Headstones in Kingston, Ontario: Historic Limestone City, Lasting Granite

Kingston, the "Limestone City", has one of Ontario's most historic cemeteries: Cataraqui Cemetery, resting place of Sir John A. Macdonald. Its older markers show clearly how softer stone weathers over a century — and why families today choose granite.

Limestone vs granite

Limestone and marble were the local choice in the 1800s. They are softer and more porous than granite, so lettering softens and surfaces crust or flake. Modern granite is far harder and absorbs little water, keeping sharp lettering and polish for generations. Compare materials in granite vs marble vs bronze.

Restoring a family plot

Many Kingston families have ancestors' worn stones. Options include:

• Careful cleaning — see cleaning a marble headstone.
• Reading worn inscriptions — see how to read a worn headstone.
• A new granite family marker that records the names, placed with the cemetery's approval — see replacing an old headstone.

How Ontario regulates cemeteries

In Ontario, cemeteries operate under the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002, administered by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO). A few practical consequences for families:

• Every cemetery has by-laws. They cover memorial sizes, materials, foundations and installation, and the cemetery must make them available to you. Ask for them before you choose a design.
• You can buy from an independent supplier. Families may buy a monument from the cemetery or from an independent retailer or manufacturer; either way, it has to meet the cemetery's by-laws.
• Care and maintenance contributions. Ontario cemeteries collect a regulated contribution to their care and maintenance fund when larger markers and monuments are installed. Ask for the amount in writing alongside foundation and installation fees.

Our cemetery headstone rules guide has a checklist of questions to bring.

Veterans and military families

With CFB Kingston and RMC nearby, many families include service details. See military headstone inscriptions.

Factory-direct to Frontenac

Marwaa Memorials manufactures in our own factory and keeps finished monuments at our Pickering warehouse (visits by appointment). We deliver door-to-door across Ontario under DAP terms, with freight, customs and duties included. Plan the design in our Design Studio, request a quote, or call our Canada team via the contact page.

See the Frontenac service-area page, our Belleville & Quinte and Ottawa guides and all Ontario service areas.