Your loved one may have specific wishes about how their body will rest in its final place. In general, Western culture dictates that a person will be buried or cremated. In many cases, the deceased will have already decided on their preference, which should most often be carried out. However, when it comes time to make plans, many people are unfamiliar with the terminology that describes how to proceed with the care for the deceased. They include interment, inurnment, and entombment.

• Interment This refers to the physical burial of a person who has passed on. It involves the digging of a trench or grave and the placement of the deceased into the ground. The site is then filled in with new soil and left to rest. The ritual of burial is a way for family members and friends to commemorate the life of the person who has passed on, and to formally say goodbye.

• Inurnment More commonly known as cremation, inurnment involves reducing the deceased to ashes. These ashes, which are placed in an urn, are most typically kept by a loved one or are buried in the ground.

• Entombment Entombment involves the interment of a loved one within a crypt or tomb. It is often referred to as an “above ground burial,” and requires the placement of a cremation urn or casket in a columbarium niche or crypt inside of a mausoleum. The niche or crypt is afterwards sealed. In many cases, a memorial is then added as a final step of closure and remembrance.



If your loved one has indicated what he or she prefers, it is important to respect their wishes and take this into careful consideration. However, if there are not any directions, consider the lasting benefits to each method and carefully determine which option is the best way to honor and remember your loved one who has passed.