NBE - Funeral Directing Glossary (Arts)
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.
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 commemorative inscription 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.
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.
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/Burial Removal Transit.
A legal document, issued by a governmental agency, authorizing transporation and/or disposition of a deaad human body.
Christian Burial Certificate.
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 (Plural: Honoraria; Honorariums).
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.
Canopy (Cemetery 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.
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 angles to each other.
Cantor.
A religious singer 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.
INRI.
An abbreviation for the Latin term meaning "jesus of nazareth, king of jews."
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 sites 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 of interment.
Artificial Grass.
An imitation of grass made in mat form and used at the cemetery to cover the earth around the grave.
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.
Disposition Permit.
Another term for Burial Transit Permit/Burial Removal Transit
Christian Burial Permit.
Another term for Christian Burial Certificate.
Jewish Star.
Another term for Mogen David.
Foyer.
Another term for Narthex.
Cortege (archaic term).
Another term for a funeral procession.
Cemetery Tent.
Another term for canopy.
Crossbearer.
Another term for crucifer.
Inhume.
Another term for inter.
Inhumement/Inhumation.
Another term for interment.
Burial.
Another term for interment/inhumement/inhumation.
First Call.
Another term for transfer of remains.
First Call Car.
Another term for transfer vehicle.
Calling Hours.
Another term for visitation/visiting hours.
Common Carrier.
Any carrier required by law to convey passeners or freight without refusal if the approved fare or charge is paid (airline, train, etc.).
Acknowledgement Cards.
Cards of recognition sent to friends for kindness shown to a deceased's family.
Irrevocable Contract.
Contract 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 merchandise in completing arrangements for the funeral service of their choice when a death has occurred.
Dentures.
False 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 reflect 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.
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 layment as the "washers;" in the past, took care of all funeral arrangements and preparation for Jewish funerals.
Aron.
Hebrew word meaning containter; a casket made entirely of wood, containing no metal parts.
Iconostasis (Iconostas, Iconostation).
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 mosiac or painted on wood.
Allah.
In the Islam faith, the name of god.
Jinazah.
In the Islamic faith, the funeral or funeral prayer.
Imam.
In the Islamic faith, the leader of the loca congregation.
Hesped.
In the Jewish faith, a eulogy or true evaluation of the deceased's life that is 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.
Kaddish.
In the Jewish faith, a prayer recited for the deceased by the direct mourners (parents, siblings, spouse and children) for the first time at the conclusion of interment service. it is subsequently recited by children for parents at every service for eleven months. All other categories or mourners have the obligation to say it for 30 days.
Kevurah.
In the Jewish faith, the burial.
Kever.
In the Jewish faith, the grave.
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 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 the archdiocese.
Cash Advance.
Items that may include, but are not limited to: cemetery or crematory services, pallbearers, public transporation, clergy honoraria, flowers, musicians or singers, nurses, obituary notices, gratuities, and death certificates; sometimes called an accomodation or cash disbursement.
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 churhc), Bishop of the ward is leader of a single church.
Divine Liturgy.
Liturgical celebration of the Eucharist in Eastern Orthodox churches.
Fowarding Remains.
One of the categories required to be itemized on the GPL (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.
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.
Kin.
One's relatives; referring to blood relationship (legally the surviving spouse is not).
Ecclesiastic.
Pertaining to the church or clergy.
Brotherhood/Fraternal.
Relating to a social organization.
Fraternal (Brotherhood).
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.
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.
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.
Celebrant.
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 clergy; area behind the altar or communion rail.
Funeral Procession.
The procession of vehicles from the place of the funeral to the place of disposition.
Islam.
The religion of Muslims (Moslems) that began at the time of Mohammed; Muslims believe that Islam stands for purity, peace, submission of god's (allah's) will, and obedience to his laws.
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 the funeral 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.
Grave Straps.
Webbing or similar material used for lowering the casket into the grave.
