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- All-seeing Eye -- Symbolizes God. The All Seeing Eye of God is two hands clasped for farewell, and a broken chain symbolizing the death of a family member.
Anchor/ Ships -- Hope or Seafaring profession, Early Christian symbol of hope
- Angel, Flying -- Rebirth; Resurrection.
- Angel, Trumpeting -- Resurrection. Weeping, Grief
- Angel, Weeping -- Grief and Mourning.
- Arch - Victory in death.
- Arrow-- Mortality.
- Bird- Eternal life.
- Bird, Flying-- Resurrection.
- Book--Representation of a holy book: i.e. the Bible.
- Books-- A pair of Holy Books on Mormon (LDS) headstones indicates the Bible and Book of Mormon
- Books-- Three Holy Books on Mormon headstones indicates the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine & Covenants -- all of which are scripture to the LDS Church.
- Breasts (Gourds, Pomegranates) -- Nourishment of soul
- Bouquets/Flowers -- Condolences, grief, sorrow
- Broken Column -- Loss of Head of Family
- Broken Ring -- Family Circle Severed
- Buds/Rosebud -- Morning of Life or Renewal of Life
- Bugles -- Resurrection and the Military
- Butterfly -- Short-lived - Early Death
- Candle Flame-- Life
- Candle Snuffed -- Time, mortality
- Cedar Tree-- Symbolizes consecration.
- Cherub -- Angelic
- Coffin, Father Time, Picks/Shovels -- Mortality
- Columns and Doors - Heavenly entrance.
- Corn -- Ripe Old Age
- Cross -- Emblem of Faith Common variations include the Latin cross, the Greek cross, the Celtic cross, the Maltese cross, and the Russian or Eastern cross.
- Cross and Anchor-- Early Christian symbol referring to Christ as “hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sincere and steadfast”
- Crossed Swords -- High-ranking military person
- Crown- Glory of life after death.
- Crown and Cross -- symbolize the reward of the faithful
- Cup or Chalice- The Sacraments.
- Cypress Tree-- Symbolizes mourning
- Dove- Purity; Devotion.
- Dove, Flying- Resurrection.
- Drapes- Mourning; Mortality.
- Eye of God-- Symbolizes the omnipresence of God. The Eye of God enclosed in a triangle represents the Holy Trinity. Figs, Pineapples and other fruit --Prosperity, eternal life Flame or Light- Life; Resurrection.
- Flower- Fragility of life.
- Daisy–Innocence
- Lily–Purity
- Calla lily–Marriage
- Lily of the Valley–Purity & humility
- Pansy–Remembrance & humility
- Poppy–Sleep
- Rose–Associated with the Virgin Mary, the red rose symbolizes martyrdom, and the white rose symbolizes purity.
- Flower, Severed Stem- Shortened life.
- Flying Birds -- Flight of the Soul
- Full-Blown Rose -- Prime of Life
- Garland - Victory in death.
- Hand, Pointing Up- Pathway to heaven; Heavenly reward.
- Hands, Clasped- The goodbyes said at death.
- Hand of God Chopping -- Sudden Death
- Handshakes -- Farewell
- Harp -- Praise to the Maker
- Heart- Love; Love of God; Mortality.
- Heart encircled with Thorns -- Symbolizes the suffering of Christ
- Heart Pierced by a Sword -- Symbolizes the Virgin Mary
- Horns -- The Resurrection
- Hourglass- Passing of time.
- Hourglass, Flying- Time flies.
- Imps -- Mortality
- Ivy -- Friendship and Immortality
- Lamb- Innocence.
- Laurel ---Fame or Victory
- Lily or Lily of Valley -- Emblem of Innocence and Purity
- Lion- Courage; the Lion of Judah.
- Morning Glory -- Beginning of Life
- Mourning figure -- Common early twentieth-century image.
- Oak Leaves and Acorn -- Maturity, Ripe Old Age
- Oak Tree-- symbolizes strength and renewal of life, also a Druid symbol
- Obelisk -- Nineteenth century Egyptian revival decoration
- Olive Tree -- Symbolizes peace.
- Open Book/ Bible -- Deceased Teacher, Minister, etc.
- Pall- Mortality.
- Palm – martyrdom, eternal peace, praise, triumph and thanksgiving
- Palm Branch -- Signifies Victory and Rejoicing
- Pick- Death; Mortality.
- Poppy -- Sleep
- Portals -- Passageway to eternal journey
- Rod or Staff- Comfort for the bereaved.
- Rooster- Awakening; Resurrection.
- Roses -- Brevity of earthly existence. A red rose symbolizes martyrdom and a white rose symbolizes purity
- Scythe- Death; The divine harvest.
- Seashell- Resurrection; Life everlasting; Life's pilgrimage.
- Sheaf of Wheat -- Ripe for Harvest, Divine Harvest, Time
- Skull- Mortality.
- Skull/ Crossed Bones- Death.
- Skeleton- Life's brevity.
- Snake (Tail in Mouth) - Everlasting life in heaven.
- Spade- Mortality; Death.
- Stars and Stripes Around Eagle -- Eternal Vigilance, Liberty
- Sun Rising- Renewed life.
- Sun Shining-Life everlasting.
- Sun Setting- Death.
- Thistles -- Remembrance or Scottish descent
- Tombs -- Mortality
- Torch Inverted -- Life Extinct
- Tree- Life.
- Oak–Symbolizes the tree from which the cross was made. Oak has become the symbol of Christ.
- Palm– a symbol of military victory, a symbol of Christ’s victory over death, martyrdom and eternal peace.
- Weeping Willow–A symbol of sorrow and mourning.
- Tree Sprouting- Life everlasting.
- Tree with Severed Branch- Mortality.
- Tree Stump- Life interrupted.
- Tree Stump w/Ivy -- Head of Family - Immortality
- Tree Trunk- Brevity of life.
- Tree Trunk Leaning- Short interrupted life.
- Trefoil -- Three leaf clover or shamrock, symbolizes the Holy Trinity
- Trumpeters -- Heralds of the Resurrection
- Urn- Immortality (ancient Egyptian belief that life would be restored in the future through the vital organs placed in the urn).
- Urn with /Wreath or Crepe -- Mourning
- Urn with Blaze -- Undying Friendship
- Weeping Willow Tree- Mourning; Grief;.
- Willows -- Earthly Sorrow
- Winged Face- Effigy of the deceased soul; the soul in flight.
- Winged Skull- Flight of the soul from mortal man.
- Wreath- Victory.
- Wreath on Skull- Victory of death over life.
- Wheat Strands or Sheaves- The divine harvest.
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