Burial Terminology

Burial Space Rite	A burial space within a cemetery, allowing for the rite of an interment to take place. Graves are generally of two types, either permitting a granite lawn level (flush) marker, or a raised upright monument.
Columbarium Niche	An above ground burial crypt, sized for an urn containing the cremated remains of the body and allowing for identification and remembrance. Cremation Niches front covers can be either composed of: Granite Fronts, Wood Fronts or Glass Fronts (as illustrated).
Cremation	The process of reducing a deceased body to ashes. Since 1963, cremation has been an acceptable option for those of the Catholic Faith. It is recommended by the Church that the cremated remains be buried in a Catholic Cemetery ground burial space or cremation niche allowing for proper identification and remembrance.
Cremation Gardens	Typically, cremation gardens are beautifully landscaped areas in a natural setting and accommodate various expressions of memorialization from granite benches, to boulders, to memorial plaques.
Crypt	A space within a mausoleum designed for the entombment of human remains, either in an interior or exterior setting. Depending on the type of memorial selected for ground burial or the type of outer burial container purchased, crypt burial can be as comparable in cost to ground burial.
Disinterment	The removal of a casket or urn containing human remains from a final resting place.
Entombment	The placement of casketed remains in a crypt.
Feature	An object or memorial that is placed to highlight or enhance a particular area or section.
Flush (flat) marker	A flat (flush) memorial composed of granite that is set flush with the ground.
Interment	Owner or beneficiary of a designated burial space in which a casket is placed in the ground inside an outer burial container within the burial space.
Inurnment	The placement of an urn or urn vault containing cremated remains into a niche or earth burial space.
Lawn Crypts single companion (side-by-side) Double Depth	Essentially an underground mausoleum, lawn crypts offer the same traditional ground burial with the exception that each burial includes a concrete outer container that has been pre-installed in the ground. Single - Single lawn crypt space for the interment of one casket. Companion - Single spaces adjacent to one another, each for the interment of one casket. Double Depth - Single lawn crypt space prepared for the installation of two crypts, and the interment of two caskets, one above the other.
Mausoleum	A structure or building specifically designed for the entombment of casketed remains. A casket is placed in a crypt (mausoleum space) within a mausoleum when it is entombed. Mausoleums provide a clean and dry environment. Mausoleum’s can be private for you and/or your family or they can be communal which allows for numerous persons to be entombed within a building.
Memorial	The means used to identify the occupant of a final resting place.
Second Rite of Interment	A second interment in a burial space originally intended for one.
Upright Monument	A two-piece upright memorial installed above ground level.
Urns	Urns are containers used to hold cremated remains, placed in columbarium cremation niche or ground burial space.
Urn Vault	A secure enclosure for an urn intended for a ground burial.
Vase	A vessel used to hold flowers. In a cemetery the vase is usually constructed of bronze to withstand inclement weather.
Vault	An outside enclosure constructed of concrete or steel designed and engineered to protect the casket from the weight of the earth. Catholic Cemeteries require that all caskets be placed in a permanent outer burial container.