Glossary of Terms

The disposition of human remains, traditionally below ground, but can refer to the placing of cremation remains in the columbarium walls.

The general maintenance of the cemetery is under the direction of Saint John's Abbey.  This includes the care and maintenance of lots, graves, niches, and columbarium, including cutting and trimming of lawn; repairing the drains, water lines, roads, buildings, fences and other structures.  Also overhead expense necessary for such purposes, including maintenance of machinery, tools and equipment for such care; compensation of employees, payment of insurance premiums, reasonable payments for employee benefit plans, and maintaining necessary records of ownership, transfers and burials.

A rigid container designed for holding human remains and customarily constructed of wood or metal, which may be ornamented and lined with fabric.  Caskets have a hinged and split lid, allowing for viewing of the body from the waist up.

The document by which the cemetery conveys a right of interment or inurnment in an interment space.

A rigid container designed for holding human remains and customarily constructed of wood or metal, which may be ornamented and sometimes lined with fabric.  Coffins have a one-piece lid allowing for viewing of the entire body.

An arrangement of niches in a wall-type setting used for placing the cremated remains of the deceased.   

Any person, firm or corporation, or anyone engaged in placing, erecting or repairing any memorial or monument, or performing any work in the cemetery's grounds, other than an employee of the cemetery.

The reduction, through heat and evaporation, of the human body to its basic elements.  Cremation is a means of preparing the human body for final disposition and memorialization.

A family lot in a garden setting with trees, bushes, and flowers where several (1-6) cremation containers may be buried.

A single grave space in the cemetery used for in-ground burial of cremated human remains.

The remains after the cremation process is completed.

A container for an urn made of concrete, metal, fiberglass, or durable plastic.  This is placed in the ground and is used to protect the urn with the cremated remains of the deceased.

Printed contract (agreement) between the cemetery and the person who is purchasing the burial rights to a grave (or graves).

The base or footing on which a monument/memorial is installed.

Organized, purposeful, time-limited, group-centered event to commemorate the death of an individual.  Generally includes rites and/or other ceremonies with the body or cremation remains present.

An arrangement of niches in an outdoor wall - garden setting - designed to accommodate one or two cremation urns.

The first name of an individual.

A space of land in the cemetery used or intended to be used for the burial of human remains.

A non-sealing concrete receptacle of two or more pieces in which the casket is placed at the time of burial, not specifically to protect the casket or coffin, but to prevent the ground above from sinking.  It is generally made of concrete or steel or other durable material.

An arrangement of niches in an outdoor wall – terraced landscaping with trees, hedges and walkway - designed to accommodate one or two cremation urns.

The (a) burial of human remains, or (b) inurnment of cremated human remains.

The prayer service and additional activities involved when conducting the placement of the casket, coffin or urn at the cemetery.  

An in-ground lot (grave), or a columbarium wall niche are both examples of an interment space.

The placement of the cremated remains of the body in an urn, and a placement of such urn in either a niche or grave in the cemetery.

A stone memorial flush with the ground indicating the name of the deceased, date of birth and death and similar personal information.

An alternative funeral involves rites, ceremonies, and commemoration without the body present.

A monument, tombstone, grave marker, or headstone identifying the interred at the site of a grave or graves, or the granite panel inscription identifying the interred in a specific niche.

A space in a columbarium used or intended to be used for the inurnment of cremated human remains.

The person or persons:
(1) to whom the cemetery has conveyed burial right(s);
(2) who have acquired such burial right(s) by transfer in accordance with these rules and regulations; or
(3) who hold such burial right(s) by inheritance.

A fund in which a portion of the monies collected from the sale of interment spaces is placed in a fund and invested for future care.

The advance planning for, selection of and payment of a burial place. 

The family name (last name).

A temporary manner of identifying an interment space which is installed by the cemetery at the time of burial, until a more permanent monument or marker is purchased.

A container for the cremated remains of the body.

Any sealing container or enclosure made of concrete, fiberglass or steel, which is placed in a grave around a casket to prevent the collapse of the grave and/or to protect the casket or coffin, or for burial of an urn.