Why Work With Us?

Monuments Dealer
in NJ

Hand-carved faith monuments by Catholic Memorials — 80+ years in Morris County, NJ.

Monument Specialists — Family & single monuments
Companion Monuments — Side-by-side memorial monuments
Veteran Monuments — Military monuments & insignia
Custom Granite Carving — Hand-carved in Morris County
Photo-Etched Portraits — High-contrast relief portraits
Monument Restoration — Restore & re-level aged monuments
Cemetery Compliance — Every monument meets cemetery rules
Foundation Installation — Below frost-line, level-set
American-Made Granite — Domestic & select imported stone
Over 80 Years in NJ — Family-owned since 1945
All 14 NJ Counties — Statewide installation
Multilingual Service — English · Russian · Polish
Call (973) 382-7085Get a Free Consultation
Serving all of New Jersey · English, Russian, Polish
granite Catholic Headstone hand-carved by Catholic Memorials in NJ — image 1

Monuments

Over 80 Years in NJ

Ready When You Are

Talk to a Catholic Memorials craftsman today.

Call, email, schedule a free quote, or visit the showroom in person. Real people answer the phone Monday through Saturday.

Call (973) 382-7085Email UsSchedule a Free QuoteVisit Our Showroom
Service Area

Serving All 14 NJ Counties

Catholic Memorials serves Catholic families and parishes across all 14 New Jersey counties. Our Morris County, NJ headquarters anchors our reach from Bergen and Essex in the northeast to Ocean and Monmouth along the shore. Whether your loved one rests at a diocesan cemetery in Passaic, a parish cemetery in Somerset, or a municipal ground in Hunterdon, our team coordinates permits, foundation work, and installation directly with cemetery staff. We serve families in English, Russian, and Polish, ensuring clear communication at every step.

  • Morris
  • Bergen
  • Essex
  • Passaic
  • Hudson
  • Union
  • Sussex
  • Warren
  • Hunterdon
  • Somerset
  • Middlesex
  • Mercer
  • Monmouth
  • Ocean
Cemetery Guide

Cemetery Compliance Guide

Cemetery Regulations

New Jersey's Catholic diocesan cemeteries operate under guidelines issued by the relevant diocese as well as state cemetery regulations. Most set maximum upright monument heights between 36 and 42 inches above grade, though some historic grounds allow taller stones by variance. All require a monument permit filed before installation. Catholic Memorials's team reviews the specific rules of your cemetery before any design is finalized, so there are no surprises at the graveside. Our installation crews work directly with cemetery superintendents to ensure every marker meets written specifications on the day of setting.

Foundation Requirements

A properly poured concrete foundation is non-negotiable in New Jersey's freeze-thaw climate. Catholic cemeteries typically require a concrete base at least four inches thick and extending several inches beyond the monument footprint on all sides. Some diocesan cemeteries manage their own foundation crews and coordinate directly with monument companies; others require families to hire a licensed contractor. Catholic Memorials works within either model, supplying precise engineering drawings and stone dimensions so foundations are poured correctly the first time. A well-built foundation protects your investment for generations.

Religious Cemetery Considerations

Catholic cemeteries often maintain additional guidelines relating to iconography and inscription. Many require or encourage traditional Catholic symbols — the Latin cross, Sacred Heart, rosary, dove, or lamb — and may restrict secular or non-Christian imagery on certain sections of the grounds. Inscription language is generally open; Latin phrases, prayers in English, or even a Gaelic blessing can all be accommodated with proper planning. Catholic Memorials's artisans have deep experience with Catholic memorial tradition and can guide families through both the doctrinal and practical dimensions of selecting meaningful imagery for their loved one's stone.

Our Collection

Our Faith Monuments Collection

Catholic Headstone

A Catholic headstone is more than a marker — it is a lasting expression of faith, family, and remembrance, set permanently into the ground of a consecrated cemetery. At Catholic Memorials, we craft each stone by hand at our Morris County, NJ workshop, working exclusively with American-made granite selected for its density, color consistency, and ability to hold fine detail across decades of outdoor exposure. The classic form for a Catholic headstone is the upright tablet — polished on the face and sides, with a sawn or pitched back. Sizes in New Jersey's diocesan cemeteries typically range from 20 inches wide by 16 inches tall for a single stone to 42 inches wide by 24 inches tall for a companion monument meant to hold two records side by side. A matching base, also in granite, adds visual presence and distributes weight evenly across the concrete foundation. The surface of a Catholic headstone is where faith-specific monument craftsmanship truly comes forward. Our artisans hand-carve crosses in Latin, Celtic, and Orthodox styles; they sculpt Sacred Heart medallions, doves in flight, and the rosary with individual beads rendered in careful relief. Portrait etchings, laser or hand-rendered, can honor the person as well as the tradition. Every element is discussed with the family before the first chisel mark is made.

Unspecified Options

Beyond the traditional upright, Catholic Memorials offers slant markers, flat ledger stones, and bevel-top designs for Catholic grave sites that have restrictions on monument height. Slant markers typically sit 16 to 20 inches tall at the back edge, angled forward for easy reading. Flat ledgers lie flush or nearly flush with the ground, making them suitable for lawn-level cemeteries that prohibit any upright stone. All profiles can carry Catholic iconography — from a simple incised cross to a detailed Sacred Heart panel. Bronze accents, including flower vases cast in American bronze and affixed to the granite, are a popular choice for families who wish to present fresh flowers at every visit.

Custom Design Process

Our design process begins with a conversation. We listen to what the family holds dear — a favorite prayer, a meaningful scripture passage, a symbol that defined the person's devotion. From there, our designers prepare a scaled proof for review and approval before any stone is touched. Revisions are welcome and expected; most families refine their design two or three times before it feels exactly right. Once the design is approved, the stone moves to our Morris County workshop, where artisans transfer the layout and begin hand-carving. Letters are cut to a consistent depth for longevity; relief sculpture is checked at multiple stages against the approved proof. The finished stone is surface-cleaned and inspected before it leaves our shop.

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Monuments process
Our Process

Our Hand-Carving Process

Every Catholic headstone from Catholic Memorials passes through six distinct hands-on stages before it reaches the cemetery. **Step 1 — Family consultation.** We meet with you in person at our Morris County showroom or by phone in English, Russian, or Polish. We discuss the faith tradition, preferred iconography, inscription text, and any cemetery-specific requirements. **Step 2 — Design proof.** Our designers create a scaled digital rendering showing every symbol, letter, and decorative element. You review and approve — or request changes — before any stone is ordered. **Step 3 — Stone selection.** We source American-made granite in the color and finish that best honors the monument and the family's wishes. Common choices include deep charcoal grey, classic black, and warm mahogany tones. **Step 4 — Hand-carving.** Artisans in our Morris County workshop transfer the approved design and carve each letter, symbol, and relief element by hand. This stage takes care and time; we do not rush it. **Step 5 — Quality inspection.** The finished stone is checked against the approved proof for dimensional accuracy, inscription correctness, and surface quality. **Step 6 — Cemetery installation.** We coordinate directly with the cemetery for the foundation permit and setting date, then deliver and place the stone with our own installation crew.

Monuments memorial installed in NJ
Voices

What Families Say

New Jersey families have entrusted us with their memorials for three generations.

“The cross Catholic Memorials carved for my mother's stone is exactly what I described — Celtic knotwork around the arms, her name in the Gaelic spelling she always wanted. They got every detail right and kept me informed throughout. I am grateful for the care they brought to this.” — Brigid, Morris County NJ
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

If you do not see your question here, call us.

How long does it take to design and install a faith monuments?

Most Catholic headstones from Catholic Memorials are ready for installation within eight to twelve weeks from design approval, depending on stone availability and the cemetery's scheduling calendar. Complex relief carvings or custom shape requests may extend that timeline by two to four weeks. We provide an estimated completion date at the time of order confirmation and communicate any changes promptly.

Do you serve cemeteries throughout New Jersey?

Yes. Catholic Memorials serves all 14 counties in New Jersey — from Sussex and Warren in the northwest to Cape May in the south. Our installation crews are familiar with the permit requirements and foundation standards at Catholic diocesan cemeteries, municipal cemeteries, and non-denominational grounds across the state. There is no additional travel surcharge for counties beyond Morris.

Are your memorials cemetery-compliant?

Every monument we produce is designed to meet the written specifications of the receiving cemetery. Before finalizing any design, we contact the cemetery directly to confirm height limits, base size requirements, foundation specs, and any iconography guidelines specific to that ground. If a detail in your requested design conflicts with cemetery rules, we will identify an approved alternative and present it to you for review.

Can I bring my own design or photo?

Absolutely. Many families arrive at our Morris County showroom with a sketch, a photograph, or a description they have been refining for some time. Our designers use that input as a starting point, develop it into a scaled proof, and present it back to you for review. You retain full say over the final design. If you have a specific scriptural passage, prayer, or memorial phrase in mind, we can incorporate that as well — in English, Latin, Polish, Russian, or Gaelic.

Do you offer veteran companion markers?

Yes. Catholic Memorials designs and installs companion markers that recognize a loved one's military service alongside their Catholic faith tradition. Veterans' emblems from all five branches can be incorporated into the stone's design, and the monument can accommodate both the government-furnished bronze marker and a privately purchased granite headstone where cemetery rules permit dual placement.

What languages do you serve families in?

Yes — English, Russian, and Polish.

Showroom & Gallery

See Monuments in Person

Browse a few of the stones we have set, then come visit us in person. Sample stones, finishes, and lettering are all on display.

Catholic Memorials Madison, NJ 07940
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Monuments · Serving all of New Jersey

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

We serve families across Morris, Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Hudson counties and all of New Jersey. Fill out the form, drop by the showroom, or call us. Real people answer the phone Monday through Saturday.

Request Your Free Consultation

A specialist contacts you within one business day. House calls available across Morris County and the surrounding region.

Or call (973) 382-7085