Cemetery Selection:  The type of monument or marker you are allowed to have will depend on what cemetery you choose for yourself or your loved one. Memorial park type cemeteries usually require a flat, ground level marker.  Some may require bronze or bronze on granite markers, which can be substantially more expensive than traditional granite. Many privately or corporately owned cemeteries charge an installation or marking fee and will not allow us (the monument company) to do the actual installation.  Some may have complicated rules involved and/or paperwork to complete. Be aware that many of these cemeteries have a tendency to charge very steep fees, so it’s good to know their rules and costs ahead of time. No matter what the cemetery tells you, you are allowed to purchase your monument or marker from anybody you choose; you are not required to buy from them. Most of the cemeteries that we work with are municipal or rural cemeteries that do allow us to do the installation. These cemeteries often have no, or very few, restrictions. If there is a marking or installation fee it is usually minimal.

Monument/Marker Selection:  When choosing your memorial be sure to pick what fits your style and your pocket book. Many funeral homes, cemeteries, and even “monument companies” sell memorials, but few actually make the memorials at their facility. Hollisters Monument Company is a full production monument shop, which means we create and install the memorials we sell.  Regardless of where you purchase your memorial, you will want to look at the quality of the product.  Inspect the depth of sandblasting, proportions of designs, consistency of line width and uniformity of design work.  We feel it is important to see products (or photos of products) that were actually created by the company, rather than generic brochures and design pamphlets. Seeing the type of work you can expect in your own monument helps you to feel confident in the facility from which you are purchasing. We want you to be comfortable with us and with your purchase.  One of the best places to get ideas for your monument is cemeteries. The internet is another great place to find inspiration.  As far as what type of monument is best for you,  take some time to look over our website; it shows you the basic types as well as pictures of monuments that we have produced.

Cremation:  Cremation is becoming a very popular choice.  What we have found, however, is that families still want a place to pay their respects.  Many cemeteries will allow 2 or more cremations in a single grave, which helps cut the cost and still enables you to memorialize in a traditional manner. Many churches and cemeteries now have columbaria as well.  If that is not your preference, you might instead appreciate a garden marker, bench, urn, natural rock, plaque or some other type of memorial.  If you can imagine it, we can work to create it (or give us call and we will be happy to help your imagination along).  

Memorial Purchase Prior to Death:  If possible, purchasing your monument or marker before a death occurs will save a lot of undo suffering and frustration on the loved ones left behind.  Other advantages of preplanning are that you get to pick out exactly what you want and it’s very likely to be less expensive now than later.  If you choose to purchase ahead of time, the only cost after your death would be for the addition of the death date to the memorial, and this is a minimal expense.

How soon after a burial should I purchase a memorial?:  Probably the best advice I could give you on this page is to take your time and buy the memorial when YOU are ready;  do not let anybody push you into buying now.  This is a very important purchase that will be a permanent representation of the person or people for which it stands.  With that said, 3 to 6 months is what a lot of the cemetery sextons say.  This is based on the settlement of the gravesite and can vary based on rain amounts and ground conditions.  The more rain, the quicker the grave will settle.  In most cases a grave is 10ft long. 8ft is for the burial and 2ft is left for the memorial. Ideally, a monument should not be set on disturbed ground, but this is not always the case.  If we set a monument or marker and it gets off level, you can rest assured that Hollisters Monument will bring it back to level, at no charge, when we are in that cemetery working.

Value vs. Cost:  When pricing a monument or marker be very careful that you are comparing apples to apples.  A couple of inches can make a big difference in price. A different size or style of vase will be a different price. Different colors of granite are priced differently.  Even differing shades of the same color can affect the pricing.  Be aware that the same color of granite may have another name depending on the place you visit.  When pricing monuments, be sure to ask for exact sizes, finishes, and so on.  Just because you find the memorial you want for less from Company A doesn’t mean it’s the best VALUE.  You, as the purchaser, have to decide who is giving you the best value.  Remember this is the last thing you can do for that special somebody or for yourself, so take your time and don’t be afraid to ask questions.  If the person waiting on you seems unknowledgeable or unwilling to get the answers to your questions, be cautious.

Personalization:  In this day and age, personalizing a memorial has become very common.  Here at Hollisters Monument Co. we have always encouraged our customers to make the memorial their own. It usually does not cost any more to add personalization to a standard memorial.  If you really want something unique, we can sit down and design a memorial from the ground up. You can also see many custom designs on our full monument display located at our shop. 

What are monuments made of?:  Most of the monuments and markers we design and produce are made of granite.  There are many colors of granite from which to choose. Click here to view some of the most common colors.  We also offer bronze markers (a noncorrosive metal).  Marble is not used as much as in years past because it is much softer than granite and will deteriorate much faster .  A granite monument will last for centuries.

How long does it take to make a memorial?:  Our company works on about an 8 to 10 week time frame from start to finish.  We will always try to work with the family to complete their memorial by a certain time frame if need be.  Custom memorials can sometimes take longer, but it is well worth the wait if that is what a family wants to memorialize their loved one(s). 

Pricing:  Flat granite markers are the least expensive style, with bevel and slant markers being next on the pricing ladder. Closer to the top of the ladder are slants on bases as well as upright monuments.  Special shapes and custom memorials are usually at the top of the pricing ladder.  The color of the granite makes a big difference. Each color of granite is a different price. Georgia Gray and Morning Rose are on the lower side of the pricing scale. Colors like Missouri Red or Chapel Rose are on the upper end of the scale with Jet black and Mahogany just under those.    Other things to consider, that are extra on top of a standard monument, are porcelain pictures, flower vases, diamond or laser etching, design and lettering on the back side of monuments, cemetery fees, gold leafing, and so on.  Please feel free to give us a call and we will give you a current price without any pressure..

How do I pay for the memorial?:  We require half of the total cost to be paid  at the time of purchase, if buying directly from our shop and office. The final half is due before installation or delivery of your memorial.  We accept cash, personal check and most major credit cards.  If you need help with payments we are always willing to work out a payment plan.  We know how important it is to memorialize and we want to help you anyway possible.

What if I have more questions?:  Please give us a call or come by our full production facility. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have about your memorial purchase.  We want to arm you with as much knowledge as possible before you make such a permanent purchase, whether you choose to buy from us or not. 

Can I match another memorial at the cemetery?:  Yes, you can in most cases.  It is no problem to match designs and styles of existing monuments and markers.  The only problem that you might come across, is matching the color.  Over the years certain granite colors have come and gone, but most colors can easily be matched.  If you are not sure of the color, size, etc. we can visit the cemetery and check the specifications for you.  If you are able to take measurements and supply us with a picture of the memorial, we can usually tell what you need via email, text, mail or a visit to the office.

What if I have an existing stone that needs lettered?:  We have portable equipment for adding final dates and additional lettering, pictures, etc.  If there is a lot that needs to be added to an existing monument, we will sometimes pick those up and bring them to the shop to complete.

What if I have something special I want on the memorial?:  That is no problem.  Unique and personal monuments are our specialty. You can pick from our extensive art gallery or, if what you want is not there, we will use your pictures, ideas, drawings or designs and recreate them on the memorial for you.  If you have an important verse or saying, we will incorporate that as well, provided there is enough space.  A memorial is a blank canvas to which we apply that person or those people’s life story.

Can I install the memorial myself?:  Many people will pick up smaller markers and monuments and install them themselves, but for larger memorials I would recommend letting the monument company do the installation.  If you install the memorial you can usually save a little money, but it may not be worth the hassle or the risk of damaging the memorial in transit or placement.  In addition, some cemeteries will not allow the family to install the memorials themselves. We have equipment for installing memorials. For a larger monument, it’s really worth the extra expense to have a professional installation.

How is a memorial made?:  For this go to the “How it’s Made” page on this website and it gives you the basic rundown on where granite comes from and how your monument gets to the cemetery.  We are always happy to give you a tour of our shop as well, so come by and visit us.  Click here to see How it’s Made.

What is the guarantee and permanency of a memorial?: All of our memorials are guaranteed against any cracking or deterioration as well as craftsmanship. The only part of a memorial that is not permanent is the paint or Lithochrome that is used to enhance the designs and lettering, so we take great strives to make sure the lettering and design are sandblasted and prepared in the best way possible for legibility once the paint has come out.  In some cases we will avoid using paint altogether.  A granite monument will last for hundreds of years.

How small or big of a memorial can you make?:  There is no memorial too small or too big; we can make the smallest pet marker to the largest civic memorial or mausoleum.  Bring us your ideas and we will work with you to create your vision. 

                                       These are thoughts, opinions and comments by Kory and Tammy Hollister Owners of Hollisters Monument Co.