Headstones in Chicago & Chicagoland: Historic Cemeteries and Many Traditions

Chicago's Victorian garden cemeteries — Graceland and Rosehill among them — sit alongside large Catholic, Jewish, Polish, Mexican, Greek, Korean and Muslim cemeteries across Cook, DuPage, Lake and Will counties. Veterans may be buried at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.

Many traditions

Polish families often choose crosses, portraits and Polish inscriptions; Mexican families bring vibrant faith imagery and Spanish; Greek families favour Orthodox crosses and Greek script. See Polish inscriptions, Spanish phrases and Greek Orthodox traditions.

Winter and freeze-thaw

Cold winters and repeated freeze-thaw are hard on stone. Dense, polished granite with deep-cut lettering, on a foundation built to the cemetery's specification, lasts best, and most cemeteries install from spring to late autumn. See protecting a headstone in winter.

Cemetery rules

In the United States, cemeteries are regulated state by state, and every cemetery — municipal, religious, nonprofit or private — sets its own rules on memorial sizes, materials, foundations and installation. Before you order:

• Ask the cemetery for its rules and fee schedule in writing (foundation, setting and any permit fees).
• Confirm who installs — cemetery staff or an approved monument company.
• Submit the design for approval before production.

Our cemetery headstone rules guide has a full checklist, and headstone setting fees explained covers the extra costs.

Veterans

Eligible veterans can receive a government headstone, marker or medallion, and families can also choose a private granite monument that includes service details. See veteran headstones and VA rules, the VA medallion and military inscriptions.

Factory-direct to Chicago

Marwaa Memorials manufactures in our own factory and delivers door-to-door across the USA under DAP terms, with freight, customs and duties included in the quote. Plan the design in our Design Studio, request a quote, or call our US team via the contact page. Read how DAP delivery works.

Local pages: our Illinois headstone guide.