What describes a structure that commemorates the life of the deceased?

A monument is a structure specifically designed to honor and commemorate the life of an individual who has passed away. These structures can vary widely in form and size, from simple plaques to elaborate statues and obelisks. They serve as physical representations of remembrance, often inscribed with names, dates, or epitaphs that celebrate the achievements, memories, and essence of the deceased's life.

In a cemetery context, monuments often stand out as focal points that not only bear significance in terms of individual remembrance but also contribute to the overall landscape and aesthetic of the burial site. Their primary purpose is to provide a lasting tribute that reflects the life, legacy, and importance of the deceased to their loved ones and the community.

While other choices like marker, crypt, and mausoleum are related to burial and commemoration, they do not encapsulate the idea of a structure dedicated primarily for commemorative purposes in quite the same way that a monument does. Markers typically serve as identification for graves rather than as prominent commemorative structures. A crypt is a burial space, while a mausoleum is a building that can house one or more deceased individuals but does not inherently denote a celebratory or commemorative purpose in the same sense as a monument.