COMPS Funeral Directing

List the 4 types of information on the death certificate

1. Vital statistics

2. Medical Certification

3. Funeral Director & Embalmer

4. Registrar’s Info

Purposes/ Uses of Death Certificate

1. Show cause of death for medical or actuarial research

2. Legal permanent record of the death

3. Permanent statistical record of the deceased

4. Settle estate/insurance/ legal affairs

Primary & Secondary objectives of Funeral Service

1. Fulfill service to families (Primary Objective)

2. Insure funds (Secondary Objective)

Methods / Modes of Disposition

Burial

Cremation

Entombment

Donation

Burial @ Sea

Forms used in conjunction with the Social Security Administration

1. Form S.S.A. 721 – Statement of Death by Funeral Director

2. Form S.S.A. 8 – Application for Lump Sum Death Benefit

(Claimant’s Form)

Forms used in conjunction with the Veterans Administration

1. Form 21-530 - Application for Veterans Burial allowance

(Plot-interment allowance contained therein)

2. Form 27-2008 – Application for United States Flag

for Burial Purposes

3. Form 40-1330 – Application for Headstone or Marker (Apply to U.S. Army Memorial Affairs Agency or through V.A cemetery)

4. DD 214 – Discharge Papers

5. DD 1375 – Request for Payment of Funeral and/or Interment Expenses

6. Form 40-0247 – Presidential Memorial Certificate

(submit discharge docs & death certificate)

Forms required by the FTC

1. General Price List (G.P.L.)

2. Casket Price List

3. Outer Burial Container Price List (with required disclaimers)

4. Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected (with required disclaimers)

• Time for filing for Social Security lump sum death benefit: 2 years from date of death

A funeral home can collect money from?

The Veterans Administration

The Deceased's estate

An insurance policy

Order of procession of the funeral cortege on the way to the burial location:

1. Funeral home lead car with clergy

2. Officiating Clergy, if driving his/her own car

3. Pallbearers if they are driving together

4. Hearse

5. Closest family member's car. Often this is a limousine supplied by the funeral home

6. Cars as designated by the family

***If honorary pallbearers or a special group is attending, they usually go between the lead car and the hearse

Qualifications for Burial at Sea:

1. Active-duty members of the uniformed services

2. Retirees and veterans that were honorably discharged

3. U.S. civilian marine personnel of the Military Sealift Command

4. Dependent family members of active-duty personnel, retirees, and veterans of the uniformed services

• Application for Military Sea Burial is made to the Burial at Sea Coordinator at the desired port of embarkation

• Burial at Sea must be 3 nautical miles from land.

  The water must be at least 600 ft. deep and some areas of the country require 1800 feet deep

  Reports of all burials at sea must be made to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency

The order of participants in a Military Funeral:

Band

Escort

Colors and Guard

Clergy - the chaplain is in front of the casket

Caisson and Casketbearers

Honorary Casketbearers

**In a military funeral, the chaplain is positioned at the head of the casket

Military Honors would include:

21-gun salute (the deceased has to be killed in action, a high ranking officer, or received the Medal of Honor in order to have the firing party.)

Play taps.

Present the flag to the spouse or the next of kin.

You may be eligible for a VA burial allowance if:

• you paid for a veteran's burial or funeral and

• you have not been reimbursed by another government agency or some other source, such as the deceased veteran's employer and

• the veteran was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable

In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met:

• the veteran died because of a service-related disability or

• the veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation at the time of death or

• the veteran was entitled to receive VA pension or compensation, but decided not to reduce his/her military retirement or disability pay or

• the veteran died in a VA hospital, in a nursing home under VA contract, or while in an approved state nursing home.

100%; Irrevocable

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Title 19 mandates that _______ of trust fund interest must be ________

(In order for the funds paid for preneed arrangements to be excluded from the person’s countable resources (income), the preneed must be an irrevocable contract)

Medicaid

Pre-funded funeral arrangements are often done in an effort to reduce assets to qualify for what governmental program?

Aftercare

Appropriate and helpful acts of counseling coordinated by the funeral home that come after the funeral are referred to as:

Preneed Arrangements

Arrangements made before a death occurs are referred to as?

Irrevocable contract

A contract for future funeral services which cannot be terminated or canceled prior to the death of the beneficiary is a(n)

Non-guaranteed contract

A prepaid contract where the price is not locked in, and the amount paid at the time of the contract is applied to the bill at the time of death is a

Non-guaranteed contract

A prepaid contract in which the price of the funeral is NOT locked in at current prices is a

Pre-planned arrangements

Arrangements made in advance of need with no provision for payment are called

Guaranteed contract

A prepaid contract in which the charges are locked in at current prices is a

Chaplain

A person who conducts religious ceremonies for the military is a

National cemetery

A cemetery operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for the burial of military members and spouses is referred to as a

DD-214

What is the form number for a military discharge? (must have for burial in a National Cemetery)

Top left hand corner over the left shoulder

When you place the flag on the casket, the union is placed on the ______________

3 times (10 inch folds)

The US flag is folded _______ over the closed part of a half couch casket

Surviving spouse or Next of Kin

The United States flag of a deceased military person should be presented to the ____________

Military escort

The deceased is accompanied to the place of burial by the _________

Only when the funeral expense is unpaid

Under what condition can a Veteran’s Burial Benefit be paid directly to the funeral home?

Discharge papers (DD 214)

What document is required by the V.A. for burial benefits?

No time limit

There is ______ for making application for a veteran’s headstone/ marker for a deceased veteran

Time limit for filing for V.A. burial allowance:

2 years from date of disposition (cremation or permanent burial)

Time limit for filing for U.S. flag for burial:

Must be issued prior to disposition (flag may be obtained at the post office)

Veterans Administration

The grave marker can be obtained by making application to the ___________

Funeral bill is unpaid

A Veteran’s Burial Benefit can be paid directly to the funeral home if the ________

Veteran’s Administration

The __________ owns the grave markers

Veteran, Spouse, & unmarried dependents under 18

Those eligible for burial in a National Cemetery include:

Acknowledgement Cards

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

Acolyte

An alter attendant

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; would not be traditional

Aftercare (Post funeral follow-up)

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

Allah

In the Islam faith, the name for God

Alter

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.

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.

Archbishop

In the Roman Catholic faith, the head of an archdiocese

Aron

Hebrew meaning container; a casket made entirely of wood with no metal parts

Arrangement conference

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

Artificial grass

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

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.

Bishop

Leader of multiple churches in a particular denomination; in the Roman Catholic faith, the head of a diocese; in the Church of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons), Bishop of the ward is leader of a single church.

Bonze

The title of the Buddhist priest

Book of Dates

A term used in the Buddhist faith to describe a calendar that is used to determine an accurate time for casketing the body

Brother

In the Roman Catholic faith, a man who is a member of a religious order without being ordained or while preparing for ordination

Brotherhood

Relating to a social or religious organization

Burial-Transit Permit (Disposition Permit)

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

Canopy (Cemetery tent)

A portable shelter employed to cover the grave area during the committal.

Cantor

A religious singer who assists the clergy; one who assists the Rabbi in the Jewish faith; or one who assists the priest in the Eastern Orthodox faith.

Cardinal

In the Roman Catholic faith, a dignity conferred upon Bishops making them Princes of the Church.

Cash Advance

Any item of service or merchandise described to a purchaser as a "cash advance," "accommodation," "cash disbursement," or similar term. A cash advance item is also any item obtained from a third party and paid for by the funeral provider on the purchaser's behalf. Cash advance 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 and death certificates.

Casketbearer (Pallbearer)

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

Celebrant

The officiant who officiates (celebrates) the Mass in the Roman Catholic Church

Cemetery

An area of ground set aside and dedicated for the final disposition of dead human remains

Cenotaph

a monument which is erected to the memory of the dead, but contains no remains (Ex- Washington Monument)

Certified copy of a death certificate

A legal copy of the original death certificate

Chancel

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

Chapel

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

Chaplain

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

Chevrah Kadisha

Hebrew 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 preparations for Jewish funerals.

Christian Burial Certificate

CHRISTIAN BURIAL PERMIT a.k.a. PRIEST(LY) LINES. A letter or form from a priest stating the eligibility of the deceased for burial in a Roman Catholic Cemetery.

Columbarium

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

Committal service

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

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.). (Will transport casketed remains long distances.)

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.

Coroner

A public officer whose chief duty is to investigate questionable deaths. (Also see: Medical Examiner).

Cot

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

Cremated remains

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

Cremation

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

Crematory (Crematorium)

A furnace or retort for cremating dead human bodies; a building that houses a retort

Cross

A religious emblem consisting of two plain bars which intersect at right angles to each other

Crucifer/Crossbearer

One who carries the crucifix/cross during an ecclesiastical procession. Leads the procession and recession in the liturgical funeral

Crucifix

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

Crypt

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

Deacon

A subordinate officer in a Christian church

Death Certificate

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

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

Deceased

A dead human body

Department of Veterans Affairs or VA (previously known as VETERANS ADMINISTRATION)

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

Diocese

In the Roman Catholic faith, a geographical grouping of parishes under the jurisdiction of a Bishop

Dismissal

Leading to an organized departure or inviting to leave

Divine Liturgy

Liturgical celebration of the Eucharist in eastern Orthodox churches

Ecclesiastic

Pertaining to the church or clergy

Elegy

Song or poem expressing sorrow or lamentation for the dead. (a mournful song)

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.

Entombment

The placing of a remains in a crypt in a mausoleum.

Epitaph

A commemorative inscription on a tomb or cemetery marker

Escort

To accompany, as a leader of the procession or guardian of the group

Eucharist

The consecrated elements of Holy Communion

Eucharistic Minister

Layperson sanctioned to administer holy communion and other assigned tasks