How to Choose the Right Memorial: Bench, Headstone, or Garden Stone?

Selecting a memorial for a loved one is a deeply personal decision. It’s not just about choosing a stone — it’s about creating a lasting tribute that reflects a life, honors memories, and offers a place for family and friends to visit for generations. With several options available, many families find themselves unsure whether a headstone, memorial bench, or garden stone is the best fit. Understanding the purpose, style, and benefits of each option can help guide you toward a choice that feels meaningful and right.

Image of couple etched on the headstone and an integrated bench.

Upright Headstones: A Classic, Timeless Choice

Traditional upright headstones remain one of the most common memorial options, and for good reason. They allow for clear inscriptions, symbols, etchings, and personalized design elements that tell a loved one’s story. Families often select upright monuments when they want high visibility in a cemetery and ample space to include names, dates, epitaphs, and even portraits.

Headstones come in a wide variety of shapes, granite colors, and finishes. This makes them easy to customize, ensuring the final piece truly reflects the personality, faith, or passions of the person being honored. Upright monuments are also durable and withstand Minnesota’s freeze–thaw climate effectively, offering long-term preservation with minimal maintenance.

Memorial Benches: Beauty, Function, and Reflection

For families who want to create a place where visitors can spend time, a memorial bench may be the perfect choice. Benches serve a dual purpose: they honor a loved one while also inviting people to sit, reflect, and connect. Many cemeteries allow granite benches in designated areas, and they can also be placed in private gardens, parks, church grounds, or special family locations.

Benches provide unique opportunities for personalization. Inscriptions can be placed on the seat, leg, or back of the bench, offering space for verse, quotes, names, or symbolic artwork. They also serve as beautiful focal points, whether situated in a cemetery or a meaningful outdoor space.

For families who anticipate frequent visits or want a comfortable, serene place to remember someone special, a bench becomes a thoughtful and lasting tribute.

Garden Stones: A Meaningful Option for Home or Cremation Memorials

Garden stones are an excellent choice for those seeking a smaller, more personal memorial option. Often selected for cremation memorials or private remembrance gardens, these stones can be placed in landscaping beds, walkways, or near a favorite tree or flower garden.

While garden stones are typically smaller than headstones or benches, they still allow for personalized engravings — such as names, dates, short quotes, or meaningful illustrations. They also offer flexibility. Families who move residences can often bring their garden stone with them, ensuring their memorial remains part of their lives.

Choosing What’s Right for Your Family

The best memorial option is the one that reflects your loved one’s personality, honors your family’s wishes, and meets any cemetery or placement requirements. Consider questions such as:

• How do you plan to visit or use the memorial space?

• What style best reflects your loved one?

• Are you seeking a traditional, highly visible monument or a more intimate piece?

• Will the memorial be placed in a cemetery, home garden, or another meaningful location?

  
  

Owatonna Granite & Monument is here to guide you through each step, offering compassionate help as you design a memorial that honors a beautiful life and stands strong for generations. If you’re unsure where to begin, our team can walk you through your options, answer questions, and help you create a tribute you’ll feel proud of and connected to.