A morgue is a cold storage facility that houses dead bodies while awaiting identification, autopsy, respectful burial or cremation. Many people have a faulty perception about these locations.

Some believe mortuaries are more bare-bones operations than funeral homes. While this may sometimes be the case, there are a number of facts that should be considered.

Morgue

A morgue is a place where bodies are kept before burial or cremation. They are usually located on the grounds of hospitals or medical centers. They are used to perform autopsies and to identify unidentified bodies.

A mortuary can be a grim work environment. Despite being cleaned regularly, contaminated equipment can cause serious infections. The contamination can come from a number of sources. For example, brand new instruments may have been contaminated during manufacturing or at other mortuaries.

The word “morgue” may seem disturbing, but it is a crucial part of our society. There are many different jobs in a mortuary, including embalming and preparing the body for burial or cremation. There are also forensic pathologists who investigate the cause of death and a variety of other professionals who work in the morgue. Some of these positions require special training and certification. Mortuary science is not only a scientific field, but also involves human services and business management.

Embalming

A mortuary’s primary concern is to preserve the body. This is achieved through embalming, the process by which a person’s blood volume is drained and replaced with specialized chemicals. The purpose of embalming is threefold: to disinfect, to slow the natural decomposition process and to restore the appearance of a person to what it was when they were alive.

During cavity embalming, the funeral director makes an incision near the navel and inserts a long needle, called a trocar into both the abdominal and thoracic cavities. This allows a suction pump to aspirate, or remove through the mouth, blood and other bodily fluids. The embalmer then pumps full strength embalming fluid into each organ and cavities, allowing for better disinfection.

The embalmer then re-washes and dries the remains, grooms the hair and nails and applies a moisturizing cream to the face and neck. He may also apply a cosmetic solution to repair any damage caused by trauma or disease.

Cremation

Many people choose cremation today, as it is less expensive than a traditional burial. Before the cremation process begins, a licensed funeral professional takes possession of the physical remains and completes a thorough chain-of-custody document. They may also prepare a casket or cremation container to meet family preferences and religious requirements.

The body is then transported to the crematory, often onsite at the mortuary. The body is placed in a furnace, called a retort, and exposed to extremely high temperatures that burn the bones into a fine powdery substance known as ashes. This ash is then collected and put into an urn selected by the family. A powerful magnet is run through the ashes to remove any metal remnants, such as screws or pins, which can interfere with the cremation process. The metal is then recycled.

Some funeral homes offer alternative services, including a green burial or composting, which do not require embalming. These burial options allow for a natural decomposition, and some cemeteries even have spaces specifically designed to accommodate these choices.

Funeral Home

A funeral home is a place where people go to make arrangements for the death of a loved one. This may be done in person, by telephone or over the internet. A funeral home also has a room where family and friends can pay their respects to the deceased.

The funeral director washes the body and dresses it in clothing that the family has chosen. He then applies cosmetics. If the deceased followed a religious faith, his spiritual leader might wash the body and perform other religious rites.

The funeral home must give you a General Price List (GPL) when you visit or when you ask for it. They must also give you a copy of the casket and outer burial container prices if they regularly offer them. In addition, the funeral home must give you a copy of the cemetery deed and an Itemized Statement. Some states require a GPL when you request it in writing, while others only require it for telephone or mail inquiries.

A graveyard is a place where dead people are buried. Other words for it include cemetery and burial ground.

While people use the terms cemetery and graveyard interchangeably, this wasn’t always the case. Graveyards originally referred to areas of church grounds where people were buried. Later, independent burial sites called cemeteries grew in popularity.

What is a Graveyard?

A graveyard is a place where dead people are buried. It can be a public or private burial ground. Graveyards often contain many gravestones. The word cemetery has a different meaning than graveyard. Cemetery is a term that implies a more organized and planned approach to burial grounds. It suggests that there are rules about who can be buried in a cemetery and what kind of memorials can be done for the deceased.

In the Middle Ages, wealthy and influential Christians were usually buried inside their churches in crypts. Less privileged congregants were buried outside in the churchyard. This section of the church became known as the graveyard, a compound word formed from the Proto-Germanic verb “graban” and the noun gardan (“enclosed area of land”).

Today’s cemetery is typically much bigger than that of the Middle Ages, and it can accommodate all types of religious faiths. Generally, being buried in the ground is cheaper than being entombed in a mausoleum.

Types of Burial Grounds

There are a number of types of burial grounds. These include the traditional cemetery, memorial parks and natural burial grounds. A burial ground can also be called a graveyard, although it is not the same as a cemetery. The main difference between a cemetery and a graveyard is that a cemetery can be much larger than a graveyard and it is not uncommon to see graves of different religions in the same place.

A cemetery is often a lot more organized than a graveyard and it tends to have more amenities. However, the basic function of both is to provide a location for people to pay their respects to their departed loved ones. This can be done whether the person is buried in a casket or cremated and placed in an urn. A graveyard may also contain monuments or headstones that commemorate the dead. These are sometimes called tombs. Typically, there will be a chapel in a cemetery for ceremonies to take place.

Locations of Graveyards

Historically, churchyards and graveyards were where people were first buried. But as people began burying themselves in large numbers, churches and churchyards ran out of space for new burials. So non-church-associated locations for burials were opened, usually away from busy city centers and near the countryside. These landscaped grave sites, often called “cemeteries” (or the less formal term “burial grounds”) were typically more organized than graveyards and usually had consecrated and non-consecrated spaces.

The two terms, cemetery and graveyard, are used interchangeably by most people. However, there are a few technical differences. The etymology of the two words is interesting as well. During Halloween season, some neighbors might decorate their front yards with tombstones or other props to celebrate the holiday. Those same decorations can also be used in a graveyard, which is not the same as a cemetery. In the end, a graveyard is any plot of ground where dead bodies are buried. The word is derived from the Dutch begraafplak, and the West Frisian begraafplaats.

Burials in Graveyards

The burial process can involve a wide variety of practices, from simple shrouding and inhumation to elaborate rituals and the use of coffins and burial vaults. Sometimes objects are buried with the body, such as personal items or ceremonial garb. Burial sites can be very crowded or quite sparse, depending on culture and the availability of space.

In the past, people were generally buried in churchyards. As the population grew, the capacity of these graveyards was exceeded, and completely new places for burial were needed. The word cemetery was introduced to describe these secular burial grounds, which are separate from churchyards.

Some cemeteries are developing new methods for managing their landscapes, including increasing the size of wild spaces and allowing for more natural vegetation to grow. They are also seeking to create and maintain habitats in these areas, so that ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and water filtration are constantly available. These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.

Modern Cemetery Design focuses on blending the permanence of death with the evanescence of life. This is achieved through an understanding of the spiritual, cultural and emotional dimensions of the spaces.

A cemetery entrance is an important element that sets the tone for a visitor’s experience. It should reflect the design vernacular and be symbolic of transition into a sacred space.

Green Footprint

Designed to have minimal environmental impact, green burials align with ecological principles by using biodegradable casket materials like bamboo or untreated wood and avoiding chemicals. Embalming is a major contributor to air pollution, while traditional metal caskets and vaults create unnecessary landfill waste. Additionally, the acres of grass that fill typical cemeteries require fertilizer and water.

Similarly, grave liners and vaults, which are designed to protect caskets from sinking, impede natural decomposition and introduce non-biodegradable materials into the ground. A shroud burial, on the other hand, uses a biodegradable cotton or linen covering to wrap the body before it is lowered into the grave.

The same goes for a “conserved” lands burial, which skips headstones and replaces them with trees or uncarved stones, allowing the natural ecosystem to reclaim its territory. Alternatively, a hybrid cemetery allows visitors to choose a traditional memorial site with an area reserved for green burials. This provides a more accessible option for eco-conscious individuals while still supporting conservation and sustainability.

Accessibility

The emotional impact of cemetery design is not to be underestimated. Through thoughtful design elements, including natural light and open spaces, modern cemeteries become places of comfort, support, and healing. Artistic installations and memorials can help people express themselves and connect with their loved ones in meaningful ways.

Cemeteries must also consider the cultural ecosystem services that they provide to the community. These services include physical, experiential, intellectual, representative and spiritual interactions (Haines-Young et al., 2018). To maximize these functions, it is important that cemetery design considers accessibility. The cemetery should be easily accessible from roadways with ample parking, and pathways should be a safe distance away from traffic. It is also important to consider incorporating features like ponds into the landscape for a peaceful experience, while also providing wildlife habitat. These features can help make a cemetery a place that is a joy to visit for visitors of all abilities. A master plan provides a roadmap for future cemetery development and should be updated on a regular basis to reflect changing consumer buying trends, demographics and options for new and infill development.

Signage

In a cemetery, signs can be a crucial tool for guiding visitors through the property. The best designs utilize clear signage that makes it easy for guests to locate graves and memorial spaces. The use of colors and other visual cues can also help visitors understand where they are on the property and how to navigate it.

Cemetery design trends have shifted toward a more natural aesthetic, using organic forms and materials. These design features create a peaceful environment that invites reflection and remembrance. Additionally, there has been a growing demand for eco-friendly headstones that decompose naturally over time. Green burial practices are another increasingly popular option, whereby remains are planted in the ground rather than being buried in a traditional casket.

Cemeteries can benefit from a comprehensive master plan that includes a feasibility study of existing facilities, a demographics analysis, business/financial planning and options for new development. It is recommended that a cemetery revisit their master plan on a regular basis, perhaps every five years.

Visitor Demographics

In addition to enhancing the landscape for beauty and healing, good cemetery design must focus on visitor demographics. Visitors are often grieving and navigating difficult emotions; they must feel supported and cared for. A welcoming environment will provide comfort, orient visitors and foster connection with the deceased.

Design features such as open spaces and quiet corners for reflection will create an inviting experience. Artistic installations and memorials will help convey meaning and honor the deceased. Symbols on headstones like crosses and star of David denote faith, while floral motifs like roses and lilies symbolize love, purity, and remembrance.

By incorporating a range of uses, cemetery owners can generate additional revenue and demonstrate their permanence as a community fixture. This also helps to bolster public support for cemetery restoration and maintenance. A cemetery master plan is a crucial step to develop these potential changes and determine a fixed time frame for development projects. Master plans can also be used as a marketing tool to attract new clientele.