Tombstone art in Weston Cemetery

If you wander around Weston Cemetery, you will notice that many markers have images on them in addition to the names and dates. For recent markers these images, often small flowers, are mostly decorative. Below is an example from a large marker.

Here is another large floral decoration, this on an older grave. Because it is on an older grave, it may be more than decorative. Most of the images on older graves have symbolic meaning.  Flowers in general symbolize the fragility of life. Specific flowers have additional meaning, but I am not sure what kind of flowers these are supposed to be.

A broken stem on a flower, as in this lily, indicates a life cut short. They are found on markers for children. The lily represents innocence.

Here is another broken stem, this with a bud on it, indicating that the life ended before it bloomed. Several markers with this motif can be found in the oldest section of Weston Cemetery. However, the most common symbol on the headstones for children is a lamb, some so eroded that they are hard to recognize.

A downward-pointing hand represents God reaching down for a soul. In this marker the soul seems to be represented by a flower, possibly a rose.

A finger pointing up represents the hope of heaven or that the soul has gone to heaven. Here it is holding a bud, so the deceased was a child.

The upward pointing finger is quite common in the oldest section of Weston Cemetery. This one adds the words, "To Heaven."

On the marker shown below, there is an upward pointing finger as well as a book. The book is another common image in the oldest section of Weston Cemetery. It can have several meaning, but I suspect it was usually meant to be the Bible and show faith.

The two clasped hands represent a farewell to earthly life and a welcome into heaven. It is one of the most common images on the old Weston Cemetery graves.

Below is another grave with clasped hands, this one with curtains. Drapery often symbolized the veil between life and death. 

Doves can have several symbolic meanings. A dove with an olive branch can symbolize that the soul has found peace.

Below is another marker with a dove with a branch. 

The dove below is carrying a bud, which indicates the deceased was a child. The dove may represent innocence as well as hope and peace.

The weeping willow expresses, among other things, grief and sorrow at the death of the person.

Here is another marker that appears to have a willow tree. Under the tree a woman stands by a grave.  It may represent hope that they will meet again.

Oak leaves on a grave can represent a long life or strength and endurance.

The image below is one of my favorite images in Weston Cemetery.  The crown here seems to represent a triumph or victory over death.

Below is another marker with buildings, but the wording indicates that they represent the many mansions in heaven.

An anchor is a Christian symbol of hope.

The hourglass represents the passage of time or that the sands of life have run out. It is often pictured with a scythe, meaning that God has harvested the soul.

Some old cemeteries have images of hourglasses with wings, indicating that life is fleeting. I have not seen this symbolism in Weston Cemetery. In fact, this is the only hourglass I have found.

Many graves both old and recent have a compass, indicating the deceased was a Mason. Another common symbol is three links of a chain,  indicating that deceased belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

The above pictures are only a small sample of the images one can find in Weston Cemetery. I have relied on the Internet for explanations of what the images symbolize and there may be better explanations for some of them. If you have one, feel free to share it with a comment.

In other cemetery news, the local DAR is working with a group called Wreaths across America to place wreaths on the graves of all veterans buried in Smith Cemetery. The date is Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. For more information, go to www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org/IN0117.