Funeral Service Admininstration

Pre-Planned Funeral Arrangements

Funeral arrangements made in advance of need that did not include provisions for funding or prepayment

Pre-Funded Funeral Arrangements

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

Revocable contract

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

Irrevocable contract

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

Guaranteed contract

An agreement where by the funeral home promises that the services and merchandise will be provided at the time of need(In the future) for some not exceeding the original amount of the affirmed contract plus any accruals, regardless of the current prices associated with providing the services and merchandise at the time of the funeral.

Non-guaranteed contract

Agreement in which the funeral home promises to apply the amount prepaid plus any accruals to the balance due however the cost of the funeral will be based upon the current price for the services and merchandise at the time the services are provided

Trust account

account established by one individual to be held for the benefit of another parentheses as a method of payment of funeral expenses); create a fiduciary responsibility. Money paid to a funeral home for future services is placed in an account with the funeral home as trustee for the benefit of another.

Escrow account

In funeral service, a vehicle used to hold money is paid on pre-funded contracts and beyond the control of the funeral director.

First call (initial notification of death)

when the funeral establishment receives notification of death

Transfer remains

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

Deceased

Dead human body

Medical examiner

a forensically-trained physician who investigates questionable or unattended deaths (has replaced the coroner in some jurisdictions)

Coroner

Usually an elected officer without medical training whose chief duties to investigate questionable deaths

At need

When a death has occurred

Transfer vehicle

The automobile generally use for transporting the casketed dead human body from the place of death to the mortuary

Cot

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

Arrangement conference

the meeting between the funeral practitioner and the client family during which funeral arrangements are discussed, and may referred to preneed or at need situations

General price list

a printed list of goods and services offered for sale by funeral providers with retail prices. Consider the keystone of the funeral rule

Vital statistics

data concerning birth, marriage, divorce, sickness, and death

Cash advances

any item of service or merchandise described to a purchaser as a “cash advance,” “accommodation,” “cash disbursement,” or similar term.

Any item obtained from a third-party and paid for by the funeral provider on the purchasers behalf

cash advances

Cemetery or crematory services; pallbearers; public transporter; clergy honoria; flowers; musicians or singers; nurses; obituary notice; gratuities and death certificates

Cash advances

Informant

One who supplies vital statistics information about the deceased

Death certificate

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

Certified copy

A legal copy of the original death certificate

Death notice

A newspaper item publicizing the death of a person and giving service details. And some parts of the United States, can't contain the same information as an obituary.

Obituary

Traditionally, a news item concerning the death of a person, usually containing a biographical sketch. Can appear in media other than newspapers, such as online sources and service programs. It sometimes used interchangeably with death notice or funeral notice

Survivors

One who outlives another person or a event

Social Security administration

A branch of the US Department of health and human services, which provides benefits for retirement, survivors, and disabilities, and includes supplemental security income (SSI) and Medicare.

The time limit for filing the Social Security death benefit

Two years from the date of death

Department of veterans affairs

A federal agency that administer benefits provided for veterans of the armed forces

Time limit for filing for veteran death benefits

Two years from the day to disposition

Escort

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

Chaplain

A person chosen to conduct religious exercises for the military, and institution or fraternal organization

Veteran

One who has served a prescribed period of time with the arm forces and who is no longer an active member of the armed forces.

National cemetery

Cemeteries created and maintained under an act of Congress for the burial of veterans of military service and their eligible family members

Burial transit permit (disposition permit)

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

Burial (interment)

The act of placing the dead human body in the ground.

Cremation

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

Alkaline hydrolysis

Reduction of a dead human body to a central element store water based dissolution process using alkaline chemicals, heat, agitation, and pressure to accelerate natural decomposition

Receiving vault

A structure design for the temporary storage of bodies not to be immediately interred

Calling Hours (Visitation/Visiting Hours)

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

Fraternal

Relating to a social organization

Acknowledgment cards

Thank you cards

Funeral coach (hearse)

Specialty vehicle designed to transfer casketed remains.

Funeral Procession

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

Elegy

Song or poem expressing sorrow or lamintation for the dead

Eulogy

An oration praising an individual, usually after death

Gratuity

A gift or small sum of money tendered (tip) for a service provided

Honorarium

Compensation or recognition for service performed

Casketbearer (pallbearer)

One who actively bears or carry a casket during the funeral service and at the committal service

Honorary Casketbearers (honorary pallbearers)

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

Memorial book (register book)

A book signed by those attending a visitation or service

Memorial folder (service folder)

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

Dismissal

Procedures or invitation intended to facilitate and organized departure

traditional floral arrangement set up - Spouse

On top of the close foot end or centered behind the open cover on a full couch casket

Traditional floral arrangement set up - Children

Basket or spray would be placed at the head end

Traditional floral arrangement set up – Sibling

At the foot end

Traditional floral arrangement set up – Grandchildren

Inside the casket

Lead car, minister or efficient, pallbearers, hearse/coach, family car, and then rest of procession

Funeral Automobile Procession Order

Apostille

Certification/legalization of a document for international use ( under terms of the 1961 Hauge convention)

common carrier

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

Private carrier

Those who transport only in particular instances and only for those they choose to contract with (E. G. Funeral establishment vehicles and livery)

Forwarding remains

One of those categories required to be itemized on the GPL (If the funeral provider offers the service). This involves the services of the funeral provider in the locale where death occurs and preparation for transfer to another funeral provider as selected by the family.

Receiving remains

One of those categories required to be itemized on the GPL (If the funeral provider offers the surface). This involves the services of the funeral provider after initial services have been provided by another firm at the locale of death.

Funeral Rites

Any funeral event performed

Funeral service

The rights held at the time of disposition of human remains, with the deceased present

Memorial service

Funeral rights without the remains present

Adaptive funeral rite

Funeral rite that is adjusted to the needs and wants of those directly involved.

Humanist Funeral

A funeral rite that is in essence devoid of religious connotation

Memorial Gathering

A scheduled assembly of family and friends following a death without the deceased present.

Chapel

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

Committal Service

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

Entombment

The placing of remains in a crypt in a mausoleum

Direct Disposition

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

Direct cremation

disposition of human remains by cremation, without formal viewing, visitation or ceremony with the deceased present

Immediate burial

disposition of human remains by burial, without formal viewing, visitation or ceremony with the deceased present, except for graveside service

Green burial

Disposition without the use of toxic chemicals or materials that are not readily biodegradable

Green funeral

Death care that minimizes the use of energy and service offering/products and that band the use of toxic/hazardous materials

Home funeral

One that takes place within the residence of the deceased as was commonly done in the United States until the mid 20th century

Aftercare

Does appropriate and helpful acts of counseling, personal and/or written contact that comes after the funeral