Gray, Bahama Blue, Mahogany, and Morning Rose—granite offers both beauty and endurance.
Bronze
Often used for plaques or front panels on columbarium niches, bronze adds a classic, elegant touch. It can include raised lettering, floral embellishments, or emblems of service.
Personal Touches
We offer a range of features to help you personalize your cremation memorial:
- Vase attachments for flowers
- Engraved photo portraits
- Sculpted emblems and borders
- Custom shapes and silhouettes
- Granite or concrete foundations for added stability
Cemetery and Legal Considerations
Before installing a cremation memorial, it’s important to understand cemetery regulations, which may vary by location. At Stoltz Memorials, we handle all communication with the cemetery to ensure your chosen memorial complies with:
- Material restrictions
- Size and placement guidelines
- Foundations or base requirements
- Cemetery fees or installation permits
We also provide documentation for private property installations, including cremation urn burial procedures and long-term care guidelines.
Memorial Sizes and Layout Options
Standard Dimensions
- Cremation benches: 36″–60″ wide, with 14″–18″ seat depth
- Pedestals: Typically 12″–24″ wide and up to 30″ tall
- Flat markers: 24″ x 12″ for a single, 36” x 12” for a companion, depending on cemetery
- Columbarium niches: Usually 10″–12″ square per urn compartment
Our design process includes full-color proofs and scale renderings so you can confidently approve every detail before production.
Cost of Cremation Memorials
Pricing varies depending on size, material, engraving, and location. At Stoltz Memorials, we provide transparent, all-inclusive quotes with no hidden fees.
Estimated price ranges:
- Cremation Benches: $3,000–$7,000
- Pedestal Memorials: $2,400–$5,000
- Flat Marker with Urn Chamber: $1,800–$4,000
- Columbarium Niches: $3,000 – $8,000
- Custom Features and Accessories: $400–$2,500
We also offer pre-need planning and payment plans to help you plan with peace of mind.
Why Families Trust Stoltz Memorials
At Stoltz Memorials, we are honored to help families create memorials that feel personal, thoughtful, and enduring. Here’s why we’re trusted across Ohio, Indiana, and:
- Compassionate service from start to finish
- Custom design expertise with digital previews
- High-quality materials built to last generations
- Full cemetery coordination and professional installation
- Affordable packages and financing options
Our team is here to guide you every step of the way—helping you create a cremation memorial that tells your loved one’s story with honor and grace.
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Start Designing Your Cremation Memorial
We invite you to contact Stoltz Memorials to discuss your situation and desires with a team member. Together, we’ll help you design a cremation memorial that reflects the life, love, and legacy of someone truly special.
Visit stoltzmemorials.com or give our team a call to get started today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Upright Headstones
How Much Do Most Headstones Cost?
The typical cost of a conventional flat headstone for sale is roughly $1,000, although it can range from $1,000 to $3,000 depending on size, granite color, and engraving styles. Depending on the shape, size, granite color, and carved pattern, more ornate upright headstones can cost anywhere from $2,500 to $10,000.
What is the difference between a gravestone and a headstone?
The term “gravestone” dates from the late 1300s, while “tombstone” dates from the mid-1500s. A headstone was a grave monument put at the head of a grave, as the name suggests. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it is the newest of the three words, appearing in 1676.
Will There Be Any Additional Fees When I Purchase A Headstone For Sale?
Your cemetery will have its own separate fee, which will cover the cemetery pouring the concrete foundation that your headstone will sit on once installed.
Is It Cheaper To Buy A Headstone Online?
At a glance, comparing prices only may in fact seem like it is cheaper to buy a headstone online. However, there is usually a reason. Oftentimes, when you buy a headstone online, there is not installation process in place, so it is up to you to find an installer and coordinate the installation with the cemetery yourself. If your cemetery does not accept shipped headstones for liability purposes, then you will need to make additional arrangements when it comes to finding a destination for your headstone once it is completed with the online company.
What Is The Cheapest Headstone You Can Buy?
Flat burial markers are the least expensive of all the headstone options. Flat grave markers made of granite typically cost between $1,000 and $3,000 on average, depending on a few factors.
Do Your Headstones Have A Warranty?
Our granite headstones come with a lifetime warranty that covers any non-man-made damages, such as a small fissure or crack forming in the granite over time. Although we have never had to honor this warranty due to the strength and durability of granite, you can rest assured that if anything should happen to compromise the structure of your stone, it will be covered at no cost to you.