DIRECTING FINAL

a dead human body

Deceased

false teeth.

Dentures

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.

First Call

automobile generally used for transporting the uncasketed dead human body from the place of death to the mortuary.

First Call Car (Transfer Vehicle)

a professional that is involved in the BUSINESS of funeral rites. Some tasks would include planning and arranging all aspects of the funeral ceremony. Other tasks could include dressing, casketing, and cosmetizing the deceased. Also known as undertaker or mortician.

Funeral Director

Next of kin

NOK

status of an employee that can be reached immediately and can arrive at a specified designation within 30 minutes of being called.

On-Call

a portable stretcher commonly employed in an ambulance or transfer vehicle for the moving of the sick, injured, or deceased. Can usually be taken from or placed in a transfer vehicle by just one person.

Cot

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

Common carrier

A public officer whose chief duty is to investigate questionable deaths.

Coroner

today, a vehicle specially designed to transport casketed remains; derived from the French word, hearse; originally a stationary framework of wood to hold candles and decorations placed on the coffin; forerunner was a bier; hearse and bier were used interchangeably until mid 19th century; aka funeral coach.

Hearse

A forensically-trained physician whose duty is to navigate questionable or unattended deaths (has replaced the coroner in some states).

Medical Examiner

those who transport only in particular instances and only for those they chose to contract with (i.e., funeral home vehicles).

Private carrier

the moving of the dead human body from the place of death to the funeral home or other designated place.

Removal (Transfer of Remains)

cards of thanks and recognition sent to friends for kindness shown to a deceased's family.

Acknowledgment Cards

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.

Alternative Container

the meeting between the funeral director and the client family during which funeral arrangements are discussed. The key to establishing trust and providing families with services that are truly special and meaningful.

Arrangement conference

What is performed when a death has occurred, and the funeral director is COUNSELING the family as they select the services and items of merchandise in completing arrangements for the funeral service of their choice.

At need counseling

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

Burial-Transit Permit (Disposition Permit)

Any item of service or merchandise obtained from a third party and paid for by the funeral provider on the purchaser's behalf.

Cash Advance

A legal copy of the original death certificate.

Certified copy of a death certificate

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

Death Certificate

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.

Death Notice

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

Direct Disposition

The process of planning and/or coordinating a ceremony or activity.

Event Planning

One of the categories required 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 the transfer to another funeral provider as selected by the family (consumer).

Forwarding Remains

The term applied to the completing of the service (details) and financial details of the funeral.

Funeral Arrangements

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

General Price List (GPL)

A funeral rite that is, in essence, devoid of religious connotation.

Humanist funeral

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

Immediate Burial

One who supplies vital statistics information concerning the deceased.

Informant

One's relatives; referring to blood relationship (legally, the surviving spouse is not kin).

Kin

A book signed by those attending a visitation/service.

Memorial book (Register Book)

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

Memorial Folder (Service Folder)

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

Memorial gathering

a news item concerning the death of a person which usually contains a biographical sketch.

Obituary

One of the categories required to be itemized on the GPL (if the funeral provider offers the service). This involves the services of the funeral provider AFTER INITIAL SERVICES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY ANOTHER FIRM at the locale of the death. Funeral Rule requires package pricing of this service with a description of the components included.

Receiving remains

A branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that provides benefits for retirement, survivors' insurance, disability, health insurance, and death.

Social Security Administration

one who outlives another person or event.

Survivor

Agreement entered by two parties for the benefit of another.

Third-party beneficiary contracts

agreements that involve the funeral director/funeral home because the family being served has contracted with someone else (a third party) for services or merchandise also available from the funeral home (i.e., caskets, vaults, urns, pre-need insurance, etc).

Third-Party Contracts

an account established by one individual to be held for the benefit of another (as a method of payment of funeral expenses); creates 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.

Trust Account

the collection, tabulation, and interpretation of data concerning birth, marriage, divorce, sickness, and death.

Vital Statistics

time set aside for friends and relatives to pay respect for the deceased before the funeral service. 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.

Calling hours (Visitation/Visiting Hours)

a flat frame (usually wood but also made with other materials) that holds casketed remains for visitation or funerals.

Church Bier

a collapsible stand used to hold or transport casket remains. (Could be skirted)

Church Trucks

a nominal compensation or recognition for service performed.

Honorarium (Plural: Honoraria, Honorariums)

gift or a small sum of money tendered for a service provided.

Gratuity (Tip)

a document indicating the offering of a Mass for a specific intention.

Mass Card

a card with the name of the decedent and a PRAYER or verse, which may or may not include the dates of birth and death.

Prayer Card

historically, a watch kept over the deceased, an all-night vigil.

Wake

a prayer or scripture service usually held at the funeral home the evening before the funeral.

Wake Service (Vigil Service)

that portion of the funeral that is conducted at the place of disposition of dead human bodies. (In ADDITION to a funeral)

Committal Service

funeral observances that reflect present-day (modern) influences in lieu of (or in addition to or as part of) the traditional ceremonies.

Contemporary funeral rite

a ceremony or ritual, religious or otherwise, conducted at the grave. (ONLY a GRAVESIDE)

Graveside Service

a scheduled assembly of family and friends following a death.

Memorial gathering

After large merchandise purchases are selected during an Arrangement Conference, what else would it be a good time to discuss? (3)

1.) Prayer Cards / Register Book

2.) Flowers

3.) Accessories

What are the 4 things required for the FTC?

1.) GPL

2.) CPL

3.) OBCPL

4.) "Statement of Funeral Goods and Services" Form

What is the statement that explains why embalming was done listed on the statement of Funeral Goods and Services? (such as a public viewing)

The "Reason for Embalming"

What should you do when a family claims they have insurance? (3)

1.) Call to verify

2.) Contact Beneficiary

3.) Make sure it is not Contestable

What is the catalyst in all good relationships?

Caring

List all the things you have to take care of during a visitation: (5)

Music

Sign Board

Tribute Video

Memory Table

Newspaper Notice

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

Non-traditional

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

Memorial Service

A personalized service focused on the life of the person instead of their death.

Celebration of Life

Why have funerals? (5)

-rituals

-social support

-religious beliefs

-viewing deceased

-celebrations of life

What percentage of 1st calls come through the telephone?

98%

What are first calls compared to the transfer of remains?

First Calls---The request to remove the deceased from place of death

Transfer of Remains---The action of removing the deceased from the place of death

Who is the first person to hear the "death story"?

The Funeral Director

Where can arrangement conferences take place?

Anywhere (the funeral home and the survivors house are examples)

What shape of table is less intimidating during an arrangement conference?

A round one

What is the most emotionally charged part of the funeral process?

The first viewing

What is the platform style stand which a coffin or casket is placed during a funeral service? (typically not collapsable)

Church Bier

What are the metal devices used for securing caskets and coffins for transport in a funeral coach?

Bier Pins

Who is the person who provides the Funeral Home with vital statistics?

Informant

SERVICE without the body present, possibly be held days or weeks after the disposition?

Memorial Service

Item obtained from a third party and the funeral home pays for it making no profit?

Cash Advance

What are other names for a visitation?

Wake or Calling Hours

What are the purposes of the Death Certificate? (4)

1.) Shows cause of death

2.) Is the legal, permanent record of death

3.) Is a permanent, statistical record of the deceased

4.) Assists with settling estate / legal affairs

What are the four parts of the Death Certificate?

1.) vital statistic information

2.) funeral directors / embalmers information

3.) physician / M.D. / coronor who completed cause of death

4.) registrar's information

What church began in 1517?

Who was the founder?

The Lutheran Church

Martin Luther

Which church has its roots in the Catholic tradition around 314 C.E. and was started in the united states in 1789?

The Episcopal Church

What churches typically use a Pall during their funerary services?

Liturgical Protestant Churches

an alter attendant (may be male or female)

Acolyte

an elevated place or structure on which sacrifices are offered or at which religious rites are performed; the table from which Holy Communion is served and prayers are offered

Altar

the text containing recitations, prayers, and prescribed orders of worship in the Episcopal Church

Book of Common Prayer

the area around the alter of the church, usually enclosing the clergy and other officials

Chancel

one who carries the processional cross in an ecclesiastical procession

Crucifier

referring to the church or clergy

Ecclesiastical

an epithet applied to a council regarded as representing the whole of Christendom

Ecumenical

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

Epistle Side

the prescribed order or from of worship used by some churches in which the Eucharist or Holy Communion is the central element

Liturgical Worship (Eucharist-Centered Worship)

in the Episcopal faith the use of oil, holy water, or hands to bless those who are in danger of losing life

Extreme Unction

the left side of the church (as the congregation faces the altar), from which sermons are preached

Gospel Side

the entryway to the church proper

Narthex (Vestibule)

the main body of the church where seating is provided

Nave

a form or order of worship having the scriptures as the central element, with the actual order of worship determined by the local congregation or clergy

Non-Liturgical Worship (Scripture-Centered Worship)

a symbolic cloth covering placed on the casket representing both the righteousness of Christ bestowed at one's baptism and the equality of all men before God

Pall

belonging to a parish; restricted to a parish; limited in range or scope

Parochial

any Western Christian who is not an adherent to the Roman Catholic Church

Protestant