-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MHAdU/m2tzFkbHyS0OWgtbPWwamOmJhbl8YfQw8VIz5GDQk29xkR0v6DXGEcbn68
 8XmN9HObgFoyuznfHesjcw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001342857-08-000076.txt : 20081212
<SEC-HEADER>0001342857-08-000076.hdr.sgml : 20081212
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081212162920
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001342857-08-000076
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080827
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081212
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081212

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROCK OF AGES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000084581
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CUT STONE & STONE PRODUCTS [3281]
		IRS NUMBER:				030153200
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1116

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		560 GRANITEVILLE ROAD
		CITY:			GRANITEVILLE
		STATE:			VT
		ZIP:			05654
		BUSINESS PHONE:		800-421-0166

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		560 GRANITEVILLE ROAD
		CITY:			GRANITEVILLE
		STATE:			VT
		ZIP:			05654

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			North Star Investment Management Corp.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001342857
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29464
		FILM NUMBER:		081247112

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20 N. WACKER DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE # 1416
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
		BUSINESS PHONE:		312-580-0900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20 N. WACKER DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE # 1416
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-08-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000084581</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ROCK OF AGES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>roac</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001342857</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>North Star Investment Management Corp.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>20 N. WACKER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE # 1416</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Rock of Ages Corporation</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.98</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>623759</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Melissa Diamond</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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