A monumental error by a monumental mason
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (339930)
Rockingham, Australia
November 7, 2018 2:45am CST
Last weekend we went to our home town where we both went to school. Vince went to a Catholic school which was run by nuns and it was having its centenary celebrations. While we were there we took the opportunity to visit the cemetery and inspect the headstone which had been erected for my brother who died in October twelve months ago.
We were a bit shocked to find that it wasn’t as we had ordered. In our original order we had requested that six lines be left at the bottom to allow an inscription to be inserted for my sister who wants to be buried in the same plot. There should have been six lines in total instead of nine. This would have ensured space for my sister’s inscription. The date of birth is also missing.
Luckily we had a copy of the email we sent to the monumental masons which included precise instructions. They have responded to our new email, apologised for the error and promised to fix it which is all fine. However if we hadn’t gone to view the site, the error could have stayed there for ever and a day. It’s a bit annoying. Luckily it is their mistake and it won't cost us another small fortune.
20 people like this
20 responses
@NormanDarlo (1071)
• Ireland
7 Nov 18
It is surprising that they were so careless. This will prove an expensive mistake to fix. I am so glad that you had the details. I am sure in the past many people gave them instructions on a piece of paper and kept no copy. In such circumstances it would be much more difficult to argue your case!
1 person likes this
@NormanDarlo (1071)
• Ireland
7 Nov 18
@JudyEv Hopefully they'll learn to be more careful in future. Did they come recommended?
1 person likes this
@NormanDarlo (1071)
• Ireland
8 Nov 18
@JudyEv There's a bit more choice around here, but often such decisions are made at a time of high stress and grief, which is not an ideal time for organising anything, yet needs must.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180678)
• United States
7 Nov 18
Geez, He must have been carving whilst in his cups. I am glad they will fix it for you for free, as they should!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Nov 18
It will be an expensive fix so we're really pleased we have the original quote. It's ironic as on the bottom of the quote which we've signed is something like 'please check your instructions carefully as any errors will incur additional costs'. They should have taken note of that bit themselves.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (106226)
• Marion, Ohio
7 Nov 18
Glad you checked it and it will be fixed. Make sure to check when the new one goes up also.
1 person likes this
@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
8 Nov 18
There's a memorial bench at our local Bowls Club with a commemorative plaque to the "passed President". OK - in one sense that is true, but it should have been "past President". In this case it was a double mistake - his widow had written "passed" on the order form because she can't spell, but the engraver didn't query it. The widow doesn't see that there's any problem, so nothing will be done.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Nov 18
I hate mistakes like this but for some people it doesn't worry them. At a very flash memorial in Geraldton, there is an 'its' in the commemorative plaque which has been given an unnecessary apostrophe. I think it is a great shame to have such errors especially in official documents and plaques.
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Nov 18
Looks like somebody fell asleep on the job and didn't get the order right. Thankfully, you kept the back documentation to help support your claim against them. How many people would have just deleted the email? I hope they get everything corrected to your satisfaction.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
7 Nov 18
Sometimes we are brought to a place for a reason. Its good you see it and told it to the monumental masons.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
7 Nov 18
I'm happy they will take care of the error at no cost to you
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Nov 18
It was us that found the mistake but at least they are not arguing about fixing it.
@nawala123 (20871)
• Indonesia
10 Nov 18
have it been replaced with the new one?
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (51957)
• Philippines
7 Nov 18
At least you were able to complain and get their attention to have it fix.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Nov 18
Yes, they didn't argue about it at all which was good. Luckily we had kept the quote.
@Deepizzaguy (102812)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
8 Nov 18
That is good to know that the minor error on the tombstone is being corrected.
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Nov 18
We would like it to be correct and my sister's details will need to go underneath at some stage.
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
7 Nov 18
One must always inspect work that has been done.
1 person likes this
