Funeral Directing Vocab Terms (without religious terms)

Social Security Administration

A branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which provides benefits for retirement, survivors' insurance, disability, health insurance, and death

Prayer Card

A card with the name of the decedent and a prayer or verse, which may or may not include the dates of birth and death

National Cemetery

A cemetery created and maintained under an Act of Congress for burial of veterans of military service and their family members

Memorial Park

A cemetery, or section of a cemetery, with only flush to the ground type markers

Crypt

A chamber in a mausoleum, of sufficient size, generally used to contain the casketed remains of a deceased person

Epitaph

A commemorative inscription on a tomb or cemetery marker

Revocable Contract

A contract which may be terminated by the purchaser at any time prior to the death of the beneficiary with a refund of the monies paid on the contract as prescribed by state law

Deceased

A dead human body

Mass Card

A document indicating the offering of a Mass for a specific intention

Department of Veterans Affairs or VA

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

Medical Examiner

A forensically trained physician whose duty it is to investigate questionable or unattended death

Humanistic Funeral

A funeral rite that is in essence devoid of religious connotation

Crematory

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

Stretcher

A litter, usually of canvas, for carrying disabled or dead persons

Lowering Device

A mechanical device used to lower a casket into the ground

Honorarium

A nominal compensation or recognition for service performed

Memorial Folder (Service Folder)

A pamphlet made available at the funeral service giving details about the deceased and the funeral arrangements

Cot

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

Coroner

A public officer whose chief duty is to investigate questionable deaths

Niche

A recess or space in a columbarium used for the permanent placing of cremated remains

Memorial Gathering

A scheduled assembly of family and friends following a death

Receiving Vault

A structure so designed for the temporary storage of bodies which are not to be immediately interred

Columbarium

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

Lot

A subdivision in a cemetery which consists of several graves or interment spaces

Perpetual Care

An arrangement made by the cemetery whereby funds are set aside, the income from which is used to maintain the cemetery plot indefinitely

Grave

An excavation in the earth as a place for interment; interment space

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

Common Carrier

Any carrier required by law to convey passengers or freight without refusal if the approved fare or charge is paid

Outer Burial Container

Any container which is designed for placement in the grave around the casket including but not limited to, containers commonly known as burial vaults, grave boxes, and grave liners

Funeral Rites

Any funeral event performed in a solemn and prescribed manner

Direct Disposition

Any method of disposition of the human remains without formal viewing, visitation, or ceremony with the body present

Acknowledgment Cards

Cards of thanks and recognition sent to friends for kindness shown to a deceased's family

Rite of Committal

Celebrated prior to the Funeral Liturgy, usually at the funeral home on the morning of the Funeral Liturgy preceding the closing of the casket

Apostille

Certification/legalization of a document for international use (under terms of the 1961 Hague Convention

Irrevocable Contract

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

Cremated Human Remains

Cremains

Immediate Burial

Disposition of human remains by burial, without formal viewing, visitation or ceremony with the body present except for a graveside service

Direct Cremation

Disposition of human remains by cremation without formal viewing, visitation, or ceremony with the body present

Green

Ecologically friendly

Military Escort

Military personnel assigned to accompany a body following a active duty death

Non Guaranteed Contract

One in which the funeral home only agrees that the amount prepaid plus any accruals will be credited to the balance due. However, the price of the funeral will be whatever the current price is for the services and merchandise at the time the death occurs

Receiving Remains

One of the categories required to be itemized on the GPL. This involves services of the funeral provider after initial services have been provided by another firm at the locale of death. Funeral Rule requires package pricing of this service with a description of the components included.

Forwarding Remains

One of the categories required to be itemized on the GPL. 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.

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

Officiant

One who conducts a religious service or ceremony

Sexton

One who is in charge of the cemetery; the caretaker of a church

Survivor(s)

One who outlives another person or event

Informant

One who supplies the vital statistic information concerning the deceased

Kin

One's relatives; referring to blood relationship

Event Planning

Process of planning and/or coordinating a ceremony or activity

Fraternal

Relating to a social organization

Elegy

Song or poem expressing sorrow or lamentation for the dead

Committal Service

That portion of the funeral which is conducted at the place of disposition of dead human bodies

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/act of placing cremated remains in a niche or grave

Interment

The act of placing the dead human body in the ground

Retort

The burning chamber in a crematory

Section

The largest subdivision of a cemetery

Procession (Processional)

The movement, in an orderly fashion, at the beginning of service

Recession (Recessional)

The movement, in an orderly fashion, at the end of the service

Entombment

The placing of remains in a crypt in a mausoleum

Funeral Procession

The procession of vehicles from the place of the funeral to the place of disposition

Cremation

The reduction of a dead human body to inorganic bone fragments by intense heat in a specifically designed retort or chamber

Funeral Service

The rite held at the time of disposition of human remains with the body present

Funeral Arrangement

The term applied to the completing of the service and financial details of the funeral

Aftercare (Post funeral follow-up)

Those appropriate and helpful acts of counseling that comes after the funeral

Private Carrier

Those who transport only in particular instances and only for those they chose to contract with (funeral home vehicles or livery)

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

To bury in the ground

Death Notice

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

Grave Straps

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

Register Book (Memorial Book)

a book signed by those attending a visitation/service

Mausoleum

a building containing crypts or vaults for entombment

At Need Counseling

a death has occurred and the funeral director is counseling with the family as they select the services and items of merchandise in completing arrangements for the funeral service of their choice

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

Graveside Service

a funeral service religious or otherwise, conducted at the grave

Tomb

a general term designating those places suitable for the reception of the dead human body

Burial Transit Permit

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

Obituary

a news item concerning the death of a person which usually contains a biographical sketch

Chaplain

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

Canopy (Cemetery Tent)

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

General Price List

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

Pall

a symbolic cloth placed over the casket

Cemetery

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

Cash Advances

any item of service or merchandise described to a purchaser as a "cash advance" "accommodation" "cash disbursement"

Third Party Contracts

contracts which involves the funeral director/funeral home because the family being served has contracted with someone else (third party) for services or merchandise also available from the funeral home i.e. caskets, vaults, pre-need insurance, etc.

Casketbearer (Pallbearer)

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

Arrangement Conference

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

Transfer of Remains (Removal, First Call)

the moving of the dead human body from the place of death to the funeral home or other designated place

Dentures

False teeth

Pre Funded Funeral Arrangements

Funeral arrangement made in advance of need that include provisions for funding or prepayment

Pre Planned Funeral Arrangements

Funeral arrangements made in advance of need that do not include provisions for funding and prepayment

Contemporary Funeral Rite

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

Obesquies

Funeral rites or burial ceremonies

Memorial Service

Funeral rites with the body not present

Gratuity (tip)

Gift or small sum of money tendered for a service provided

Artificial Grass

Imitation grass made in mat form and used at the cemetery to cover the earth around the grave