Funeral Directing Terminology

Acknowledgement Cards

Thank you cards

Acolyte

An altar attendant

Adaptive Funeral Rite

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

Aftercare

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

Al-Ghusl (Ghusl)

Practical and ceremonial washing of a deceased Muslim

Alkaline Hydrolysis

A process that uses water, alkaline chemicals, heat, and sometimes pressure and agitation, to accelerate natural decomposition, leaving bone fragments

Allah

In the Islam faith, the name for God

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

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

Apostille

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

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 practitioner and the client family during which funeral arrangements are discussed, and may refer to pre-need or at-need situations

At need

When a death has occurred

Bishop

Leader of multiple churches in a particular denomination; in the Roman Catholic faith, the head of a diocese; in the Latter-Day Saints faith, leader of a single congregation

Bishop of the ward

Bishop in the Latter-Day Saints faith, leader of a single congregation

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 deceased, services, and disposition

Brother

In the Roman Catholic faith, a man who is a member of a religious order without being ordained

Brotherhood

Relating to a social or religious organization

Buddha Altar

Table or altar placed at a right angle to the deceased altar; contains an image of Buddha, incense, candles, flowers, and fruits

Burial (Interment)

The act of placing the dead human body in the ground

Burial-Transit Permit (Disposition Permit)

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

Calling Hours (Visitation/Visiting Hours)

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

Cantor

A religious singer who assists 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, Bishops who have the right to participate in a Papal election

Cash Advance(s)

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 service, pallbearers, public transportation, clergy honoraria, flowers, musicians or singers, nurses, obituary notices, gratuities, and death certificates

Casket

A rigid container which is designed for the encasement of human remains and which is usually constructed of wood, metal, fiberglass, plastic, or like material, and ornamented and lined with fabric

Casketbearer (Pallbearer)

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

Cause of Death

Diseases, injuries, or complications that resulted in death

Celebrant

A person who designs and officiates a personalized ceremony or rite; the officiant who 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

Cemetery Tent

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

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, an institution, or a fraternal organization

Chevrah Kadisha

Hebrew meaning “Holy Society”; a group of men or women who care for the dead; they may be referred to by laymen as the “washers”. In the past, they took care of all funeral arrangement and preparations for Jewish funerals

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

Columbarium

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

Committal Service

The portion of the funeral conducted at the place of disposition

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.)

Coroner

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

Cot

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

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

Cross

A Christian symbol without the corpus

Crucifer/Crossbearer

One who carries the crucifix/cross during an ecclesiastical procession

Crucifix

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

Cryonics

The freezing and storing of human remains for possible restoration of life in the future

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

A newspaper item publicizing the death of a person and giving service details. In some parts of the US, can contain the same information as an obituary

Deceased

A dead human body

Deceased Altar

Table or altar placed before the casket with photos of the deceased, candles, oil lamps, incense vase, flowers, fruits, and food

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

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

Direct Cremation

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

Direct Disposition

Any method of disposition of the human remains without forma viewing, visitation, or ceremony with the deceased present

Dismissal

Procedures or invitation intended to facilitate an organized departure

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

Elder

Governing officer of a church, often having pastoral or teaching functions; specific duties dependent upon various denominations

El Malei Rachamin (Malei)

In the Jewish faith, a memorial service; literally “God full of compassion”; usually the last prayer of the funeral service

Entombment

The placing of remains in a crypt in a mausoleum

Epistle Side

The right side of the church as the congregation faces the altar from which readings and prayers are often proclaimed

Epitaph

A commemorative inscription on a tomb or cemetery marker

Escort

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

Eucharist

The consecrated elements of Holy Communion

Eucharistic Minister

Layperson sanctioned to administer Holy Communion and other assigned tasks

Eulogy

An oration praising an individual, usually after death

Final Commendation

In the Roman Catholic faith, the ending portion of the Funeral Mass

First Call

When the funeral establishment receives notification of death

First Viewing (Preview)

A private time for the family to view the deceased before the public visitation begins

Forwarding Remains

One of the categories to be itemized on the GPL (if the funeral provider offers the service). This involves services 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

Foyer (Narthex, Vestibule)

The entry way into a church, funeral establishment, or other public building; entrance hall

Fraternal

Relating to a social organization

Funeral Coach (Hearse)

Specialty vehicle designed to transfer casketed remains

Funeral Liturgy (Funeral Mass)

Name of the funeral service in the Roman Catholic Church; formerly called the Mass of Christian Burial

Funeral Procession

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

Funeral Rites

Any funeral event performed

Funeral Service

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

Gatha

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

General Price List (GPL)

A printed list of goods and services offered for sale by funeral providers with retail prices; considered the keystone of the Funeral Rule

Genuflect

The act of bending the right knee as an indication of reverence or as an act of humility

Gospel Side

The left side of the church as the congregation faces the altar; a place for the reading of the Gospels and delivery of the homily by the minister

Gratuity

Gift or sum of money tendered (tip) for a service provided

Grave

An excavation in the earth as a place for interment; interment space

Graveside Service

A ceremony or ritual, religious or otherwise, conducted at the grave

Grave Straps

Webbing or similar material used for lowering the casket into the grave

Green Burial

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

Green Cemetery

A place of interment that bans the use of metal caskets, toxic embalming, and concrete vaults and may also require the use of aesthetically natural monuments

Green Funeral

Deathcare that minimizes the use of energy in service offerings/products and that bans the use of toxic/hazardous materials

Guaranteed Contract

An agreement where the funeral establishment 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

Hesped

A eulogy or true evaluation of the deceased’s life that is a part of a Jewish funeral service

Holy Water

Water blessed by a priest

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