Funeral360's Cemetery Glossary is guide to the cemetery jargon you should know when planning for your end-of-life care.
Sometimes referred to as “Urn Mausoleums”. A building or structure that houses cremated remains within small compartment spaces called niches. Bronze memorial plaques sit on the outside of the niche to identify the individual housed within.
The final portion of the funeral process where the casket is lowered to the ground and final words and prayers are spoken.
A ground burial for two caskets for the remains of two individuals. Two plots are sold together as a couple either side-by-side or stacked (one on top of the other).
The printed contract and agreement made between cemetery staff and the individual purchasing the rights of interment.
An entombment space within a Mausoleum that contains the casketed remains of two individuals in an end-to-end fashion.
A family can purchase and designate an area for use by only their family members. They are typically delineated by a single family headstone but each individual may have his/her own headstone.
A receptacle that surrounds and holds the casket in the ground. Its main purpose is to support the weight of the ground above the casket and prevent grave depressions. Usually made of concrete or steel.
A burial ground that carries out interment in a way that allows the body to decompose as a naturally as possible. Embalmed bodies are not permitted, nor are outer burial containers. Often the ground is designated as preserved space.
Burials carried out in a biodegradable casket or shroud and without embalming or vaults/grave liners to allow a natural decomposition of the interred body and cause the least amount of environmental damage.
Cemeteries that harbor cultural significance and historic individuals from the past. Usually non-profit and closed to new burials.
Performed by Cemetery staff, opening and closing refers to the digging of the earth or opening of the mausoleum crypt and other preparations for interment of human remains as well as the filling in of the grave or closing/locking of the crypt once the casket or urn has have been successfully interred.
A vault or grave liner designed to encase the casket to prevent the ground from sinking as the casket deteriorates, making it easier for ground maintenance.
A designated section of land within a cemetery for which a right of interment can be purchased. A single grave or many can make up a single plot.
An entombment space within a Mausoleum that is double the size of a single crypt and contains the casketed remains of two individuals in a side-by-side fashion.
The right to bury human remains in a particular plot in a cemetery. Upon purchasing a “grave” the individual gains the right to bury their loved ones in the purchased location but does not own the land itself.
Large entombment spaces within a Mausoleum that house families. Individual crypts are arranged in both a side-by-side and end-to-end fashion to accommodate each individual within the family. For a list of common Funeral Terms, see: Funeral Glossary.
Need Help with Funeral Planning?Gain access to our FREE funeral planning tools such as our Funeral Planning Checklist, My Funeral Wishes, Memorials, and more when you sign up for a FREE Funerals360 account! Start Planning
