Arrangement Room

A room in the funeral home used to make the necessary funeral arrangements

Bereaved

(n) The immediate family of the deceased (adj) suffering the death of a loved one

Burial

Grave, tomb; The act or process of burying

Burial Certificate or Permit

A legal paper issued by the local government authorizing burial. The permit may authorize earth burial or cremation or removal to a distant point

Burial Garments

Clothing made especially for the dead

Burial insurance

Life insurance policy in which the death benefit is intended to pay for funeral expenses

Canopy

A canvas roof-like structure covering the driveway allowing passengers to get in and out of vehicles without being exposed directly to the elements

Casket

A receptacle of wood, metal or plastic into which the deceased is placed for burial

Casket Coach

Also referred to as a hearse; a motor coach designed and used to transport the casket to the cemetery.

Cemetery

An area of ground set aside for burial or entombment of the deceased

Cenotaph

An empty tomb or monument erected in memory of a person buried elsewhere.

Certified Death Certificate

A legalized copy of the original death certificate issued by the local government

Chapel

A room for funeral services in the funeral home.

Coffin

See casket

Columbarium

A structure of vaults lined with recesses for urns

Committal Service

The final portion of the funeral service at which time the deceased is interred or entombed

Coroner

A public official whose duty is to investigate the cause of death if it appears to be from other than natural causes

Cortege

The funeral procession

Cremation

Reduction of the body to ashes and bone fragments by fire

Crematory

A furnace for cremating remains; a building housing such a furnace

Crypt

A vault or room wholly or partly underground used for keeping cremated remains

Death Certificate

A legal paper signed by the attending physician showing the cause of death and other vital statistical data for the deceased.

Death Notice

A paragraph in the newspaper publicizing the death of a person and giving other pertinent details

Deceased

(n) One in whom all physical life has ceased (v) dead

Disinter

To remove the remains from the burial place

Display room

A room in the funeral home in which caskets, urns, burial garments and vaults are displayed

Embalm

To treat a dead body so as to protect from decay

Embalmer

One who preserves dead human bodies by the injection or external application of antiseptics, disinfectants or preservative fluids.

Exhume

To remove from the place of burial

Family Car

The limousine in the funeral procession set aside for the use of the immediate family

Family Room

A specially arranged room in the funeral home which afford the family privacy at the time of the funeral service

Final rites

The funeral service

First Call

The initial visit of the funeral director to the place of death for the purpose of removing the deceased and to secure certain information

Funeral Arrangements

Funeral director's meeting with the family for the purpose of completing financial and funeral service details

Funeral Director

One whose profession is the management of funerals; mortician; undertaker

Funeral home

An establishment with facilities for the preparation of the dead for burial or cremation, for the viewing of the body, and for funerals

Funeral service

(1) The religious or other rites conducted immediately before final disposition of the deceased. (2) The profession which deals with the handling of the deceased

Grave

An excavation in the earth for the purpose of burying the deceased.

Grave Liner

A receptacle made of concrete, metal or wood into which the casket is places as an extra precaution in protecting the remains from the elements

Grave Marker

A method of identifying the occupant of a particular grave; memorial marker.

Honorary Pallbearers

Friends or members of a religious, social or fraternal organization who act as an escort or honor guard for the deceased. Honorary pallbearers do not carry the casket

In state

The custom of allowing relatives and friends to view the deceased prior to or after the funeral service.

Inter

To bury a dead body in the earth in a grave or tomb

Inurnment

The placing of the ashes of one cremated in an urn

Limousine

An automobile designed to seat five or more persons behind the driver's seat.

Mausoleum

A building especially designed to receive entombments; a permanent above ground resting place for the dead

Memorial Service

A religious service conducted in memory of the deceased without the remains being present

Morgue

A place to where bodies found dead are removed are kept until identified

Mortician

See Funeral Director

Mortuary

Funeral home.

Mourner

One who is present at the funeral out of affection or respect for the deceased

Niche

A hollowed space in a wall made especially for placing of urns

Obituary

A notice in the newspaper of the death of a person usually to include some biographical information

Pallbearers

Individuals who help to carry the casket when necessary during the funeral service.

Plot

A small piece of land in a cemetery

Prearranged Funeral

Funeral arrangements completed by an individual prior to death

Prearranged Funeral Trust

A method by which an individual can prepay their funeral expenses

Preparation Room

A room in the funeral home equipped for preparing the decease for final disposition

Procession

The vehicular movement of the funeral to the cemetery

Register

A book to record the names of people visiting the funeral home to pay their respects to the deceased

Remains

The deceased

Survivor

Usually referred to as the immediately family which outlives the deceased

Urn

A container into which cremated remains are placed

Vault

A prefabricated container usually of metal or concrete into which a casket is placed at burial

Visitation

An opportunity for survivors and friends to view the deceased in private

Wake

A watch kept over the deceased and can last the entire night preceding the funeral.