Comps Review (Funeral Directing)

Acknowledgment cards

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

Acolyte

An altar 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

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

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

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

SEE INTERMENT & INHUMEMENT

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

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

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)

Cortege

SEE (FUNERAL PROCESSION)

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

Diocese

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

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

Eulogy

An oration praising an individual, usually after death

Final Commendation

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

Foyer

SEE NARTHEX

Fraternal

Relating to a social organization

Funeral service

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

Funeral arrangements

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

Funeral Liturgy (Funeral Mass)

The name of the funeral service in the Roman Catholic Church

Gatha

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

Genufleet

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

Ghusl

Practical and ceremonial washing of a deceased Muslim

Great Panachida

See Parastas

Guaranteed contract

An agreement where the funeral home 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 cost of providing the services and merchandise at the time of the funeral

Hesped

In the Jewish faith, a eulogy or true evaluation of the deceased's life that is a part of the funeral service

Holy Water

Water blessed by a priest

Honorarium (plural: honoraria; honorariums)

A nominal compensation or recognition for service performed; an unsolicited gift to a clergyperson for officiating the funeral

Honorary casketbearers (honorary pallbearers)

Friends of the family or members of an organization or group who act as an escort or honor guard for the deceased. They do not carry the casket

Humanistic funeral

A funeral rite that is in essence devoid of religious connotation

Icon

In the Eastern Orthodox faith, a holy picture; usually mosaic or painted on wood

Iconostasis (Iconostas, Iconostation)

In the Eastern Orthodox church, the partition that extends across the front of the church separating the sanctuary from the solea

IS

The first three letters in the Greek word for Jesus

Imam

In the Islam faith, the leader of the local congregation

Informant

One who supplies the vital statistics information concerning the deceased

Inhumement/Inhumation

see Interment

INRi

An abbreviation for the Latin term meaning "Jesus of Nazareth, King of Jews"

Inter (Inhume)

To bury in the ground

Calling hours

SEE VISITATION / VISITING HOURS

Irrevocable contract

an agreement for future funeral services which cannot be terminated or canceled prior to the death of the beneficiary

Islam

The religion of Muslims (Moslems) that began at the time of Mohammed; Muslims believe that Islam stands for purity, peace, submission to God's (Allah's) will, and obedience to his laws

Jewish Star

see Mogen David

Janazah

In the Islam faith, the funeral or funeral prayer

Kaddish

In the Jewish faith, a prayer recited for the deceased by the direct mourners (parents, siblings, spouse, children) for the first time at the conclusion of the interment service. It is subsequently recited by children for parents at every service for eleven months, All other categories of mourners have the obligation to say the Kaddish for 30 days

Kafan

burial cloth (garments) utilized by the Islamic (Muslim) faith

Kever

In the Jewish faith, the grave

Kevurah

In the Jewish faith, the burial

Kingdom Hall

The appropriate term for the worship facility for the Jehovah's Witnesses

Kippah

SEE YARMULKE

Kneeler

SEE PRIE DIEU, prayer rail

Known Shipper

a funeral home that is approved by TSA (Transportation Security Administration) to ship deceased bodies via an airline

Koran (Quran)

The holy book of the Islam faith as revealed to Mohammed by the angel Gabriel

Kriah

Hebrew term meaning rending or tearing; a symbol of griet; a tear in the upper corner of the garment or a tear on a symbolic ribbon which is worn by the survivors

Levaya

In the Jewish faith, the funeral procession

Liturgical worship

(Eucharist centered) A prescribed order or form of worship specific to a particular denomination which will have the Eucharist or Holy Communion as its central element

Lobby

SEE NARTHEX

Lot (Plot)

A subdivision in a cemetery which consists of several graves or interment spaces

Makura-gyo

traditionally, in the Buddhist faith, a bedside prayer which may now be performed by the bonze just before funeral arrangements are made

Masjid

SEE MOSQUE

Mass

The liturgical celebration of the Eucharist in the Roman Catholic Church

Mass card

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

Mausoleum

A building containing crypts for casketed remains or vaults for entombment

Medical Examiner

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

Memorial park

A cemetery, or section of a cemetery, with only flush to the ground type markers

Memorial service

Funeral rites with the body not present

Menorah

In the Jewish faith, a candelabrum with a central stem bearing seven candles; it is the oldest symbol in Judaism

Military escort

Military personnel assigned to accompany a body following an active duty death

Mogen David (Star of David)

In the Jewish faith, a hexagram formed by the combination of two triangles. May be called the Jewish Star. It symbolizes a new hope for the Jewish people