Cemetery and Crematory Operations: Glossary

Question 1

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

Answer 1

Alternative container

Question 2

Made in mat form and used at the cemetery to cover the earth around the grave

Answer 2

Artificial grass

Question 3

The lower or supporting part of a monument

Answer 3

Base

Question 4

In some monuments, there may be a first, second, and third

Answer 4

Base

Question 5

A small headstone, set above ground, with a slightly slanting top

Answer 5

Bevel top marker

Question 6

A subdivision of a cemetery containing several lots

Answer 6

Block

Question 7

Outer enclosure for caskets placed in the grave

Answer 7

Burial vault

Question 8

Originally intended to prevent grave robbery

Answer 8

Burial vault

Question 9

A portable shelter employed to cover the grave area during the committal

Answer 9

• Canopy

* Cemetery tent

Question 10

Originated in ancient Rome as excavated cemeteries cut out of soft rock for the tombs of wealthy Christians

Answer 10

Catacombs

Question 11

Later became a place for religious rites to avoid persecution

Answer 11

Catacombs

Question 12

An area of ground set aside and dedicated for the final disposition of dead human bodies

Answer 12

Cemetery

Question 13

A monument erected to the memory of the dead, with the dead human body not present

Answer 13

Cenotaph

Question 14

A structure, room, or space in a mausoleum or other building containing niches or recesses used to hold cremated remains

Answer 14

Columbarium

Question 15

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

Answer 15

Corrugated container

Question 16

The result of the reduction of a dead body to inorganic bone fragments by intense heat

Answer 16

Cremated remains

Question 17

An environmentally safe casket which is designed for encasing dead human remains for cremation

Answer 17

Cremation casket

Question 18

The reduction of a dead human body to inorganic bone fragments by intense heat in a specifically designed retort or chamber

Answer 18

Cremation

Question 19

Founded in 1913, an international organization of cemeterians, cremationists, funeral directors, industry suppliers and consultants

Answer 19

Cremation Association of North America (CANA)

Question 20

Originally formed to promote cremation as a modern, safe and hygienic way of dealing with a dead human body

Answer 20

Cremation Association of North America (CANA)

Question 21

A furnace or retort for cremating dead human bodies

Answer 21

• Crematory

* Crematorium

Question 22

A building that houses a retort

Answer 22

• Crematory

* Crematorium

Question 23

A chamber in a mausoleum, of sufficient size, generally used to contain the casketed remains of a deceased person

Answer 23

Crypt

Question 24

Main part of a monument, the upright portion above the base where the inscription is located

Answer 24

• Die

* Tablet

Question 25

The placing of remains in a crypt in a mausoleum

Answer 25

Entombment

Question 26

An inscription placed on a monument to commemorate the deeds or qualities of the departed

Answer 26

Epitaph

Question 27

A small headstone which is set with its top even with the surrounding terrain

Answer 27

Flush marker

Question 28

An excavation in the earth as a place for interment

Answer 28

Grave

Question 29

A ceremony or ritual, religious or otherwise, conducted at the grave

Answer 29

Graveside service

Question 30

Webbing or similar material used for lowering the casket into the grave

Answer 30

Grave straps

Question 31

A type of cemetery monument in which the die is wider than it is tall

Answer 31

Horizontal tablet

Question 32

To bury in the ground

Answer 32

* Inter | * Inhume

Question 33

The act of placing the dead human body in the ground

Answer 33

* Interment * Burial * Inhumement * Inhumation

Question 34

The act of placing cremains in an urn

Answer 34

Inurnment

Question 35

CANA definition: act of placing cremated remains in a niche or grave

Answer 35

Inurnment

Question 36

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

Answer 36

Lawncrypt

Question 37

A subdivision of a cemetery which consists of several graves or interment spaces

Answer 37

Lot

Question 38

A mechanical device used to lower a casket into the ground

Answer 38

Lowering device

Question 39

A small headstone, usually of one piece, used to identify individual graves

Answer 39

Marker

Question 40

An above ground structure or building containing crypts or vaults for entombment of caskets

Answer 40

Mausoleum

Question 41

May also include niches for cremated remains

Answer 41

Mausoleum

Question 42

Chamber within a mausoleum or building structure, usually constructed of reinforced concrete, can be assembled above or below ground

Answer 42

Mausoleum crypt

Question 43

A physical object that is designed for the purpose of remembering

Answer 43

Memorial gathering

Question 44

A cemetery or section of a cemetery with only flush to the ground type markers

Answer 44

Memorial park

Question 45

Funeral rites with the body not present

Answer 45

Memorial service

Question 46

A structure, usually of stone or metal, erected to commemorate the life, deeds, or career of a deceased person

Answer 46

Monument

Question 47

Derived from the Latin word meaning "to remind"

Answer 47

Monument

Question 48

Ancient Viking custom

Answer 48

Mound burial

Question 49

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

Answer 49

Mound burial

Question 50

A cemetery created and maintained under an Act of Congress for burial of veterans of military service and their eligible family members

Answer 50

National cemetery

Question 51

A recess or space in a columbarium used for the permanent placing of cremated remains

Answer 51

Niche

Question 52

The aesthetic covering for the foot cap or inner foot panel of the casket

Answer 52

Niche

Question 53

Receptacle for communal placement of cremated remains

Answer 53

Ossuary

Question 54

An arrangement made by the cemetery whereby funds are set aside, the income from which is used to maintain the cemetery indefinitely

Answer 54

Perpetual care

Question 55

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

Answer 55

Pouch

Question 56

A structure so designed for the temporary storage of bodies which are not to be immediately interred

Answer 56

Receiving vault

Question 57

The burning chamber in a crematory

Answer 57

Retort

Question 58

A section in a cemetery set aside for the scattering of cremated human remains

Answer 58

Scattering garden

Question 59

A subdivision of a cemetery containing several blocks

Answer 59

Section

Question 60

One who is in charge of the cemetery

Answer 60

Sexton

Question 61

The caretaker of a church

Answer 61

Sexton

Question 62

Historically, the church caretaker who had responsibility for church property, ringing of bells and digging of graves in the churchyard cemetery

Answer 62

Sexton

Question 63

During the Middle Ages, most funeral practices were under the direction of church officials

Answer 63

Sexton

Question 64

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

Answer 64

Slant marker

Question 65

A general term designating those places suitable for the reception of a dead human body

Answer 65

Tomb

Question 66

Real estate property that is part of the cemetery but is not presently suitable for interment, entombment, or inurnment

Answer 66

Undeveloped

Question 67

A container for cremated remains

Answer 67

Urn

Question 68

A vase with a foot or pedestal

Answer 68

Urn

Question 69

A type of cemetery monument in which the die is taller than it is wide

Answer 69

Vertical tablet