Cremation: The reduction, through heat and evaporation, of the human body to its basic elements. Cremation is a means of preparing the human body for disposition and memoralization.
Crypt: A space in a mausoleum (interior crypt), garden crypt (exterior crypt) or lawn crypt (below ground crypt) used for the entombment of human remains. Types of crypts include single crypts, true companion crypts, companion crypts and couch crypts.
Double Interment: Single grave used for the burial of more than one remains, one on top of the other.
Easement: Printed Contract (agreement) between the cemetery and the person who is purchasing the burial rights to a grave (or graves).
Endowed Care: Part of the price from every lot or grave selection that is invested in a special fund, the earnings of which are used for the future care expenditures of the cemetery.
Funeral: Organized, purposeful, time-limited, group-centered response to death. Generally includes rites and/or other ceremonies with the body present, to commemorate the death that occurred and the life that has been lived.
Grave Liner: An unsealed concrete receptacle of two or more pieces in which the casket is placed at the time of burial, not specifically to protect the casket but to prevent the ground above from sinking. Generally made of concrete, steel, fiberglass, polypropylene or copper.
Interment Service: Those services involved in preparing the interment site for use. Generally includes such items as opening and closing the burial site, staff supervision, establishment and maintenance of permanent burial records and the use of necessary equipment and accessories.
Inurnment: Interment by placement of cremated remains in an urn in a grave, crypt or niche.
Lawn Crypt: A pre-installed cement outer container designed to hold two or more caskets and contents below ground.
Lot: Refers to more than one adjacent grave; any number of these graves could be used to make up a family lot.
Marker: A stone or bronze memorial flush with the ground indicating the name of the deceased and date of birth and death.
Memorial Service: An alternative funeral involving rites and ceremonies and commemoration without the body present.
Monument: Something designed to preserve the memory of a family member and placed either above ground (monuments) or flush to the ground (markers) of the family plot.
Niche: A space in a mausoleum or other structure used for the inurnment of cremated remains.
Pre-Need/Pre-Planning: The advance planning and payment of a family burial place; a time to study fully and thoughtfully the burial space, services and merchandise available.
Vault: A two piece sealed receptacle for additional protection of the casket and contents.
