Comments on: Inurnment http://www.word-detective.com/2011/05/inurnment/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: David McGrann http://www.word-detective.com/2011/05/inurnment/comment-page-1/#comment-34568 David McGrann Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:19:18 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=5001#comment-34568 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. 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.

]]>