Funeral Directing Terms Chapters 1-4

Deceased

A dead human body

Dentures

False teeth

First Call (Transfer Vechicle)

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

Funeral Director

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 undertakers or mortician.

NOK

Next of Kin

On-Call

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

Cot

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

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

A public officer whose chief duty is to investigate questionable deaths

Hearse

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

Medical Examiner

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

Private Carrier

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

Removal (Transfer of Remains)

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

Acknowledgement Cards

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

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

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 (w/ or w/o an outside covering) or like materials

Arrangement Conference

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

At need Counseling

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

Burial-Transit Permit (Disposition Permit)

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

Cash advance

Any item of service or merchandise described to a purchaser as a “cash advance,” “accommodation,” “cash disbursement,” or a 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

Celebration of Life

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

Certified copy of a death certificate

A legal copy of the original death certificate

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

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

Direct Disposition

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

Event planning

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

Forwarding Remains

One of the categories required to itemized on the GPL (if the funeral provider offers the service). The 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). Funeral Rule requires package pricing of this service with a description of the components included

Funeral Arrangements

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

General Price List (GPL)

A printed list of good and services offered for sale by funeral providers with retail prices. GPL is considered the keystone of the Funeral Rule

Humanist Funeral

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

Immediate Burial

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

Informant

One who supplies vital statistical information to concerning the deceased

Kin

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

Memorial book (Register Book)

A book signed by those attending a visitation/ service

Memorial Folder (Service Folder)

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

Memorial Gathering

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

Memorial Service

Funeral rites with the body, not present

Non-traditional

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

Obituary

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

Receiving Remains

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 package pricing of this service with a description of the components included

Social Security Administration

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

Survivor

One who outlives another person or event

Third-party Beneficiary Contracts

Agreement entered by two parties for the benefit of another

Third-party 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)

Trust Account

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

Vital Statistics

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

Calling Hours (Visitation/ Visiting Hours)

A 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 cake so that family and friends may come together in an environment of mutual support to pay their last respects to the deceased

Church Bier

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

Church Trucks

A collapsible stand used to hold or transport casket remains. (Could be Skirted)

Honorarium (Plural: Honoraria, Honorariums)

A nominal compensation or recognition for service performed

Gratuity (Tip)

Gift or small sum of money tendered for service provided

Mass Card

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

Prayer Card

A card with the name of the decedent and prayer or verse, which may or may not include the dates of birth and death

Wake

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

Wake Service (Vigil Service)

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