Funeral Directing NBE

Artificial Grass

An imitation of grass made in mat form and used at the cemetery to cover the earth around the grave.

Cash Advance

Cash advance items may include, but are not limited to: cemetery or crematory services, pallbearers, public transportation, clergy honoraria, flowers, musicians or singers, nurses, obituary notices, gratuities, and death certificates; sometimes called an accommodation or cash disbursement.

Chevrah Kadisha

Hebrew phrase meaning "Holy Society," a group of men or women from the synagogue who care for the dead; they may be referred to by laymen as the "washers;" in the past, took care of all funeral arrangements and preparation for Jewish funerals.

Aron

Hebrew word meaning container; a casket made entirely of wood, containing no metal parts

Forwarding Remains

One of the categories required to be itemized on the GPL (if the funeral provider offers the service). This involves services of the funeral provider in the locale where death occurs and preparation for transfer to another funeral provider as selected by the family (consumer). Funeral Rule requires package pricing of this service with a description of the components included.

Casketbearer (Pallbearer)

One who actively bears or carries the casket during the funeral service and at the committal service.

Bonze

The name of the Buddhist faith to describe a calendar that is used to determine an accurate time for casketing the body

Chapel

a building or designated area of a building in which services are conducted

Crypt

a chamber in a mausoleum, generally used to contain the casketed remains of a deased person

Death Notice

a classified notice publicizing the death of a person and giving those details of the funeral service that the survivors wish to have published

Epitaph

a commemorativeinscription on a tomb or cemetery marker

Crucifix

a cross with a figure or image representing the body of Christ (Corpus) on it

Deceased

a dead human body

Department of Verterans Affairs/ VA (Previously know as VETERANS ADMINISTRATION)

a federal agency that administers benefits provided by law for veterans of the armed forces

Adaptive Funeral Rite

a funeral rite that is adjusted to the needs and wants of those directly involved; one which has been altered to suit the trends of the times

Humanistic Funeral

a funeral rite that is in essence devoid of religious connotation

Graveside Service

a funeral service, religious or otherwise, conducted at the grave

Crematory (Crematorium)

a furnace or retort for cremating dead human bodies; a building that houses a retort

Certified Copy of a Death Certificate

a legal copy of the original death certificate

Death Certificate

a legal document containing vital statistics, disposition, and final medical information pertaining to the deceased

Burial-Transit Permit (Disposition Permit)

a legal document, issued by a governmental agency, authorzing transportation and/or disposition of a dead human body

Christian Burial Certificate/Christian Burial Permit

a letter or form from a priest stating the eligibility of the deceased for burial in a Roman Catholic Cemetery; a.k.a. Priest(ly) Lines

Honorarium

a nominal compensation or recognition for service performed

Chaplain

a person chosen to conduct religious services exercises for the military, the chapel of an institution or a fraternal organization

Canopy (Cememtery Tent)

a portable shelter used to cover the grave area during the committal

Cot

a portable stretcher commonly employed in an ambulance or transfer vehicle for the moving of the sick, injured, or deceased

General Price List (GPL)

a printed list of goods and services offered for sale by funeral provider with retail prices. GPL is considered the keystone of the Funeral Rule

Coroner

a public officer whose chief duty is to investigate questionable deaths. (Also see: Medical Examiner)

Cross

a religious emblem consisting of two plain bars that intersect at right angles to each other

Cantor

a religious singer who assists the clergy; assiste the Rabbi in the Jewish faith; assists the Priest in the Eastern Orthodox faith

Columbarium

a structure, room, or space in a mausoleum or other building containing niches or recesses used to hold cremated remains

Deacon

a subordinate officer in a Christian church

INRI

an abbreviaiton for the Latin term meaning "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews"

Acolyte

an alter attendant

Cemetery

an area of ground set aside and dedicated for the final disposistion of dead human bodies

Grave

an excavation in the earth as a place for interment

Eulogy

an oration praising an individual, usually after death

Alternative Container

an unfinished wood box or other non-metal receptacle or enclosure, without ornamentation or a fixed interior lining, which is designed for the encasement of human remains and which is made of fiberboard, pressed-wood, composition materials (with or without an outside covering) or like materials.

Altar

an, an elevated place or structure on which sacrifices are offered or at which religious rites are performed; in the Christian faith, a table on which the Eucharist or Holy Communion is offered

Common Carrier

any carrier required by law to convey passengers or freight without refusal if the approved fare or charge is paid (airline, train, etc.)

Acknowledgment Cards

cards of recognition sent to friends for kindnessshown to a deceased's family

Irrevocable Contract

conttract for future funeral services which cannot be terminated or canceled prior to the death of the beneficiary

At-Need Counseling

counseling with the family as they select the services and items of merchansdise in completing arrangments for the funeral service of their choice when a death has occured

Cremated Human Remains

cremains

Dentures

flase teeth

Honorary Pallbearers

friends of the family or members of an organization or group who act as an escort or honor guard for the deceased. They do not carry the casket

Contemporary Funeral Rite

funeral observances that relect present day (modern) influences in lieu of (or in addition to or as part of) the traditional ceremonies

Gratuity (Tip)

gift or small sum of money tendered for a service provided

Iconostasis

in the Eastern Orthodox Church, the partition that extends across the front of the church separating the sanctuary from the solea

Icon

in the Eastern Orthodox faith, a holy picture; usually mosaic or painted on wood

Allah

in the Islam faith, the name of God

Imam

in the Islamic faith, the leader of the local congregation

Hesped

in the Jewish faith, a eulogy or true evaluation of the deceased's life that is a part of the funeral service

El Malei Rachamin

in the Jewish faith, a memorial service; literally "god full of compassion;" usually the last prayer of the funeral service; sometimes referred to as the Malei

Cardinal

in the Roman Catholic faith, a dignity conferred upon Bishops making them Princes of the Church

Diocese

in the Roman Catholic faith, a geographical grouping of Parishes under the jurisdiction of a Bishop

Brother

in the Roman Catholic faith, a man who is a member of religious order without being ordanied or while preparing for ordination

Final Commendation

in the Roman Catholic faith, the ending portion of the Funeral Mass

Archbishop

in the Roman Catholic faith, the head of an archdicese

Eucharistic Minister

layperson sanctioned to administer holy communion and other assigned tasks

Bishop

leader of multiple churches in a particular denomination; in the Roman Catholic faith, the head of a diocese; in the LDS (Mormon) church, Bishop of the ward is leader of a single church

Dismissal

leading to an organized departure or inviting to leave

Diving Liturgy

liturgical celebration of the Eucharist in Eastern Orthodox churches

Guaranteed Contract

one where the funeral home guarantees that the services and merchandise will be provided at the time of need for an amount not exceeding the original amount of the contract plus any accruals, regardless of the cost of providing the services and merchandise at the time of the funeral.

Crucifer/Crossbearer

one who carries the crucifix/cross during an ecclesiastical procession

Informant

one who supplies the vital statistical information concerning the deceased

Ecclesiastic

pertaining to the church or clergy

Brotherhood

relating to a social organization

Fraternal

relating to social organization

Disposition Permit

see Burial-Transit Permit

Cemetery Tent

see Canopy

Crematorium

see Crematory

Crossbearer

see Crucifer/Crossbearer

Cortege (archaic term)

see Funeral Procession

Burial

see Interment and Inhumement/Inhumation

Calling Hours

see Visitation/Visiting Hours

Inhumement/Inhumation

see interment

Elegy

song or poem expressing sorrow or lamentation for the dead

Committal Service

that portion of the funeral that in conducted at the place of disposition of dead human bdies

Genuflect

the act of bending the knee as an indication of reverence or as an act of humility

Inurnment

the act of placing cremains in an urn. (CANA definition) act of placing cremated remains in a niche or grave

Interment (Burial, Inhumement/ Inhumation)

the act of placing the dead human body in the ground

Eucharist

the consecrated elements of Holy Communion

IHS

the first three letters in the Greek word for Jesus

Gatha

the first two and last two verses of a Buddhist hymn sung at the funeral service

Arrangements Conference

the meeting between the funeral director and the client family during which the funeral arrangements are discussed

Funeral Liturgy (Funeral Mass)

the name of the funeral service in the Roman Catholic Church

Clebrant

the officiant who celebrates the Mass in the Roman Catholic Church

Entombment

the placing of remains in a crypt in a mausoleum

Chancel

the portion of the church surrounding the altar, usually enclosing the clegy, area behind the altar or communion rail

Funeral Procession

the procession of vehicales from the place of the fuenral to the place of disposition

Cremation

the reduction of a dead human body to inorganic fragments by intense heat in a specifically designed retort

Islam

the religion of Muslims that began at the time of Mohammed; Muslims believe that Islam stands for purity, peace, submission to God's (allah's) will and obedience to his laws

Funeral Service

the rites held at the time of disposition of human remains, with the body present

Funeral Arrangements

the term applied to the completing of the service and financial details of the fuenral at the time of need

Aftercare (Post-Funeral Follow-Up)

those appropriate and helpful acts of counseling that come after the funeral

Escort

to accompany, as a leader of the procession or guardian of the group; military personnel assigned to accompany a body following an active duty death

Inter (inhume)

to bury in the ground

Holy Water

water blessed by a priest

Grave Straps

webbing or similar material used for lowering the casket into the grave