memorials

From ancient pictographs on cave walls to stone carvings on the Serengeti Plains, Roman cameos to Egyptian tombs, humans have used engraving to leave their mark for millennia. Cultures around the world have engraved words and images into hard surfaces in order to create memorials to honor the gods, to offer respect to leaders and, especially, to remember loved ones who have passed.

Over the years, engraving technology has evolved by leaps and bounds. Modern memorials for loved ones are more beautiful than ever. Engraving may have started as the practice of scratching into stone with a rock wedge, then transformed into using cutting tools to etch metal... but modern engraving employs cutting-edge modern methods — like 3D crystal glass subsurface engraving — to deliver stunning, artistic memorials. 

Today's engraving technology offers a beautiful way to honor and remember those who've passed on in the form of a stunning heirloom.

Subsurface engraved crystal glass is being used more frequently for awards, trophies, and displays of recognition. These beautiful mementos provide an elegant and lasting way to not only preserve a moment or picture, but to do it in a way that’s both tasteful and eye-catching.

Honoring and memorializing a loved one in crystal glass is an increasingly popular application of 3D subsurface engraving. A beautiful memorial crystal with a 3D picture engraved inside is a truly special way to celebrate those we love.

The holidays are a time of gathering, for families and friends to get together. It is a perfect opportunity to share a meal, recount old stories, exchange gifts or engage in religious ceremonies. For many, the holidays can be touched with a feeling that is bittersweet, as they remember their loved ones who enjoyed the holiday and are no longer here to participate.

As the year comes to a close, it is natural to think about everything that has happened since the last holiday season. Good and bad happens to everyone, and loss is something that is felt by all. Honoring the loss of grieving families, and helping them to connect with loved ones is an important part of the season, too. This holiday season, it is a wonderful chance to remember a loved one and comfort others in their journey of grief. These 10 memorial gift ideas are perfect for the season and the people who need that comfort the most.

After receiving the cremated remains of a loved one, you have many options. You can keep cremains in a beautiful urn at home. You can scatter ashes in places of special meaning. You can turn cremated remains into pieces of art or jewelry.

While all good options, they lack a certain level of permanence. Future generations might want to be able to visit a spot where they can find the remains of their ancestors.

Chester French Stewart, chairman of French Funerals and Cremation in Albuquerque, tells the story of a young woman who flew from New York to New Mexico to visit the grave of her grandfather. However, Grandpa had been cremated and the remains scattered in the mountains with no record

Have you ever wondered what to do with cremated remains? With the annual number of cremations in the United States rapidly closing in on one million people, we’re generating literally tons of cremated remains, a.k.a. cremains, every year. What can you do with your loved ones’ powdered bone fragments? More than you’d think! The top options are to keep, dispose of, or enshrine cremains. Here is my Top Ten list of things you can do with cremated remains, with associated pros and cons for each option.