"Cemeteries and funeral homes work closely together."
This is a common myth. The truth is that cemeteries and funeral homes are completely separate entities.

"You can buy the cemetery plot and grave marker at the funeral home."
Typically, funeral homes do not sell cemetery products and cemeteries do not sell funeral products.

"You can bring any size, color or type of monument or memorial into any cemetery."
Most cemeteries have strict regulations regarding the size, color and type of monument, marker, or memorial allowed. Let someone who knows the industry research it for you.

"You have to purchase your memorial, marker, or monument at the time of the funeral."
This is not only untrue, it is very unhelpful. The monument, marker or memorial that you purchase for your loved one's grave must stand the test of ages. We strongly recommend that the transactions of funeral planning and purchasing the memorial be separated. Most families who separate the two transactions are glad they took the time to create the most fitting memorial marker possible.

"You must buy your memorial marker or monument at the cemetery."
You can purchase the marker or monument from any third party you choose, so long as it meets the size, color, and material requirements of the cemetery. Professional memorialists are skilled at helping families create exactly what they want, within the cemetery's guidelines, and these professionals almost always own business.

It is very important for you to know the facts when you are planning a funeral. The decisions you make at that time carry the weight of thousands of dollars and decades of years to come. Take the time, when a loved one dies, to do what must be done then, and postpone what you can until a later time, when you can do that task with a clearer, sharper mind. Purchasing the memorial for your loved one's grave is one such task.