Glossary

Columbarium
A columbarium is a vault or similar structure with compartments (niches) for urns containing cremated remains. A columbarium can be located within a mausoleum or it can be free standing, either indoors or outdoors.

Cremation
The process of reducing the body to its basic elements by means of heat and evaporation.

Cremorial
Memorial property or columbarium niche that contains cremated remains.

Interment
The process of placing remains into a below-ground burial site.

Inurnment
The placement of cremated remains into an urn, grave, crypt, or niche.

Lot
One or more graves grouped together to form a family lot.

Marker
A granite or bronze stone slab that rests on top of a grave site to denote the person interred there.

Memorial property
Lots used for interment in a cemetery.

Monument
An upright memorial that marks the location of a family lot.

Niche
A compartment in a columbarium (see above) where cremated remains are placed.

Urn
A bronze, stainless steel, or marble container used for the storage of cremated remains. Also used to describe an outdoor container for potted flowers or plants.

Vault
A burial or cremation vault is an outer burial container made of concrete or metal that helps prevent the ground from collapsing around a grave.

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