Glossary of Cemetery Terms:
Adult Grave:
Any ground burial space intended for an adult, and having a minimum size of approximately 91cm x 274 cm (36 inches by 96 inches)
Adult Single-in-a-Row Grave:
An Adult Single-in-a-Row grave is available only in specifically-designated sections of some cemeteries. Graves are opened in sequence; no choice of location is given the purchaser. Double-depth burials are allowed. Graves cannot be sold “PreNeed”; available “At-Need” only.
Artificial Products:
Artificial products are any man-made items on Cemetery property.
At Need:
“At-Need” is a term used when funeral and burial arrangements are made by family and/or friends on behalf of a loved one immediately after death occurs.
Care & Maintenance Trust Fund:
The Care & Maintenance Trust fund is a fund in which all monies received by the City of Hamilton for the care & maintenance of graves, lots, monuments, markers and mausolea have been invested according to the Cemeteries Act (Revised), R.S.O. 1990, c.C.4.
Cemetery:
A cemetery is a place where land is set aside to be used specifically for the interment of human remains or for the scattering of human remains and includes mausoleums, columbariums or any other structure or building intended for the interment of human remains that is situated on the land.
Children’s Grave:
Children’s grave is any ground burial space, set aside specifically for children aged 1 to 14 years, and having a minimum size of 60 cm x 121 cm (12 inches by 48 inches).
Columbarium:
A columbarium means a free-standing structure or building that is designed for the interment of cremated remains in small, sealable compartments known as “niches”. Niches can the cremated remains of up to two persons.
Container (Outer):
An “outer container” is a term used to describe a concrete (or other material) container in which the casket is placed for burial in the ground. It is also known as a “crypt”, “vault”, or ‘liner”. Using an outer container ensures that the integrity of the casket remains in tact as graves do not settle or sink over time.
Cornerstone:
Cornerstones are used to indicate the perimeter of a grave for decorative purposes only. In the Hamilton Municipal Cemeteries, cornerstones are set flush with the surface of the ground and are 6 inches by 6 inches maximum in size.
Council:
Means the Council of the City of Hamilton.
Cremation:
Cremation is the process in which a human body is incinerated by intense fire (heat) and both the body and the casket are vapourized. Non-combustible material excepted. The cremation process usually takes approximately three hours.
Cremation Grave:
A Cremation Grave is any ground space set aside for cremated remains and available in specific sections of a cemetery having a minimum size of 36 cm x 71 cm (14 inches by 28 inches). Cremation Graves are also known as “Urn Garden Graves”
Crypt:
A “crypt” is another term used for an “outer container” and is made of concrete material. The Hamilton Municipal Cemeteries sells crypts which can be purchased at the time of need only.
A “crypt” is also a term used for the inside storage area of a mausoleum in which a casket is placed for entombment. After the casket is positioned in a crypt, the crypt is sealed.
Grave:
A grave is an area of land in a cemetery containing, or set aside to contain, human remains.
Infant Grave:
An Infant Grave is any ground burial space set aside specifically for infants less than one year of age and having a minimum size of 46 cm x 91 cm (18 inches by 36 inches).
Interment:
Interment is the action of committing a person’s remains to a grave or niche.
Interment Rights:
Interment Rights means the right to require or direct the interment of human remains in a grave, lot, niche or mausoleum crypt.
Interment Rights Holder:
An Interment Rights Holder is a person with interment rights with respect to a grave, lot, niche or mausoleum crypt and includes a purchaser of interment rights under the Cemeteries Act, R.S.O., 1990, c.C.4 or a predecessor of that Act.
Lot:
A “lot” is an area of land in a cemetery containing, or set aside to contain human remains. Other interchangeable words are “grave” or “plot”
Marker:
A marker is any tombstone, plaque, headstone, footstone, cornerstone or ornament that is set flush with the surface of the ground is used to mark the location of a grave.
Mausoleum:
A mausoleum is a building or structure, other than a columbarium, used for the entombment of human remains in sealed compartments or crypts.
Memorialization:
Memorialization is a term used to describe a variety of ways in which we remember our deceased loved ones. Memorialization can include a grave marker, monument, memorial trees, memorial benches, etc.
Monument:
A monument is any tombstone, plaque, headstone, cornerstone or ornament that projects from the surface of the ground and is used to mark the location of a lot or plot.
Niche:
A niche is a sealed compartment within a columbarium in which cremated remains are placed.
Pre-Need:
PreNeed is when a person purchases products or services in advance of his or her death. Also known as “pre-planning”.
Scattering Garden or Ground:
Scattering garden or ground is land that is set aside within a cemetery for the specific intent of scattering cremated human remains.
Tariff of Charges:
The Tariff of Charges means the price list for interment rights, cemetery merchandise and services set in accordance with the Cemeteries Act (Revised) passed by Council and approved by the Ministry.
Vault:
A vault is another term used for an outer container in which a casket is placed for burial in the ground. A vault is usually lined with plastic, stainless steel or has some materials that render it water or moisture proof.