"Respectful Gravesite Beautification"

Hello, I recently saw a picture of my Grandparents tombstone online. It was depressing and stark with only their names and dates of birth and death. It made me very sad to see it. Because I am a mosaic artist I decided to ask the cemetery director if I might make a mosaic memorial for them that might be placed near their graves. The idea is being passed onto the board. Because I know that only certain images are allowed in a Jewish cemetery I proposed I make the following mosaic after researching the history of Jewish gravestone symbols: A tree of life (The Tree of Life is a symbol of the Torah and holds great significance in Judaism. It represents the path in life towards God and also represents the cosmos or a map of the universe) surrounded by butterflies and birds (Birds symbolize the soul flying up to heaven; a butterfly can also represent this). Under the tree we find a lion and lamb lying next to each other (Lions and lambs lying next to each other allude to a passage from Isaiah about the heavenly peace that will follow the coming of the Messiah). They will be standing on a stack of books (a stack of books, is a common symbol and refers to scholarship. The person could have been a rabbi, a teacher, or a scientist.— my grandfather was a pharmacist). Also in the mosaic will be a a leopard, an eagle and a deer (these images evoke the words of Judah ben Teima, who was known to say, “Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, fleeting as a deer, and mighty as a lion, to do the will of your Father in Heaven.”) Somewhere there could be a pitcher of water (A gravestone marked with a pitcher of water is generally that of a Levite,— we are Levines!) and maybe a leviathan? (These include the image of Leviathan, the sea monster whose meat will be eaten by the Righteous after the coming of the Messiah. He is most often depicted as a snake twisted into a loop, swallowing his own tail. According to Jewish tradition, it symbolizes eternity and the immortality of the human soul.) I have some questions. My mosaic will be bright and colorful. Maybe it will be a bench. In the Jewish tradition I read that headstones should look much like those around them so as not to offend those who cannot afford elaborate tombstones. My mosaic will not be on the tombstone, it will be a freestanding artwork place near my grandparents grave. Is this different? Do I need to worry that my artwork will offend others? 2. The only living son or daughter of my grandparents is my aunt who has disowned me, saying she will never speak to me again. I sent a letter telling her of my plan but I doubt she will open it. Do I need to make additional efforts to tell her of my plans? Can she decide how I am allowed to honor my grandparents? Should the board okay my idea but she objects because she hates me, must I forfeit my idea? Thanks, Jennifer

Thank you for your question,

It is beautiful to see how much respect you want to give your grandparents and to beautify their kever. however, according to Halacha, it is important to do this with the consent of your aunt. 

The right place to do the art would be next to the kever not on it.

May you be blessed with lots of Bracha and success.