Stone Memorials at European Churches

Imagine my surprise (as an American) the first time I was made aware of the fact that most people in Europe rent a gravesite in the cemetery of their choice. The headstone is allowed to stand for a predetermined time, usually 20-30 years. All fine and good. Only recently was I confronted with the harsh reality of what this actually means: After this pre-arranged time frame runs out, the family is told to clear away the objects that they want to keep, like little statues, trinkets or even the headstone itself (apparently this can be recycled!). This is why in Europe you don`t often see really old cemetery plots, except along the edges where there are family gravesites, or embedded in the Church’s walls.
An alternative to this arrangement is a lasting memorial placed within the walls or in the floor of the church or chapel. Not only does it promise the deceased a permanent resting place but also the scrutiny (and hopefully the prayers!) of visiting family members in the future. Usually more information can be carved into the marble than on a typical headstone and the words can be highlighted by contrasting paint, no doubt designed to catch the attention of any passersby.
The alternatives open to us today at TheEternalPortal.com, ChristianMemorials.com and HeavensMail.com leave endless room for creativity. No one is limited by size and color, and best of all, text and pictures can be changed and added anytime. And something else: a virtual memorial can be viewed by anyone at any time of day, from anywhere in the world! And since just last week, an “Eternal” package is available, ensuring premium features of the user essentially forever.