Ripley’s Quarterly Review – Fall 2012

Ripley’s Quarterly Review

Fall, 2012

SRMP Stands “Up-Right” – For centuries, societies have used grave markers as artistic symbols of remembrance. They also serve to denote the place where friends and relatives can mourn openly, and feel close to the deceased. Traditionally, memorial headstones were large, up-right pieces of sculpted stone that contained written information about the people whose grave they marked, including names and dates of course, but sometimes listing many interesting facts or depictions of the life they represent.

For example, Robert Ripley, creator of the well-known newspaper column and TV program Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, was interred in our original Odd Fellows section with his parents in 1949. Their memorial depicts not only their names and dates of life, but also the famous logo. While these up-right memorial headstones are still used today, smaller, flat memorial headstones are more common and have been the only type used here at SRMP since the 1950’s. Recently there have been many requests for upright memorials. Consequently, we have begun construction on a new, up-right only section of our park offering a large variety of designs to help families create a one-of-a-kind uprig ht granite memorial for their loved one.

We are strong believers in memorialization and have many areas of our park for cenotaphs. We’ve recently installed our beautiful Memory Tree featuring elegant bronze leaves that commemorate our loved ones

Now you can share a life for more than just a couple of days in a newspaper; but share it permanently, forever, with Memory Links! Call us today for a free brochure. 542-1580

All Souls’ Day was first instituted at the monastery in Cluny and quickly spread throughout the Christian world, although people held festivals for the dead long before Christianity. It was Saint Odilo, the abbot of Cluny in France, who in the 10th century, proposed that the day after All Saints’ Day be set aside to honor the departed. The Day of the Dead celebrations can be traced back to the various indigenous groups, such as the Aztecs and other pre-Hispanic civilizations, from as far back as 3000 years ago. Skulls were collected and used during rituals to symbolize death and rebirth. Elaborately decorated skulls, including those made of candy, are made for the day.

The Marigold is a traditional flower that is associated with the dead. Some say that the flower represents the rays of the sun, which is linked with life.

Although not a native to Sonoma County, Amanda is quickly becoming very fond of the area and close to the people here. Amanda provides pre- arrangement and at- need services for our families, helping them to create unique end of life celebrations and memorialization with true care and compassion for those she serves.

With a Bachelors degree in Visual Communications and a minor in marketing, she also helps with much of our promotion and advertising here at the park. She will enthusiastically guide you through the tough decisions and preparations that come with end of life planning, and help you create a lasting memory for those you love. Contact Amanda at 707-542-1580 or Amanda@srmp.org