Cemetery and Crematory Operations: Glossary Flashcards
An unfinished wood box or other non-metal receptacle or enclosure, without ornamentation or a fixed interior lining, which is designed for the encasement of human remains and which is made of fiberboard, pressed-wood, composition materials (with or without an outside covering) or like materials
Alternative container
Made in mat form and used at the cemetery to cover the earth around the grave
Artificial grass
The lower or supporting part of a monument
Base
In some monuments, there may be a first, second, and third
Base
A small headstone, set above ground, with a slightly slanting top
Bevel top marker
A subdivision of a cemetery containing several lots
Block
Outer enclosure for caskets placed in the grave
Burial vault
Originally intended to prevent grave robbery
Burial vault
A portable shelter employed to cover the grave area during the committal
- Canopy
- Cemetery tent
Originated in ancient Rome as excavated cemeteries cut out of soft rock for the tombs of wealthy Christians
Catacombs
Later became a place for religious rites to avoid persecution
Catacombs
An area of ground set aside and dedicated for the final disposition of dead human bodies
Cemetery
A monument erected to the memory of the dead, with the dead human body not present
Cenotaph
A structure, room, or space in a mausoleum or other building containing niches or recesses used to hold cremated remains
Columbarium
A container used to hold a dead human body which is constructed out of a type of cardboard, which is made with a series of alternate folds and ridges
Corrugated container
The result of the reduction of a dead body to inorganic bone fragments by intense heat
Cremated remains
An environmentally safe casket which is designed for encasing dead human remains for cremation
Cremation casket
The reduction of a dead human body to inorganic bone fragments by intense heat in a specifically designed retort or chamber
Cremation
Founded in 1913, an international organization of cemeterians, cremationists, funeral directors, industry suppliers and consultants
Cremation Association of North America (CANA)
Originally formed to promote cremation as a modern, safe and hygienic way of dealing with a dead human body
Cremation Association of North America (CANA)
A furnace or retort for cremating dead human bodies
- Crematory
- Crematorium
A building that houses a retort
- Crematory
- Crematorium
A chamber in a mausoleum, of sufficient size, generally used to contain the casketed remains of a deceased person
Crypt
Main part of a monument, the upright portion above the base where the inscription is located
- Die
- Tablet
The placing of remains in a crypt in a mausoleum
Entombment
An inscription placed on a monument to commemorate the deeds or qualities of the departed
Epitaph
A small headstone which is set with its top even with the surrounding terrain
Flush marker
An excavation in the earth as a place for interment
Grave
A ceremony or ritual, religious or otherwise, conducted at the grave
Graveside service
Webbing or similar material used for lowering the casket into the grave
Grave straps
A type of cemetery monument in which the die is wider than it is tall
Horizontal tablet
To bury in the ground
- Inter
- Inhume
The act of placing the dead human body in the ground
- Interment
- Burial
- Inhumement
- Inhumation
The act of placing cremains in an urn
Inurnment
CANA definition: act of placing cremated remains in a niche or grave
Inurnment
Grave space where two or more persons may be buried in grave liners, which have been stacked one on top of the other with the first person who dies being buried in the deepest grave liner, with subsequent burials on top
Lawncrypt
A subdivision of a cemetery which consists of several graves or interment spaces
Lot
A mechanical device used to lower a casket into the ground
Lowering device
A small headstone, usually of one piece, used to identify individual graves
Marker
An above ground structure or building containing crypts or vaults for entombment of caskets
Mausoleum
May also include niches for cremated remains
Mausoleum
Chamber within a mausoleum or building structure, usually constructed of reinforced concrete, can be assembled above or below ground
Mausoleum crypt
A physical object that is designed for the purpose of remembering
Memorial gathering
A cemetery or section of a cemetery with only flush to the ground type markers
Memorial park
Funeral rites with the body not present
Memorial service
A structure, usually of stone or metal, erected to commemorate the life, deeds, or career of a deceased person
Monument
Derived from the Latin word meaning “to remind”
Monument
Ancient Viking custom
Mound burial
After deceased was placed in his boat with items necessary for the spirit to maintain the position held on earth, all was cremated and the pyre then covered with earth
Mound burial
A cemetery created and maintained under an Act of Congress for burial of veterans of military service and their eligible family members
National cemetery
A recess or space in a columbarium used for the permanent placing of cremated remains
Niche
The aesthetic covering for the foot cap or inner foot panel of the casket
Niche
Receptacle for communal placement of cremated remains
Ossuary
An arrangement made by the cemetery whereby funds are set aside, the income from which is used to maintain the cemetery indefinitely
Perpetual care
A leak resistant zippered bag designed to contain a dead human body and body fluids and is used mainly for the removal of dead human remains from the place of death
Pouch
A structure so designed for the temporary storage of bodies which are not to be immediately interred
Receiving vault
The burning chamber in a crematory
Retort
A section in a cemetery set aside for the scattering of cremated human remains
Scattering garden
A subdivision of a cemetery containing several blocks
Section
One who is in charge of the cemetery
Sexton
The caretaker of a church
Sexton
Historically, the church caretaker who had responsibility for church property, ringing of bells and digging of graves in the churchyard cemetery
Sexton
During the Middle Ages, most funeral practices were under the direction of church officials
Sexton
A cemetery marker that has a face that has an angle greater than 45 degrees but less than 90 degrees in relationship to the terrain
Slant marker
A general term designating those places suitable for the reception of a dead human body
Tomb
Real estate property that is part of the cemetery but is not presently suitable for interment, entombment, or inurnment
Undeveloped
A container for cremated remains
Urn
A vase with a foot or pedestal
Urn
A type of cemetery monument in which the die is taller than it is wide
Vertical tablet
