Cemeteries in Bala Cynwyd, PA: A Guide for Families

Laurel Hill West in Bala Cynwyd

Laurel Hill West is located on Belmont Avenue in Bala Cynwyd and was founded in 1869. Its history is directly connected to Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, one of the country's most historically significant rural cemeteries.

As Philadelphia and Fairmount Park expanded during the 19th century, additional land was needed to accommodate future burials. Laurel Hill's founder, John Jay Smith, looked across the Schuylkill River to what is now Bala Cynwyd, leading to the establishment of West Laurel Hill Cemetery. The first burial took place in 1870.

Today, Laurel Hill West forms part of the broader Laurel Hill cemetery landscape and is known for its historic monuments, architecture, mature trees, and carefully designed grounds.

For families planning a new memorial there, however, its history is only one part of the process. Current cemetery requirements and the exact location of the gravesite need to be confirmed before choosing a monument.

Headstones at Laurel Hill West

Walking through a historic cemetery such as Laurel Hill West reveals how memorial design has changed across generations. Traditional upright monuments, family memorials, sculptural designs, and other forms of memorialization contribute to the character of the grounds.

For a family creating a new memorial today, the design needs to balance personal preferences with the cemetery's current requirements.

A traditional single upright headstone can provide space for inscriptions, religious imagery, portraits, and artwork, while other gravesites may call for a different monument style.

Families with established plots may also need to consider existing memorials. A new headstone or inscription may be designed to complement the granite, lettering, dimensions, and overall appearance of monuments already present in the family plot.

If you are comparing monument options, our guide to headstones in Bala Cynwyd, PA explains the process in more detail.

Westminster Cemetery

Westminster Cemetery is another long-established cemetery serving families in Bala Cynwyd and the surrounding area.

The cemetery traces its origins to the 1860s, when it was founded by the Danish Catholic Church. It later reopened as a non-denominational cemetery in 1894, allowing it to serve families from a wider range of religious and cultural backgrounds.

Over the generations, Westminster has developed beyond traditional ground burial. Today, families can find different forms of memorialization within the cemetery, including traditional burial spaces, mausoleum options, family estates, columbarium niches, cremation gardens, and other cremation memorials.

This variety gives families more choice, but it also makes the specific cemetery section particularly important when selecting a memorial.

Memorial Options at Westminster Cemetery

The appropriate memorial at Westminster depends on the type of burial property selected.

Families using a traditional gravesite may be considering a granite monument or marker, while those choosing cremation may use a columbarium niche, cremation garden, or another permanent form of memorialization. Mausoleum entombment provides an additional alternative to traditional ground burial.

For couples or relatives sharing a plot, a double upright headstone may provide a coordinated memorial where cemetery regulations permit it. Larger family plots may also accommodate family monuments designed to commemorate several generations.

Families considering above-ground burial can also explore our mausoleums and crypt memorials.

Whatever option is selected, the cemetery's current requirements should be confirmed before the design enters production.

How Cemetery Rules Affect Memorial Design

Cemetery regulations are one of the most important practical considerations when choosing a headstone.

Rules may determine the maximum dimensions of a monument, whether upright or lawn-level memorials are permitted, which materials can be used, the type of foundation required, and how installation must be completed.

These rules can also vary within the same cemetery. A historic section, traditional burial garden, family estate, mausoleum area, and cremation garden may each have different requirements.

This is why families should avoid choosing a headstone based only on appearance. The cemetery and exact gravesite need to be identified first.

Our How to Choose a Headstone in Bala Cynwyd, PA guide covers these decisions step by step.

Choosing Granite for a Cemetery Memorial

Once the cemetery requirements are understood, families can begin considering the material and appearance of the memorial.

Granite remains one of the most common choices because of its durability and variety. Traditional gray granite creates a classic cemetery appearance, while black granite can provide excellent contrast for detailed inscriptions and portrait etching. Red, blue, green, mahogany, and other natural varieties allow for very different memorial designs.

The granite selected should complement the monument style, lettering, artwork, and surrounding family memorials where relevant.

Families can explore different options on our Granite Colors & Materials page.

Personalizing a Memorial

Historic cemeteries contain monuments from many different periods, but personalization has always been an important part of memorial design.

Names and dates form the foundation of most inscriptions, but families can also incorporate an epitaph, religious imagery, family relationships, military service, cultural symbols, floral artwork, or other meaningful details.

Modern engraving and etching also make it possible to incorporate portraits and highly detailed artwork into suitable granite.

Our engraving services include lettering, sandblasting, etching, and cemetery inscriptions for both new and existing memorials.

For an established family plot, personalization may also involve matching an existing monument rather than creating an entirely separate design.

Existing Family Monuments and Additional Inscriptions

Because Laurel Hill West and Westminster Cemetery have served families for generations, some projects involve memorials that are already in place.

When another family member is buried in an existing plot, it may be necessary to add a final date, name, or additional inscription to an existing headstone. In other situations, a new monument may need to coordinate visually with older family memorials.

Matching the existing lettering style, granite, spacing, and overall design helps preserve continuity within the family plot.

Before any work is performed on an existing cemetery monument, the cemetery's procedures and permissions should be confirmed.

Cremation Memorials in Bala Cynwyd

Families choosing cremation can still create a permanent place of remembrance within a cemetery.

Depending on the cemetery and property selected, cremation memorialization can include columbarium niches, granite markers, family columbaria, cremation gardens, benches, or other permanent memorials.

The right option depends on whether the family wants the cremated remains to be inurned, buried, scattered in an approved area, or incorporated into another cemetery arrangement.

Just as with traditional burial, understanding the cemetery's options before selecting the memorial makes the planning process much easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main cemeteries in Bala Cynwyd, PA?

Laurel Hill West and Westminster Cemetery are two important cemeteries serving Bala Cynwyd families. Both have long histories and offer different burial and memorial options.

Is West Laurel Hill Cemetery the same as Laurel Hill West?

Yes. West Laurel Hill Cemetery is now known as Laurel Hill West and forms part of the broader Laurel Hill cemetery organization.

When was Laurel Hill West established?

Laurel Hill West was founded in 1869, with its first burial taking place in 1870.

When was Westminster Cemetery established?

Westminster Cemetery traces its history to the mid-1860s and reopened as a non-denominational cemetery in 1894.

Can I install a new headstone in a historic cemetery?

New memorials can be installed where cemetery rules and the burial property allow them. The current requirements for the specific gravesite should always be confirmed before a monument is designed or ordered.

Can an inscription be added to an existing family headstone?

In many cases, additional cemetery inscriptions can be added to an existing monument. The condition of the stone, available space, cemetery procedures, and existing lettering should first be reviewed.

Memorial Services for Bala Cynwyd Cemeteries

Laurel Hill West and Westminster Cemetery each have their own history and character, but the same principle applies when planning a memorial at either location: understand the cemetery and gravesite before finalizing the headstone.

Once those requirements are clear, families can focus on choosing the granite, inscription, artwork, and monument style that best represents the person being remembered.

Abby Rose Inc. helps families throughout Bala Cynwyd and Montgomery County navigate that process from memorial design through cemetery coordination and installation.

Explore our Bala Cynwyd cemetery and memorial services or contact Abby Rose Inc. for assistance.

For additional information, read our guides to headstones in Bala Cynwyd, PA and how to choose a headstone in Bala Cynwyd, PA.