Funeral Directing Midterm

bench memorial

a bench made out of granite. they typically consist of a top piece supported by two standards. these can serve as enduring memorials dedicating a park of other suitable location. they can also be used as cemetery memorials.

Taps

a bugle call signaling "lights out" and time to rest, also played at military funeral service

mausoleums

a building containing crypts or vaults for entombment; an above ground structure for burial.

garden mausoleum

a building with all exterior, outdoor crypt spaces. There can be features and benches around the Mausoleum.

chapel community mausoleum

a building with indoor crypt spaces, climate controlled for year round comfort, and can offer a quiet setting with natural lighting, carpet, stained glass windows, features, seating areas and a comfortable atmosphere for services or for all who visit their loved ones.

memorial park

a cemetery or section of a cemetery with only flush to the ground type makers.

crypt

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

death notice

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

bronze marker

a flat marker cast out of bronze. these are either mounted to a granite or cement base that serves as a foundation.

VA Form 40-0247

a form the next of kin or someone acting on his/her behalf, my complete to apply for a PMC

lawn crypt

a grave space where two or more persons may be buried in a grave liner which have been stacked one on top of the other, with the first person who dies being buried in the deepest grave liner with subsequent burials on top.

death certificate

a legal document containing vital statistics, disposition information, and final medical information pertaining to cause of death.

cenotaph

a monument erected to the memory of the dead, with the dead human body not present.

honoraria

a payment for professional services upon which custom forbids a price to be set. almost always made to the presiding clergy at a funeral service.

memorial

a physical object that is designed for the purpose of remembering.

niche

a recess or space in a columbarium used for the permanent placing of cremate remains.

visitation

a scheduled time when the deceased is presented for viewing in a casket so that family and friends may come together in an environment of mutual support to pay their last respects to the deceased. in some instances there is no viewing; the deceased is in a closed casket with usually one or more photos of him/her on display.

casket protector

a sealed unit that is designed to provide a controlled environment for the casket

humanistic services

a service devoid of religion

memorial service

a service without the body present usually held days or weeks after the disposition

marker

a small headstone, usually one piece, used to identify individual graves.

columbarium

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

monument

a structure, usually of stone or metal, erected to commemorate the life, deeds, or career of a deceased person; from the Latin word meaning to remind

section

a subdivision of a cemetery containing several blocks

block

a subdivision of a cemetery containing several lots; blocks make up sections

private/family mausoleum

a very premium form of above-ground entombment.

public law 110-157

allows the department of veterans affairs to furnish a government headstone or marker for the graves of eligible veterans who on or after November 1, 1990, regardless of whether the grave is already marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker.

Obituary

an announcement of death that has a biographical sketch of the person's life, listing occupation, organizations, and notable information, sometimes with a photograph. Usually not a charge.

cemetery

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

presidential memorial certificate

an engraved paper certificate, signed by the current president, to honor the memory of honorably discharged deceased veterans

grave

an excavation in the earth as a place for interment

epitaph

an inscription on a monument to commemorate the deeds or qualities of the departed.

miasma

an invisible noxious vapor that was the result of decomposing organic matter.

Claim for Standard Government Headstone or Marker (VA 40-1330)

application for headstone for burial in a private cemetery, even if privately purchased headstone or marker is placed

Claim for Government Medallion for Placement in a Private Cemetery (VA 10-1330M)

application for medallion for placement on privately purchased headstone in a private cemetery

VA Form 21-2008

application for united states flag for burial purposes.

pre-planned funeral arrangements

are funeral arrangements made in advance of need that do not include provisions for funding or prepayment.

pre-funded funeral arrangements

are those funeral arrangements made in advance of need, including provisions for funding or prepayment

referrals

asking the person who purchased the pre-need for names and phone numbers of their friends and family.

insurance assignment

assigning over the amount of the funeral bill from an insurance policy the deceased had. it is necessary for the funeral director to complete the proper paperwork to send to the insurance company and then wait for the insurance company to send a check

gold star lapel button

awarded to next of kin for those killed in conflicts with a foreign force

pre-visitation

before any visitation begins, there are a number of tasks that must be completed.

funeral celebrant

can be used instead of a clergy for non-religious services

polished finish

creates a smooth surface of the stone. abrasives are used similar to sanding wood to make the stone smooth and then the surface of the stone is buffed to a glass like polish.

funeral director's/embalmer's information

data pertaining to the place of death, the date, and location of the disposition.

personalization

designing funerals that reflect and celebrate the life of the deceased. Personalized funerals tell the story of the person's life through words, activities, symbols or all of these.

community mausoleum

differs from a private mausoleum in that it is designed to accommodate a large number of people.

burial flag

flag provided at no cost to honor the deceased's service in the armed forces; obtained with form VA 2008

polished 2

front and back of the memorial are smooth.

polished 3

front, back and top of memorial are smooth.

polished 5

front, back, top and sides of the memorial are smooth.

pre-need

funeral arrangements made in advance of need

pitched finish

gives the stone a natural rough finish.

direct care services

having a grief counselor on staff or retainer, sponsoring a support group, sponsoring grief related seminars or workshops, special ceremonies during holidays, or a personal visit to the family's home by a funeral home staff member.

most common vehicles used for removals

hearse, mini van, utility van

98 percent

how many initial contacts are made by telephone

phone image

it is just as important to project a professional, sensitive and empathetic image over the phone as it is in person. You want the caller to feel secure and comforted. The beginning of a relationship of trust starts with the image you project during the telephone call.

released

most hospitals will not allow the funeral home to transfer the deceased without a signed "release of deceased" form. If the family did not sign one at the health care facility, the funeral director may have to take one to the family to sign before the removal is made.

etching

normally done on dark granite for more contrast.

Aftercare

offering services, literature, or emotional support to the bereaved after the funeral is over; as a means to help them adjust to their loss.

Certificate of Release or discharge (DD-214)

official document containing the concise record of military service at the time of separation or discharge from the armed forces; necessary for employment, benefits, and re-enlistment

registrar's information

official signature and data of the legal government agency.

irrevocable contract

one in which the contract cannot be terminated or canceled

revocable contract

one in which the contract may be terminated by the purchaser at any time prior to the death with a fund of the monies paid as prescribed by state law

the informant

one who supplies the information concerning the deceased

immediate payment

pay for the entire funeral at the time of the arrangement or by the day of the funeral. most funeral directors will offer a discount for selecting this option.

first viewing

perhaps the most emotionally charged part of the entire funeral process.

veteran

person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.

military honors

provided at no cost to veterans who have been discharged; by law, must include playing of "Taps" the Folding of the Flag, and Presentation of the Flag by a representative of the deceased's branch of service.

non-traditional

religious orientated but follows a more modern interpretation, including favorite music, poems, and readings.

Public Law 106-65

requires that every eligible veteran receive a military funeral honors ceremony.

lot

s subdivision of a cemetery containing several graves or interment spaces; lots make up blocks

financial institution loan

some funeral homes have an arrangement with a bank or lending company to issue loans to the families for the payment of the funeral. it is necessary for the institution to do a credit check on the borrower. this check can usually be completed in a day.

tone of voice

the funeral director's tone of voice should be sympathetic yet professional, not overly sad, forlorn, or cheerful. it should have some inflection to avoid sounding monotonous or bored.

who supplies the vital statistic information for the DC

the informant

permission to embalm

the law requires that permission to embalm must be received before embalming can begin. this is often done during the first call.

burial, cremation, or transit permit/disposition permit

the legal document issued by the proper government agency authorizing transportation and/or disposition of human remains.

base

the lower or supporting part of the monument.

die (tablet)

the main part of a monument, the upright portion above the base where the inscription is located.

Arrangement Conference

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

upright marker/monument

the most common form of memorialization used today. this consists of 2 pieces. the top piece is much larger and is called a tablet or die. the bottom piece is known as a base.

salutation

the person answering the phone should give: the name of the funeral home, his/her name, "may I help you?" avoid using good morning and good evening. Some people may feel this is out of place when a loved one may have just died.

neighbors of deceased

the pre-need salesperson will contact the neighbors of a deceased as leads.

funeral register book

the pre-need salesperson will copy the names and addresses of people who signed the register book during the funeral or visitation and contact them.

at-need funeral files

the pre-need salesperson will review at-need files and contact the relatives listed in the file to see if they are interested in purchasing pre-need.

first call

the request, usually made by a surviving family member, for a funeral home to transfer a deceased from the place of death to the funeral home and for the funeral home to carry out the wishes of the next of kin regarding funeral services and disposition.

funeral

the rites held at the time of disposition of human remains.

organ and tissue donation

the routine referral act requires that hospitals contact the local organ procurement organization and tissue and eye banks about each death, or pending death, that occurs in the hospital.

speed of questions and pronunciation

the speed of the funeral director's conversation should be slightly slower than that of a normal telephone conversation

transfer/removal of remains

the transfer of the deceased from the place of death to the funeral home

diction

the voice should be clear and crisp. the telephone should not be answered if the person answering is eating, drinking, or chewing gum

volume

the voice should not be so loud that it is offensive or disturbing to the caller, yet it should not be so quiet or soft that the caller has to strain to hear or frequently ask the funeral director to repeat himself.

flat marker

these lay flush with the ground. they are generally 24" x 14" by can be larger or smaller depending upon cemetery requirements.

information oriented services

this can include sending family grief-oriented literature one or more times after the funeral. this can include cards, letters, brochures, books, a directory of local grief support groups or agencies, or newsletters.

slant marker

this typically stands 16" to 18" in height with the front slanting or sloping back at a 45 degree angle.

wait until the estate is settled

this used to be the most common method of payment. however, this is no longer the case. the settling of estates has become a sometimes long and legally complicated affair. it is not unusual for a funeral home to wait six months or more for an estate to be settled. If a funeral home does offer this option, an interest charge should be added to the bill. this is the least favorable option for the funeral home.

why is age of deceased asked?

to avoid any misunderstanding. The author was told by a funeral director of an instance when he received a first call and the woman informant said "my baby died." he never asked the age and went on the removal expecting to transfer an infant. When he arrived at the location it was an adult deceased whose mother just referred to her as her baby.

non-guaranteed contract

when the funeral home only agrees that the amount prepaid plus any interest 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 of death occurs.

guaranteed contract

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

credit card

with this payment option, the funeral director is charged a percentage of the total by the credit card company as a user fee. it is sometimes necessary for the credit card holder to request an increase in the credit line available on his/her card to a point where the funeral bill will be covered. the funeral bill can be divided among family members and that amount charged to each of their credit cards.