The first time I ever saw the term “inurnment” was in conjunction with the death of a dear family friend. I thought to myself, “What a useless word.” I just figured it was some sort of made-up word used by certain funeral directors in West Virginia; I was shocked that it’s in the OED. Here in Virginia, you never see the term used. The term “interment” is used for any sort of burial or placement of ashes in a columbarium, niche, or memorial garden, and, if there isn’t going to be a formal interment (think of the scattering scene in “The Big Lebowski”), then nothing is said. Frankly, it really isn’t anyone’s business (outside of the family, I suppose), if the deceased is cremated, buried in an expensive casket, or embalmed to the hilt and put on display like Lenin or Mao.
I suppose I’m just a ridiculous traditionalist, but at least here in Richmond, “Interment Hollywood” at the end of an obituary says volumes.
Leave a comment
Search us!
Search The Word Detective and our family of websites:
This is the easiest way to find a column on a particular word or phrase.
To search for a specific phrase, put it between quotation marks. (note: JavaScript must be turned on in your browser to view results.)
Ask a Question!
Puzzled by Posh?
Confounded by Cattycorner?
Baffled by Balderdash?
Flummoxed by Flabbergast?
Perplexed by Pandemonium?
Nonplussed by... Nonplussed?
Annoyed by Alliteration?
David McGrann:
February 11th, 2012 at 7:19 pm
The first time I ever saw the term “inurnment” was in conjunction with the death of a dear family friend. I thought to myself, “What a useless word.” I just figured it was some sort of made-up word used by certain funeral directors in West Virginia; I was shocked that it’s in the OED. Here in Virginia, you never see the term used. The term “interment” is used for any sort of burial or placement of ashes in a columbarium, niche, or memorial garden, and, if there isn’t going to be a formal interment (think of the scattering scene in “The Big Lebowski”), then nothing is said. Frankly, it really isn’t anyone’s business (outside of the family, I suppose), if the deceased is cremated, buried in an expensive casket, or embalmed to the hilt and put on display like Lenin or Mao.
I suppose I’m just a ridiculous traditionalist, but at least here in Richmond, “Interment Hollywood” at the end of an obituary says volumes.