Gravestone Cleaning & Legacy Tending

Gravestones are one of the few physical reminders we have that someone lived — and that someone cared enough to mark their passing. Cleaning a stone isn’t about making it look new. It’s about honoring a life. It’s about tending a memory. It’s a way of saying: you still matter.

Most gravestone “cleaning” services rely on pressure washers, acid-based cleaners, or tools that strip and damage the stone in the name of speed and appearance. That’s not what I do.

I clean by hand, slowly and respectfully, using D/2 Biological Solution — the same gentle, biodegradable formula used by the National Park Service for historic cemeteries. I use soft brushes and water, never power washing. While I work, I say their name. I pay attention to the details: the carved initials, the moss that’s taken root in the lettering, the way the stone sits in the earth. I don’t rush.

Some people hire me because they live far away and want someone to check in on a loved one’s grave. But more often, it’s people who live right here — who walk past the cemetery on their way to work or visit a couple of times a year — and want to do something more.

Maybe you’ve meant to clean the stone for years but didn’t know how.
Maybe an anniversary is coming and the grief is heavy.
Maybe your relationship with the person buried there is complicated, and tending the site feels like the clearest gesture of care you can offer.

Whatever the reason, I will show up with gentleness and respect. I will take my time. I will treat the tending of that stone like it matters — because it does.

Gravestone Cleaning + Tending

$75–$150 (Hudson, NY area)

Every visit includes both the practical care of cleaning the stone and the quiet ritual of tending the site.

I clean each gravestone by hand using D/2 Biological Solution along with soft, non-invasive brushes. No pressure washing, no harsh chemicals, nothing that will harm the stone. I move slowly, speak their name, and pay attention to the details: the carving, the lichen, the way the stone sits in the earth. Before I clean, I create a small seasonal altar — a simple offering using water, earth, light, and food. Altars have been used for thousands of years to mark intention and presence. This one is temporary, but the gesture endures.

You’re welcome to share anything you’d like held during the visit — a photo, a memory, a favorite color, a song lyric, words you wish had been said. I take those with me.

After the visit, you’ll receive before-and-after photos of the stone, a photo of the altar, and a short reflection about the tending — what I noticed, what felt present, any small moment worth passing along.

Pricing is based on the size and condition of the stone: $75 for smaller or well-preserved stones, up to $150 for larger, older, or more weathered stones that require more time. If you send me a photo, I’ll give you a clear recommendation before we schedule anything.

Packages

Full Visit — $150+
Cleaning + a personalized altar + photos + written reflection. Ideal for anniversaries, birthdays, or meaningful dates.

Two Visits / Year — $350
Often chosen to mark a birthday and death-day, or two seasonal touchpoints.

Ongoing Seasonal Care — $500/year
Four visits throughout the year, on dates you choose or aligned with the seasons. Each visit includes light upkeep, a personalized altar, photos, and a short reflection — a rhythm of remembering.