Roses

Love, beauty, hope, unfailing love, associated with the Virgin Mary, the ‘rose without thorns.’ 

A red rose symbolizes martyrdom, and a white rose symbolizes purity and virginity. 

Whether the rose is a bud, flower or somewhere in between indicates just how old the person was at the time of their death.

Just a Bud - normally a child 12 or under

Partial Bloom - normally a teenager

Full Bloom - normally in early to mid twenties.  Also means that the deceased died in the prime of life

Rosebud, broken - life cut short, usually found with a young persons grave