Funeral Service Practices - Terms

Department of Veterans Affairs/VA

(previously known as the Veterans Administration) a federal agency that administers benefits provided for veterans of the armed forces.

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.

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 deceased person.

Epitaph

a commemorative inscription on a tomb or cemetery marker.

Crucifix

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

Deceased

a dead human body.

Humanist Funeral

a funeral rite that in essence is devoid of religious connotation.

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 needs of the times.

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, authorizing transportation and/or disposition of a dead human body.

Christian Burial Certificate (Christian Burial Permit, Priest Lines)

a letter or form from a priest stating the eligibility of the deceased for burial in a Roman Catholic cemetery.

Honorarium

a nominal compensation or recognition for service performed.

Chaplain

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

Celebrant

a person officiating at a ceremony or rite; the officiant who celebrates the Mass in the Roman Catholic Church.

Canopy (Cemetery Tent)

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

Cot

a portable stretcher, commonly employed in a transfer vehicle for the moving of the deceased.

Coroner

a public officer whose chief duty is to investigate questionable deaths.

Cross

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

Cantor

a religious signer who assists the clergy; assists 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.

Book of Dates

a term used to describe in the Buddhist faith a calendar that is used to determine the accurate time for casketing of the body, services, and disposition.

Guaranteed Contract

an agreement where the funeral home promises that the services and merchandise will be provided at the time of need for a sum not exceeding the original amount of the contract plus any accruals, regardless of the current prices associated with providing the services and merchandise at the time of the funeral.

Acolyte

an altar attendant.

Cemetery

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

Altar

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.

Grave

an excavation in the earth as a place for interment.

Artificial Grass

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

Casketbearer (Pallbearer)

an individual who actively "bears" or carries the casket during the funeral service and at the committal service.

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.

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.).

Funeral Rites

any funeral event performed in a solemn and prescribed manner.

Cash Advance

any item obtained from a third party and paid for by the funeral provider on the purchaser's behalf. 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, death certificates; sometimes described to a purchaser as an "accommodation" or "cash disbursement."

Direct Disposition

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

Acknowledgement Cards

cards of recognition sent to friends for kindness shown to a deceased's family.

Apostille

certification/legalization of a document for international use (under the terms of the 1961 Hague Convention).

At-Need Counseling

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

Immediate Burial

disposition of human remains by burial, without formal viewing, visitation, or ceremony with 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.

Dentures

false teeth.

Honorary Pallbearers (Honorary Casketbearers)

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.

First Call

funeral home receives notification of death.

Contemporary Funeral Rite

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

Gratuity (Tip)

gift or small sum of money tendered for a service provided.

Cortege

historical reference for funeral procession.

Iconostasis (Iconostas, Iconostation)

in the Easter 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.

Elder

in the Jehovah's Witness faith, the person who typically conducts the service.

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 means "God full of compassion;" usually the last prayer of the funeral service; sometimes referred to as the Malei.

Cardinal

in the Roman Catholic faith, Bishops who have the right to participate in a papal election.

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 a religious order without being ordained 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 Archdiocese.

Eucharist 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.

Escort

leader(s) of the procession or guardian of the group, such as military escort, police escort, etc.

Divine Liturgy

liturgical celebration of the Eucharist in Eastern Orthodox Churches.

Forwarding of Remains

one of the categories required to be itemized on the General Price List (if the funeral provider offers the service). This involves service 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.

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.

Dismissal

procedures or invitation intended to facilitate an organized departure.

Event Planning

process of coordinating and/or planning a ceremony or activity.

Brotherhood

relating to a religious or social organization.

Fraternal

relating to a social organization.

Elegy

song or poem expressing sorrow or lamentation for the dead.

Committal Service

that portion of the funeral that 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.

Interment (Burial, Inhumement/Inhumation)

the act of placing the dead body in the ground.

Eucharist

the consecrated elements of Holy Communion.

Foyer (Lobby, Narthex, Vestibule)

the entry way into a church, funeral home, or other public building; entrance hall.

Gatha

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

IHS

the fist three letters in the Greek word for Jesus.

Arrangement Conference

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

Funeral Procession

the movement of vehicles from the place of the funeral to the place of disposition.

Funeral Liturgy (Funeral Mass)

the name of the funeral service in the Roman Catholic Church.

Entombment

the placing of remains in a crypt or in a mausoleum.

Chancel

the portion of the church surrounding the altar, usually enclosing the clergy; area behind the altar or communion rail.

Cremation

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

Cremated Remains

the result of the reduction of a dead body to inorganic bone fragments by intense heat.

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 a funeral.

Bonze

the title of Buddhist Priest.

Aftercare (Post Funeral Follow-Up)

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

Calling Hours (Visitation, Visiting Hours)

time set aside for friends and relatives to pay respect to the deceased prior to the funeral service.

Inhume (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.

Great Panachida (Parastas)

vigil service associated with Eastern Orthodox funerals.

Holy Water

water blessed by a priest.

Grave Straps

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