A New Purpose

I have decided to use this blog for another reason. I thought it may make picking out a grave marker easier if you could see what information I have gathered so far.



So, here is what I have done. I did a search for companies that made grave markers and the one that came up first was Wichman Monuments. Their website is http://www.wichmanmonuments.com/. They have a pretty nice website so I would suggest taking a look at it so you can see what they offer. I talked to a lady from there today. She told me that we would need to order a single headstone that measures 12 by 24 and is 4 inches thick. She suggested the granite marker and to make sure there weren't too many designs on it so the writing would all fit. I would agree with that. She said that the marker with the engraving and everything would be $488. The shipping is free so they would just deliver it to the cemetary. I would have to call the caretaker when he gets back from vacation to find out how much it would cost to dig up the old one and put the new one in. I am unsure but I assume it would be an additional charge on top of the charge for burying the ashes. (By the way it costs $400 to bury the ashes unless we want to do it on a Saturday, then its more.)

I asked the Tonja, the lady from Wichman Monuments, what people normally do with old markers. She said that some people put them in gardens, but if we didn't want to we can just ask the caretaker at the cemetary to dispose of it. I think that since none of us has permanent lodging at the present we should discuss this in more detail and perhaps ask some of the relatives if they are interested in keeping it, especially Grandma and Grandpa.


If we decide to go this route, we can pick something out and she can email us what it would look like so we can approve it.


I am planning on talking to someone from Peru that the Balsbaughs know to see if what I have found out so far is correct or if there is a possibility for a better deal. At least a second opinion seems like a good idea since I am so unfamiliar with all of this.



Please let me know what you think about all this so far. We don't need to do anything immediately, but I think we should at least discuss it.