Funeral Service Merchandising and Management Terminology

Actuating (Directing/Leading)

The process of guiding and/or supervision the activities of an organization to achieve plans and objectives

Business Plan

A summary of how a business owner, manager, or entrepreneur intends to organize the business endeavor and implement the activities necessary for the venture to succeed

Controlling (Evaluating)

The process of measuring organizational and individual performance with predetermined standards or expected results

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing

A process intended to prevent or limit the development of post-traumatic stress in people exposed to critical incidents

Cultural Relativism

The emotional attitude that all cultures are pertinent

Disaster

A sudden misfortune, resulting in the loss of life and/or property

Emergency

An unforeseen combination of circumstances that result in a need for immediate action

Ergonomics

Study of workplace design; the study of how a workplace and the equipment used therein can best be designed for comfort, efficiency, safety, and productivity

Facilities Management

The monitoring and maintaining of the funeral establishment, physical plant, workspace, and funeral equipment

Financial Management

The utilization and monitoring of assets, revenue, expenditures, and capital

Funeral Service Management

The administration of a funeral service enterprise, the activities of which encompass marketing, office, human resources, facilities, and financial management

Goals

Broad statements about what an organization wants to achieve; developed in the strategic planning process; the form the basic plan or direction toward which decisions and activities are focused

Human Relations

Motivating people in organizations to develop teamwork, which effectively fulfills their needs and achieves organizational objectives

Human Resource Management (Personnel Managment)

The process of acquiring, training, developing, motivating, and appraising a sufficient quantity of qualifies employees to perform necessary activities; developing activities and an organizational climate conducive to maximum efficiency and worker satisfaction

Marketing Management

The process of planning and executing the development, pricing, promotion, and distribution of an organization’s goods and/or services

Mass Fatality

Incident that involves multiple casualties that overwhelms the routine capabilities of an agency or agencies involved

Motivating

The process of energizing, channeling, and sustaining people’s behavior

Objectives

Specific statement of ends, the achievement of which are to be completed within a specific time period

Office Management

The supervision of administrative duties, functions, and equipment

Organizing

The process of assigning tasks, allocating resources, and coordinating the activities of individuals and groups to implement plans

Planning

The process of setting performance objectives and determining what actions should be taken to accomplish them

Stakeholder

Individuals or groups that either can affect or are affected by the performance of a company

Standards of Care

Specific procedures to be followed to ensure that all essential details are addressed in the manner that the reasonably prudent funeral director would follow under the same or similar circumstances

Vicarious Trauma

Cumulative transformative effect upon the professional working with survivors of traumatic life events; individual exposure to traumatic event through first-hand account or narrative of an event

Air Seal (Dividing Bell Principle)

A method of closure that utilizes the air pressure created by placing the dome of the vault onto the base of the vault

Air Tray

A transfer container consisting of a wooden tray with a cardboard covering for the casket

Alternative Container

An enclosure for human remains in preparation for cremation. Composed of an appropriate combustible material; rigid enough for handling with ease; assures the protection of the health and safety of the crematory operator as well as provide appropriate covering for the remains

Apron

The lining attached to the undersurface of the foot panel of the casket and/or a component part of the throw (overlay) which extends downward into the body of the casket

Arm

The part of the casket handle that attaches the bar to the lug (ear)

Average (Mean)

The sum of a group of numbers divided by the number of units

Axed (Steeled/Frosted)

A smooth non-polished finish for stone monuments and markers achieved by sandblasting a polished finish with steel shot or other abrasives

Bail Handle

A single handle is which the lug, arm, and bar are combined in one unit

Bar

A part of the casket handle attached to the lug or arm and held by a casket bearer when moving and positioning a casket

Base

The lower or supporting part of a monument

Base Molding

Molding along the lowermost edge of the body panels

Bed

The portion of the casket upon which the human remains are placed

Bench

A type of cemetery memorial consisting of a top piece supported by two standards; used to identify family burial plots or in conjunction with a family monument

Bevel Top Marker

A small headstone, set above ground, with a slanting top

Bier

A stand on which a casket is placed for funeral service display

Bi-unit Pricing

A method of price quotation showing separately the price of the service to be rendered and the price of the casket

Block

A subdivision of a cemetery containing several lots

Body

The lower portion of the casket shell containing the top body molding, body panel, base molding, and casket bottom

Body Ledge (Top Body Molding)

A molding along the uppermost edge of the body panels

Body Ledge Flange (Top Body Molding Flange)

The horizontal portion of the top body molding (body ledge) where the gasket is placed on the gasketed caskets

Body Lining

Material which drapes the inside perimeter of the body of the casket

Body Panels

Compose the sides and ends of the casket shell

Bridge (Header/Cap Filler)

Component part of the cap (lid) on half couch caskets that provides support at the point of the transverse cut

Broadcloth

A twilled, napped, woolen, or worsted fabric with a smooth lustrous face and dense texture; a fabric usually made of cotton, silk, or rayon woven in a plain or rib weave with a soft semi-gloss finish

Bronze

A metal alloy consisting of 90% copper with tin and sometimes zinc compromising the other 10%

Brushed Finish

Bare metal is scratched with an abrasive material and then finished until a smooth high gloss is obtained

Burial Casket

A casket for interring or entombing human remains

Cap (Lid)

The upper portion of the casket shell, including the ogee, crown, pie, and header

Cap Panel

The focal part of the interior which fills the inside of the crown, sometimes bordered by the roll (cove); may be referred to as the panel

Cash Advance Items

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

Cash Discount

Discounts from quoted prices as an inducement for prompt payment of invoices

Casket

A rigid container designed for the encasement of human remains that is available in various shapes, other than anthropoidal

Casket Liner

A removable metal unit that is placed inside a wooden casket shell to provide protective qualities

Casket Rack

A device upon which caskets are placed, above the other, for display or storage

Casket Stand

The stand or support upon which a casket rests in the selection room

Cast Bronze

Molten bronze poured into a mold and allowed to cool

Cast Hardware

Production method in which molten metal is poured into a mold, allowed to cool

Cemetery

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

Cenotaph

A monument erected to the memory of the dead, with the human remains not present

Ceremonial Casket (Rental Casket)

A casket designed to be re-used for multiple funeral service events typically with a removable liner to facilitate the cremation or other disposition of human remains following funeral service events

Church Truck

A wheeled and collapsible stand for a casket

Cloisonné

A crafted metal container with an applied enamel finsih

Coffin

A rigid container designed for the encasement of human remains that is anthropoidal in shape

Columbarium

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

Combination Case (Combo Case)

A transfer container for uncasketed human remains consisting of a particle board tray with a cardboard cover

Combination Unit

Any product designed or intended to be used together as both a casket and a permanent burial receptacle

Competition Based Pricing

Setting prices based on the competitor’s strategies, prices, costs, and market offerings

Composition Board (Particle/Pressed Board, Fiberboard, Hardboard)

Particles of wood bonded together with waterproof glue; the different types are distinguished by the size and shape of the particles of wood used

Concrete Sectional (Sectional)

A grave liner consisting of six or eight slabs of unfinished concrete placed around the casket

Consecutive method

Placing caskets for selection in their order of increasing or decreasing value

Consignment

To give an agent to be cared for or sold and is not paid for until sold

Copper

A malleable, ductile, metallic element having a characteristic reddish brown color; frequently used in construction of caskets, urns, and vaults due to its non-corrosive qualities

Copper Deposit

A casket made for a core of copper metal to which copper ions are combined by an electrolytic process

Corner

An optional part of casket hardware that is attached to the four corners of the body panel

Corrugated Container

A container used to hold human remains constructed out of cardboard made with a series of alternate folds and ridges

Cost Based Pricing

Pricing based on the cost of producing, distributing, and selling the product plus a fair rate of return for effort and risk

Couch Crypt

A crypt in which the casket lies parallel to the face of the crypt

Cove (Roll/Puffing)

A component part of the casket interior which lines the rim (ogee) and surrounds the cap panel

Cremation Casket

A casket manufactured with easily combustible materials for the cremation of human remains following funeral service events

Cremation Pouch

A non-rigid combustible cremation-friendly container for human remains

Crepe

A thin crinkled cloth of silk, rayon, cotton, or wool

Crinkled (Wrinkled) Finish

An exterior casket finish in which the metal is coated with a substance the wrinkles as it dries; most often found on less expensive caskets

Crown (Swell)

The uppermost part of the casket cap

Crushed Interior

A casket interior style created by placing the lining material on a metal form, the adding weights, and using steam to permanently maintain the style. Casket interior cloths are then attached to a suitable casket upholstery (backing material)

Crypt

A chamber in a mausoleum used to safeguard casketed human remains

Customer Value Based Pricing

Setting prices based upon the buyers perceived value

Demonstration Group (Educational Group)

Caskets utilized to educate the selecting party regarding casket construction

Die (Tablet)

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

Direct Disposition

A disposition of human remains by cremation without formal viewing, visitation, or ceremony

Direct Lighting

Illumination directly shining on an object

Direct Selection Room Procedure

The method of selling merchandise whereby the funeral director remains in the selection room throughout the selection process

Doeskin (Moleskin)

A heavy durable cotton fabric with a short (1/8th in. or less), thick, velvety nap on one side; woven cloth with a suede-like appearance

Dome

The top of a metal air seal burial vault which entraps air as it is put in position; it also supports the weight of the earth above

Domesticated

As related to animals, one that has been tamed and disciplined by human beings for personal companionship

Double Seal

A method of closure that utilizes the principle of the air seal in conjunction with an epoxy material at the conjunction of the dome and the base of a metal burial vault

Ear (Lug)

The part of the casket handle attacked to the casket body