H&S Memorial Studio

H&S Memorial Studio Celebrating life's beautiful stories since 1929.

Remembrance is at the heart of what we do 🌹Each day, we work with families who want to honour someone they love. To keep...
11/11/2025

Remembrance is at the heart of what we do 🌹

Each day, we work with families who want to honour someone they love. To keep a name, a story, a life remembered.

On Remembrance Day, we pause with our community in Hamilton to honour those who served and those who gave their lives.

Lest we forget.

11/04/2025

Hamilton Cemetery has been part of the City of Hamilton's history for nearly two centuries, and part of ours for most of our 97 years.

Set on Burlington Heights, it’s the city’s oldest public burial ground and the resting place of many who helped shape its early history, including George Hamilton, the city’s founder.

Our team has worked here for generations. Designing, installing, and restoring memorials that have become part of the landscape.

We’re proud to have a long connection to this place and to the community it represents.

Here’s a look at one of the engraving techniques we often use at H&S: the rubber stencil method.Each design begins on sc...
10/30/2025

Here’s a look at one of the engraving techniques we often use at H&S: the rubber stencil method.

Each design begins on screen. Once finalized, it’s cut into thick rubber using a plotter. That stencil is then applied to the stone, and our team begins a careful process called weeding, removing only the sections where carving is needed.

The stencil protects the rest of the stone while we engrave, usually through sandblasting. It allows for precision, especially with detailed lettering or artwork, and helps us maintain the polished surface around it.

This method is one of the ways we ensure each memorial is crafted with care, accuracy, and respect for the story it’s telling.

10/29/2025

In the studio right now, our craftsmen are working on a custom guitar-shaped monument.

It’s being made to honour a remarkable man who taught himself to play guitar at 55, many years after recovering from a traumatic brain injury in early adulthood.

The back of the monument features the words “It’s never too late,” along with a photo that has been laser-etched into the stone. On the front, you can see the process of rendering the guitar form, each curve and contour shaped with precision.

This design was requested by the gentleman himself. He’s planning his memorial in advance, and he knew what he wanted: something personal. A shape that reflects a part of his life that brought him joy.

We’re honoured to be part of this project, and to help carry out his wishes with care and craftsmanship.

Designing a memorial can feel overwhelming, especially in the midst of grief. At H&S Memorial Studio, we understand how ...
10/16/2025

Designing a memorial can feel overwhelming, especially in the midst of grief. At H&S Memorial Studio, we understand how emotional and uncertain this process can be.

Many families who reach out to us are navigating these decisions for the first time. They’re looking for clarity, support, and someone who will take the time to walk with them.

That’s what we’re here for.

Whether it’s a custom headstone, inscription, or restoration, we approach every project with patience, care, and compassion. We listen closely, answer questions clearly, and guide each family with the same attention we’d want for our own.

From the first conversation to final placement, we’re honoured to support families through this important part of their story.

This year’s mild weather has given us a little extra time before winter sets in.While most cemeteries pause installation...
10/10/2025

This year’s mild weather has given us a little extra time before winter sets in.

While most cemeteries pause installations once the ground freezes, there is still limited capacity to complete some markers in 2025, particularly if the stone is in stock and the design is straightforward.

For families planning a memorial marker in 2026, now is also a good time to begin the process. Starting early allows us to design and prepare everything with care, so your memorial is ready for placement once the frost has lifted in spring.

For almost 100 years, our family has worked alongside families in Hamilton to create memorials that honour and remember those they love.

We’re here to support you through each step. Please call us or reach out through our website anytime.

10/03/2025

As autumn sets in, we recommend giving memorials a gentle cleaning before winter arrives.

A bit of care now can help protect the stone through colder months and prevent staining from fallen leaves or buildup.

If you’re planning to do it yourself, here are a few simple steps:
1. Sweep away loose debris
2. Gently clear dirt from lettering and carved details
3. Apply mild dish soap and scrub with soft brushes
4. Rinse with clean water and repeat as needed

Many cemeteries have running water, but it’s always a good idea to bring your own supply.

For harder-to-clean areas, like the base, our team offers professional pressure washing. If you have questions or would like support with cleaning or restoration, we’re here to help.

Years may pass between burials, but the wish remains the same: to be remembered together.In recent weeks, we’ve shared h...
09/26/2025

Years may pass between burials, but the wish remains the same: to be remembered together.

In recent weeks, we’ve shared how services like flip & polish and custom plinths can make room on existing stones.

But sometimes, a separate addition is the best solution.

When that happens, we help by creating a companion marker, – a separate granite marker placed at the foot of the grave, designed to complement what’s already there and commemorate the family members that are also laid to rest there.

It’s a flexible way to honour new burials and changing family needs, without altering the original memorial.
And most importantly, it allows families to be laid to rest together, in a shared place of remembrance.
We hope this series has been helpful. If you have questions, we’re here to help.

Making space to remember, together 🕊️For many families, interring ashes together in a single lot is a meaningful way to ...
09/18/2025

Making space to remember, together 🕊️

For many families, interring ashes together in a single lot is a meaningful way to keep loved ones close, even in rest.

But when the existing marker is full, they’re often told they need to replace it entirely.

At H&S, we offer another option.

Our flip & polish service allows us to carefully turn the original stone over, polish the underside, and prepare it for new inscriptions.

It’s a practical way to save time and cost, while honouring the shared resting place and the lives it represents.

Here’s a look at some of the flat markers we’ve restored through flip & polish.

We’re proud to have given these families the chance to remember their loved ones together.

A shared resting place means a lot to many families.But when the original monument is full, adding another name can some...
09/11/2025

A shared resting place means a lot to many families.

But when the original monument is full, adding another name can sometimes mean replacing the whole stone.

A plinth offers another option. It’s a custom-cut piece that’s placed in between the tablet and base of an existing monument.

Swipe through to take a look at some plinths we’ve worked on for Ontario families.

And follow along for more ways we help families add to an existing memorial. We hope it is helpful.

đź“… Want your memorial placed before next spring?The deadline is fast approaching.September 26 is the last day the City of...
09/05/2025

đź“… Want your memorial placed before next spring?

The deadline is fast approaching.

September 26 is the last day the City of Hamilton will accept orders for cemetery foundations – the concrete base that must be in place before a headstone can be set.

If the order isn’t placed by then, installation may need to wait until after spring 2026.

If you’re planning a memorial for this year, now is the time to reach out.

Call or contact us through our website today.

Across Hamilton, memorials and historic landmarks keep the city’s stories present.Through parks, monuments, and memorial...
08/27/2025

Across Hamilton, memorials and historic landmarks keep the city’s stories present.

Through parks, monuments, and memorial gardens, our community carries forward the stories of service, sacrifice, and resilience.

This commitment to memory is the same one we hold close at H&S Memorial Studio, as we help families create tributes that honour lives and connect generations.

Featured here:
🏛 Peace Memorial Park
🦅 Eagles Among Us Monument
🏰 Stoney Creek Battlefield Monument
🚢 War of 1812 Naval Memorial Garden

Images: Tourism Hamilton Tourism Hamilton, Tom Ridout for HGH Granite Inc. , Hamilton Naval Association HMCS Star / NCSM Star

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676 KING Street WEST
Hamilton, ON
L8P1C5

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Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

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