Headstone Ideas for a Lobster Fisherman

Along the coasts of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, Newfoundland and Maine, lobster fishing is a way of life passed down through generations. A memorial can carry the boat, the harbour and the sea they knew so well.

Symbol and etching ideas

• Their lobster boat, etched from a photo with its name on the bow.
• Lobster traps stacked on the wharf.
• A buoy in the family's colours.
• A lighthouse at the harbour mouth — see lighthouse meaning.
• An anchor — see anchor meaning.

Personal touches

• The boat's name and home port.
• Their licence or fishing area, if meaningful to the family.
• Years on the water.
• Buoy colours painted into the design.

Epitaph ideas

• Gone hauling in calmer waters.
• Safe in harbour.
• Fair winds and following seas.
• The sea was his life.
• Home from the sea.

Buoy colours

Every lobster fisherman paints their buoys in their own colours and pattern. Reproducing those colours in a small painted buoy on the stone is a detail every fisher in the harbour will recognise.

Memorials for those lost at sea

When someone is lost at sea, families often place a memorial stone without a burial, or add their name to a harbour memorial. See memorial for someone lost at sea.

Design tips

• Etch the boat from a clear side-on photo.
• Black granite shows water and sky beautifully.
• Coastal cemeteries need dense granite — see coastal cemeteries.
• See ideas for a sailor or boater.

Key Takeaways

• Boats, traps and buoys suit a lobster fisherman.
• Name the boat and home port.
• Paint the family's buoy colours.
• "Safe in harbour" is a fitting epitaph.

Next Step

See occupation and hobby symbols and custom etched scenes, or try it in the Design Studio.