Commonly Used Terms

Columbarium

A structure consisting of small vaults or niches for urns containing cremated remains.

Committal Service

The ceremony at the gravesite following a funeral ceremony or gathering in a church, chapel or other location.

Crypt

An interment space in a mausoleum.

Entombment

The interment of human remains in an above-ground crypt or mausoleum.

Interment

The placing of remains into their final resting place, such as the ground, a tomb, crypt or niche, etc.

Inurnment

The placing of an urn containing cremated remains into a columbarium, niche, crypt, tomb or ground space.

Lawn Crypt

A subsurface concrete structure constructed in multiple units for the interment of human remains. Lawn crypts may be constructed with more than one tier or level.

Mausoleum

A public or private building specially designed to receive entombments in crypts and niches.

Memorial

Any item, other than a mausoleum or columbarium, used for identifying an interment space or for commemoration of the life of a decedent, including, but not limited to, a monument, marker, niche plate, urn garden plaque, crypt plate, cenotaph, marker bench and vase.

Niche

A compartment or cubicle for the memorialization and permanent placement of cremated remains.

Outer Burial Container

Any container which is designed for placement in the grave around the casket including, but not limited to, containers commonly known as burial vaults, grave boxes and grave liners.

Professional Service Fee

The fee charged for making an interment including, but not limited to, administrative, clerical, legal and mechanical services performed by the cemetery in conjunction with the opening of an interment space in preparation for the interment of human remains and the subsequent closing of the interment space after the interment has been performed.

Urn

A container made from a variety of materials including, but not limited to, bronze, ceramic, glass, porcelain, wood or other materials, into which cremated remains are placed. Many are designed in traditional vase-like shapes or square and rectangular cubes.