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Williamsburg Memorial Park

Williamsburg Memorial Park

Your community cemetery.

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Funeral Terms

We believe the more you know about funerals, the more comfortable you’ll be with the process. That’s why we’ve put together this list of commonly used funeral terms. Simply enter a word in the search bar below or use the alphabetical list. If you can’t find the term you’re looking for, give us a call and we’ll be happy to help you.

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  • a
  • Aerial Scattering
    A form of scattering ashes that involves the use of planes, hot air balloons, or other airborne devices to disperse the cremated ashes while in active flight.
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  • Alternative Container
    A container constructed of heavy cardboard or chipboard used to hold human remains for cremation.
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  • Apportionment
    Dividing cremated remains into portions for separate disposition. For example, a set of cremated remains could be divided into three portions, with one portion placed in an urn, another portion scattered in a favorite place, and yet another carried in a locket.
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  • Arrangement Conference
    The meeting with the funeral director in which you discuss your wishes for the funeral and disposition of the body.
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  • Ashes
    The portion of a body remaining after cremation. Also referred to as Cremated Remains.
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  • b
  • Bereaved
    The immediate family of the deceased.
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  • Burial
    The placing of human remains in a traditional grave or in an underground tomb. Normally referred to as Interment.
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  • Burial Case
    A container usually made from wood, metal, or fiberglass and designed to hold human remains. Normally referred to as a Casket.
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  • Burial Flag
    A flag which is furnished by the Veteran’s Administration to honor the memory of the veteran’s service to his or her country. It’s usually draped over the casket during the service, then folded and presented to the next of kin by a uniformed soldier.
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  • Burial Insurance
    An insurance policy in which the principal is paid in funeral services and merchandise, rather than cash. Also referred to as Funeral Insurance.
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  • Burial Permit/Certificate
    Legal permission issued by a local government authorizing burial or cremation.
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  • Burial Rights
    The right to inter someone in a designated space in a cemetery.
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  • c
  • Canopy
    A portable canvas shelter covering the grave area during a burial. Also called a Tent.
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  • Casket
    A container usually made from wood, metal, or fiberglass and designed to hold human remains.
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  • Casket Coach
    A motor vehicle designed to transport the casket from the funeral service to the place of burial in the cemetery. Normally referred to as a Funeral Coach or Hearse.
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  • Catafalque
    The stand on which a casket rests while instate and during the funeral service.
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  • Cemetery
    An area of ground set aside for burial or entombment of the deceased.
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  • Cenotaph
    An empty tomb, monument, or plaque erected in memory of a person whose remains lie elsewhere.
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  • Certified Death Certificate
    A legal copy of the original death certificate. This is provided by local authorities usually for the purposes of substantiating claims for insurance, etc.
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  • Chapel
    A large room in a funeral home dedicated to holding funeral services. Many modern day mausoleums also include built-in chapels.
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  • Coffin
    An English-style, wedge-shaped casket, usually with six sides.
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  • Columbarium
    A building or part of a building containing niches designed to hold and memorialize cremated remains.
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  • Committal Service
    The final part of a funeral service during which the remains are buried or entombed.
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  • Cortege
    A procession, usually in motor vehicles, from the house of worship or chapel to the cemetery. Usually referred to as a Funeral Procession.
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  • Cremated Remains
    The portion of a body remaining after cremation. Also called Ashes.
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  • Cremation
    Reduction of the body to cremated remains or ashes by fire.
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  • Cremation Permit
    A certificate issued by the local government authorizing cremation of the deceased.
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  • Crematory
    A specially designed furnace for cremating human remains, or a building housing such a furnace.
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  • Cremorials
    Cremorials consist of rectangular canisters that can are installed vertically or horizontally, in a wall or in the ground to memorialize cremated remains. An urn containing cremated remains can be set inside a Cremorial unit or the remains can be placed directly in a canister positioned in the unit.
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  • Crypt
    The space constructed inside a mausoleum for the purpose of receiving the deceased persons remains, which are usually paced in a casket or urn.
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  • d
  • Death Certificate
    A legal document signed by a physician showing cause of death and other information about the deceased.
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  • Death Notice
    A notice, usually placed in the newspaper, which provides funeral details the survivors wish to be published. Most include biographical details of the deceased, his or her accomplishments, and the names of the deceased person's closest relatives. Today, this is more commonly referred to as an(...)
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  • Deceased
    Person in whom all physical life has ceased. To be dead or the dead person.
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  • Direct Burial
    A simple burial with no viewing or visitation, which usually involves only the transportation and the care and burial of the remains.
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  • Direct Cremation
    A simple cremation with no ceremony, viewing or visitation.
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  • Disinter
    To dig up the remains from the burial place. This may occur when a family wishes to rebury the remains in a family plot or move them to another cemetery. Also referred to as Exhume.
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  • Display Room
    A room in a funeral home or cemetery where caskets, urns, plaques, flowers, photos, and other funeral- and memorial-related items are displayed.
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  • Disposition
    The last process the remains go through before burial. Commonly referred to as Final Disposition.
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  • Door Badge
    A floral arrangement placed on the door of a residence to announce that a death has occurred.
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  • e
  • Embalming
    Filling the arteries, veins and body cavities of the deceased with antiseptic and preservative to delay the decay process.
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  • Entombment
    Is a “burial” in a crypt space.
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  • Eulogy
    A form of public speaking at funerals to honor and praise the deceased.
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  • Exhume
    To dig up the remains from the burial place. This may occur when a family wishes to rebury the remains in a family plot or move them to another cemetery. Also referred to as Disinter.
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  • f
  • Family Car
    A limousine used by the immediate family in a funeral procession.
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  • Family Room
    A room in the funeral home or cemetery where the family can have privacy at the time of the funeral.
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  • Final Disposition
    The last process the remains go through before burial.
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  • Final Rites
    The rites conducted immediately before final disposition of the dead body. Usually referred to as the Funeral Service.
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  • First Call
    The funeral directors first visit to the place of death in order to remove the remains and obtain any information that will be needed for the funeral.
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  • Flower Car
    Vehicle used to transport flowers from the funeral home to the church and/or cemetery.
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  • Funeral Arrangements
    A conference between the deceased's family and the Funeral Director to finalize the details of the funeral and its expenses.
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  • Funeral Coach
    A motor vehicle designed to transport the casket from the funeral service to the place of burial in the cemetery. Also referred to as a Casket Coach or Hearse.
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  • Funeral Director
    A trained and certified professional who arranges and supervises the burial or cremation of human remains. Also called a mortician or undertaker.
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  • Funeral Escort
    Law enforcement or other individuals who escort a funeral procession to the cemetery.
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  • Funeral Home
    A building used for the purpose of embalming, arranging for and conducting funeral services.
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  • Funeral Insurance
    An insurance policy in which the principal is paid in funeral services and merchandise, rather than cash.
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  • Funeral Procession
    A procession, usually in motor vehicles, from the house of worship or chapel to the cemetery.
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  • Funeral Service
    The rites conducted immediately before final disposition of the dead body.
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  • Funeral Spray
    A large bouquet of cut flowers sent to the residence, funeral home, or cemetery, as a tribute to the deceased. A funeral spray is often placed on top of the casket during the gravesite service.
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  • Funeral Trust
    A trust fund where money for prearranged funerals is held until needed. In most states, trusts are established under state law and/or supervision. Also referred to as Prearranged Funeral Trust.
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  • g
  • General Price List
    The General Price List (GPL) is a written, itemized price list that every funeral home is required by law to provide to consumers upon request. It lists all the items and services that the funeral home offers, along with the cost of each item or service.
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  • Grave
    A hole excavated in the ground for the purposes of burial.
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  • Grave Liner
    A receptacle made of concrete, metal, plastic or wood into which a casket is placed to protect the remains and prevent the grave from collapsing. Usually referred to as a Vault.
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  • Grave Marker
    A permanent marker used to identify a grave, crypt, urn placement site, or other place of Final Disposition. Also referred to as Memorial Marker.
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  • Graveside Service
    A formal service held at the gravesite before the body or urn is buried, or in the crematory chapel prior to cremation. This is also known as a Committal Service.
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  • Green Burial
    Also called a direct burial. This is an eco-friendly process of burying a body in a simple container, without the use of embalming chemicals, concrete burial containers, and non-biodegradable caskets.
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  • h
  • Hearse
    A motor vehicle designed to transport the casket from the funeral service to the place of burial in the cemetery. Also referred to as a Funeral Coach.
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  • Honorary Pallbearers
    Friends or members of a religious, social, fraternal, or military organizations, who act as an escort or honor guard for the deceased. They do not carry the casket.
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  • i
  • ICCFA
    The International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association is an international trade association representing all segments of the cemetery, funeral service, cremation and memorialization profession.

    The ICCFA is composed of more than 9,100 cemeteries, funeral homes, crematories,(...)
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  • In State
    Allowing relatives to visit with and see the deceased before or after the funeral service. Normally referred to as a Viewing.
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  • Inquest
    An official inquiry, sometimes before a jury, to determine the cause of death.
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  • Inter
    To bury in a grave or tomb.
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  • Interment
    Generally refers to “burial” in the ground. May be used interchangeably with entombment or inurnment.
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  • Interment/Entombment Fee
    A fee associated for the equipment, paperwork, and personnel required in the interment, entombment, or inurnment of a deceased person.
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  • Inurnment
    Placing cremated remains in an urn.
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  • l
  • Lead Car
    The car leading the funeral procession.
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  • Lowering Device
    A mechanism used for lowering a Casket into a Grave.
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  • Lump-Sum Death Benefit
    A one-time death benefit of $255 from the Social Security Administration. This lump sum payment is made to the surviving spouse or child if they meet certain requirements.
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  • m
  • Mausoleum
    A freestanding building that contains multiple aboveground tombs, crypts, and niches. Mausoleums can be large community structures that accommodate dozens of people or small private structures that contain as few as two crypts (burial chambers).
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  • Memorial Donation
    A contribution specified to a particular cause or charity, usually in lieu of flowers.
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  • Memorial Marker
    A permanent marker, or engraving, used to identify a grave, crypt, urn placement site, scattering, or other place of Final Disposition. Click here to view our most popular memorials.
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  • Memorial Service
    A service conducted in memory of the deceased when the remains are not present.
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  • Morgue
    A place where human remains are kept pending autopsy or identification.
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  • Mortician
    A trained and certified professional who arranges and supervises the burial or cremation of human remains. Also referred to as a Funeral Services Director or Undertaker.
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  • Mortuary
    A building used for the purpose of embalming, arranging for and conducting funeral services. Usually referred to as a Funeral Home.
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  • Mourner
    Someone who is present at the funeral out of love and/or respect for the deceased.
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  • n
  • Natural Burial
    Also known as “green burial” or "eco-friendly burial." Natural burial practices are characterized by their simplicity and natural aspects. Advocates of natural burials believe in letting nature take its course at the burial site, with as little interference or disruption from the burials as(...)
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  • Niche
    A space in a mausoleum or columbarium designed to receive an urn containing the cremated remains of a deceased person. Niches may be single or companion, and located indoors or outdoors. Some indoor niches, like the ones at our community mausoleum, have glass fronts so you can display personal(...)
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  • Niche Garden
    An outdoor garden containing structures with niches.
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  • o
  • Obituary
    A notice, usually placed in the newspaper, which provides funeral details the survivors wish to be published. Most include biographical details of the deceased, his or her accomplishments, and the names of the deceased person's closest relatives.
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  • Opening & Closing Fees
    Cemetery fees for digging and refilling a grave.
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  • Ossuary
    Insert definition here.
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  • p
  • Pallbearers
    The people who carry the casket during a funeral service, which is usually friends and relatives.
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  • Perpetual Care
    Monies set aside for the care and maintenance of the cemetery grounds, lots, graves, landscaping, buildings, and fixtures. The funds normally do not cover family owned structures or headstones. The name by which these funds are referred to, and the manner in which these funds are collected,(...)
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  • Plot
    A privately owned piece of ground in a cemetery, which usually contains two or more grave sites.
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  • Pre-Planning/Pre-Need
    Arranging all aspects of a funeral prior to one’s death–especially payment. This is a very kind thing to do and can ease the burden on one’s family.
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  • Prearranged Funeral
    A funeral that has been arranged and paid for before the person's death. Also called pre-need or pre-planned.
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  • Prearranged Funeral Trust
    A trust fund where money for prearranged funerals is held until needed. In most states trusts are established under state law and/or supervision.
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  • Preparation Room
    A specially designed room in the funeral home equipped for preparing the deceased for final disposition.
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  • Presidential Memorial Certificate
    An engraved paper certificate that honors the memory of the deceased veteran, and is signed by the current President of the United States.
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  • Private Service
    This is an “invitation only” event and may be held at a place of worship, a funeral home, a cemetery, or a family member’s residence. This type of service is not open to the public or uninvited friends and family members.
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  • Procession
    A procession, usually in motor vehicles, from the house of worship or chapel to the cemetery. Normally referred to as a Funeral Procession.
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  • r
  • Register
    A book made available by the funeral director for recording the names of people who visit the funeral home to pay their respects.
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  • Remains
    The dead body of the deceased person.
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  • Reposing Room
    A room in a funeral home where the body lies in state before the funeral service so people may view the deceased and spend time with other survivors. More commonly referred to as a Visitation Room.
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  • Rigor Mortis
    Cooling of the body and rigidity of the muscles that occur after death.
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  • s
  • Service Car
    A vehicle belonging to the funeral home or cemetery that is used to transport chairs, flower stands, etc.
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  • Slumber Room
    A room containing a bed on which the deceased lies until being placed in a casket. In some cases the deceased may lie in state in the slumber room.
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  • Spiritual Banquet
    A Roman Catholic practice involving specific prayers, such as Masses and Rosaries, offered by an individual or a group for a definite purpose.
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  • Survivors
    Those who have outlived the deceased, especially family members
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  • Sympathy Card
    A card sent to the family to express sympathy for their loss.
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  • t
  • Tent
    A portable canvas shelter covering the grave area during a burial. Also called a Canopy.
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  • Tomb
    A chamber excavated from earth or rock specifically for receiving human remains.
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  • Transit Permit
    A permit issued by a local authority allowing a body to be transported to the place of burial or cremation.
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  • u
  • Undertaker
    A trained and certified professional who arranges and supervises the burial or cremation of human remains. Also referred to as a Funeral Director or Mortician.
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  • Urn
    A container, usually metal, wood, or porcelain, into which cremated remains are permanently placed.
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  • Urn Garden
    A garden containing urn burial sites.
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  • Urn Placement
    Permanent placing of an urn into a niche or urn burial site.
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  • v
  • Vault
    A concrete or metal container, designed for a casket or urn, that’s placed in the ground. The primary purpose of a vault is to keep the ground from sinking over time. Williamsburg Memorial Park requires vaults for all in-ground burials.
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  • Veteran
    Someone who is currently serving, or has served, as a member of the United States Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard); Members of Reserve Components and Reserve Officers Training Corps; Commissioned Officers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; A(...)
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  • Viewing
    Allowing relatives to visit with and see the deceased before or after the funeral service.
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  • Vigil
    A Roman Catholic religious service held on the eve of the funeral service.
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  • Visitation
    An opportunity for family and friends to view the deceased in private before the funeral service.
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  • Visitation Room
    A room in a funeral home where the body lies in state before the funeral service so people may view the deceased and spend time with other survivors.
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  • w
  • Wake
    A watch kept over the deceased, sometimes lasting the entire night preceding the funeral service. This is a common practice with some religions.
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Cemetery Map

For easy reference, please click the map below and it will open in a new tab on your browser.

Williamsburg Memorial Park Cemetery Map

Recent Blog Posts

  • 2021 Annual Holiday Luminary
  • Memorial Day 2021
  • 2020 Annual Holiday Luminary

Popular FAQs

Insurance

b

Do you take insurance assignments?

Yes, we do take insurance assignments through a third-party. But, due to privacy laws, all information will need to be verified through the third-party before we can proceed. For more information, please contact your Family Service Counselor.

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Property Owners

b

Am I allowed to sell my property?

Yes. But as the property owner, you are responsible for advertising and setting the price. You may also give your space(s) to family members, donate them to a charitable organization, or give someone “permission to use” your space. Please contact one of our Family Service Counselors for more information.

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b

How do I request maintenance?

Although we generally do a great job of maintaining our cemetery, and the individual lots within it, we occasionally miss something because of the shear size of the park. If you see something that needs to be addressed, simply fill out our Contact Form and select, “Lot Maintenance”, or call our office at 757-565-2006. Be sure to include your lot number (if known) and contact information.

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About Us

Williamsburg Memorial Park is 15 minutes from Williamsburg and less than an hour from Richmond, Norfolk, and Newport News.

Location

Williamsburg Memorial Park
130 King William Drive
Williamsburg, VA 23188
757.565.2006 | 757.565.4707 fax

Office Hours

Gold SealM-F: 10am–4:30pm
Saturday is by appointment only.
Click for Directions.

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