Terms
AARP
AARP is a non-for-profit group based out of the United States. Formerly known as the America Association of Retired Persons, AARP provides membership to the elderly for a monthly fee. This subscription includes benefits involving healthcare, insurance, social security, financial planning, legal services, and end of life advice.
AfterCare
Aftercare is an optional service offered by funeral homes and cemeteries across the country. It is offered in addition to normal available services. Aftercare programs are meant to guide friends and family of deceased loved ones through the journey of healthy healing. Aftercare programs provide resources such as educational pieces, group events, and one-on-one sessions with a licensed therapist.
Anatomical Donation
Anatomical donation is a method of human remains disposition requested by either the deceased or the deceased’s next of kin. It involves the non-transplant donation of the whole body to science. These donated remains are often used for education or research.
At Need
“At need” is a term used by funeral homes and cemeteries to classify an incoming call. If a call is “at need,” a death has recently occured, and services need to be arranged immediately.
Balloon Release
A balloon release is symbollic ceremony that typically takes place at a cemetery following a graveside commital service.
Burial Vault
A burial vault is a lined and sealed concrete receptacle designed to protect the casket from outside elements such as water, and downward soil pressure caused by backhoes or other heavy maintenance equipment at the gravesite. Burial vaults can also be referred to as lined vaults.
CANA
The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international 501 (c)(6) trade association of over 3,300 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, consultants and students.
Casket
An ornamental rectangular box with four sides that is made of wood or metal and holds the body of the deceased for viewing during a visitation and/or funeral service. The casket is then lowered into the ground during the burial ceremony.
Casket Vault
A casket vault combines the protection of a burial vault with the beauty of a casket, eliminating the need for two separate units.
Celebration of Life
A Celebratrion of Life can be another name for a funeral or memorial service, or it can be an event of its own. If it is treated as a seperate event, it is usually held after the burial or cremation of the deceased, but it can even be held several weeks later. A Celebration of Life is often not a gloomy affair. There are no concrete rules for etiquette and sometimes these celebrations literally take place in the form of a party that is held to honor the life of the loved one lost.
Cemetery Lettering
The craft of adding names, dates, other wording or even simple designs to a monument or marker in a cemetery with the use of portable engraving equipment.
Coffin
A box (usually 6-sided), not as ornamental as a casket, that is used to bury a human remains.
Columbarium
A room, building, or structure that has recesses called niches that hold urns (containers used to hold cremated remains).
Cremated Remains
Also known as “cremains” or ashes, cremated remains are what is left after human remains have been cremated.
Cremation
A process of breaking down human remains by fire, usually in a cremation chamber.
Cremation Urn Vault
A cremation urn vault is a lined and sealed concrete receptacle designed to protect the urn from outside elements such as water, and downward soil pressure caused by backhoes or other heavy maintenance equipment at the gravesite.
Cremation Casket
A casket made with no metal parts, or very small metal parts that holds the body of the deceased and is specifically made to be cremated (burned) in a cremation chamber.
Cremation Chamber
A large furnace made to cremate human remains, also known as a retort.
Cremation Container
A box that is used to transfer human remains to the crematory and is placed with the body of the deceased into the cremation chamber (furnace). It is typically made from sturdy cardboard.
Crematory or Crematorium
The structure that holds the cremation chamber (furnace).
Cryonics
The practice of freezing a person’s body after they have passed with the hopes of bringing them back to life in the future.
Crypt
An indoor space used to house human remains.
Dirge
A mournful song or poem usually recited at funerals.
Dove Release
A ceremony where doves are released that adds a special touch to the end of a loved one’s funeral or memorial service.
Embalmer
A person who embalms a deceased person and is often the person who does cosmetic or restorative work to prepare the body for viewing.
Embalming
The process of treating the body of a person who has passed to prevent its decay.
Entombment
Putting a deceased body into a tomb (also known as interment).
Epitaph
Text inscribed on a tombstone or plaque at a gravesite that honors the memory of the one buried there.
Estate
The money and property left by a person after passing.
Estate Tax
A tax on the transfer of the (estate) money and property left by a someone who has passed.
Family Car
A car in a funeral procession, usually a limousine, reserved for the use of close family and friends of the deceased.
Funeral Director
A person who is in charge of all aspects of a funeral service and who often aslo serves as an embalmer.
Funeral Home
A place where the deceased are prepared for viewing, funeral services, or cremation and the place where funeral services can be held.
Funeral Service
A service held to memorialize a deceased person and the body is present. It is often proceeded by a viewing of the body or visitation with the family.
Funeral Rule
A rule enforced by the Federal Trad Commission (FTC) that requires funeral homes to provide a price list for goods and services so that there is an opportunity to price shop.
Grave Liner
An unlined, unwarrentied concrete box used to hold a casket and prevent the earth from collapsing. It has drainage holes in the bottom, that unlike a sealed, lined burial vault allows water inside.
Graveside / Committal Service
A service typically held at a gravesite in a cemetery where an officiant recites prayers or readings and the casket is lowered into a grave.
Headstone
A memorial stone, often made of granite, that marks the head of a grave.
Hearse
A vehicle, that transports a casket carrying the deceased from a funeral home to a church or cemetery.
ICCFA
The International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association (ICCFA) that represents all segments of the cemetery, funeral service, cremation and memorialization profession.
Interment
To place human remains in the ground, most often as a part of a graveside service.
Interment Right
The right to be buried in a particular burial plot of mausoleum space due to the purchase of that space.
Interment Space
A space (grave space, lawn crypt, mausoleum crypt, or niche) reserved for the burial of human remains.
Inurnment
Typically placing an urn with cremated remains into a nich, or burying an urn and urn vault in a grave.
Last Testament
A legal document (also known as a will) that expresses a person’s wishes about how to distribute their property after their passing.
Lawn Crypt
Also called an underground mausoleum, lawn crypts are preinstalled tombs that can hold one or two caskets and are covered with earth and grass.
Mausoleum
A building that houses a tomb or tombs and that serves as a monument to the deceased inside it.
Memento Urns
Miniature urns made to hold a small amount of cremated remains that can be shared among immediate family members.
Memorial
A monument to a deceased person that typically serves as a grave marker, but can also be anything that can be inscribed or engraved with any identifying information or words of endearment. Memorials are often made of stone or bronze.
Memorial Service
A service held to memorialize a deceased person but the body isn’t present. These services can be held at the home of the person who has died, a favorite place of the deceased, church buildings, funeral homes, parks, or anywhere deemed appropriate for people to pay their respects.
Military Funeral Honors
Upon the family’s request, Public Law 106-65 requires that every eligible Veteran receive a military funeral honors ceremony, to include folding and presenting the United States burial flag and the playing of Taps. The law defines a military funeral honors detail as consisting of two or more uniformed military persons, with at least one being a member of the Veteran’s parent service of the armed forces. The DOD program calls for funeral home directors to request military funeral honors on behalf of the Veterans’ family. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration cemetery staff can also assist with arranging military funeral honors at VA national cemeteries. Veterans organizations may assist in providing military funeral honors. When military funeral honors at a national cemetery are desired, they are arranged prior to the committal service by the funeral home.
Monument
A statue, building or other structure placed by or over a grave in memory of the deceased. Typically burial monuments found in a cemetery are upright tombstones (also known as gravestones), or a flat grave marker, but they can even come in the form of tall stone pillars called obelisks. Things that are commonly inscriberd on a monument include: the name of the loved one lost, words of endearment, date of birth and date of death, philosophical or religious sayings.
Mortician
A person who prepares the deceased for burial and burial service; see funeral director.
Mortuary
A place where human remains are kept until burial; see funeral home.
Motorcycle Escort
Motorcycle escorts have been used by law enforcement and are is designed to assist someone or something to get moved safely and quickly from one location to another. The escort could be as simple as placing one or two motorcycles in front of a vehicle, or as complicated as escorting a 100+ vehicle funeral procession. Some escorts will flow with the normal traffic, obeying all traffic laws. At other times, roadways will be closed down while the escort passes at high speeds. Escorts can be a physically and mentally demanding event, and they need to be thoroughly planned and coordinated.
Mummification
The process of preserving the body of a deceased person after death by removing moisture (drying) and embalming it.
Neptune Society
Over the past 40 years, the Neptune Society has been a provider of cremation and scatter at sea services.
NFDA
The National Funeral Directors Association is the world’s leading, largest and most trusted association to support funeral professionals. We provide our members with critical information, innovative tools, resources and the professional community they need to serve families, run sustainable businesses and become pillars in their communities.
Niche
A niche is an above-ground burial space in which a decedent’s urn is placed and sometimes sealed.
Obituary
A news article that reports the recent passing of a person, typically along with an account of the person’s life and information about the upcoming funeral.
OGR
The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) is an association of independently owned funeral homes across North America and overseas who pledge to a strict code of ethical business and service standards conduct.
Onsite Engraving
Inscribing or engraving on military and civilian headstones, family gravestones, family mausoleums, veterans grave markers and granite memorials that have already been set in a cemetery.
Opening and Closing of Grave
Digging a grave (opening it) usually with equipment like a backhoe and then filling it again with dirt (closing it) after the casket or urn has been placed in the grave.
Organ Donation
The process when a person allows an organ of their own to be removed and transplanted to another person, legally, either by consent while the donor is alive or after they have passed, with the approval of the next of kin.
Ossuary
A vessel that holds cremated remains and is often buried in a cemetery. In this vessel, cremated remains are often not divided into separate containters, but instead, the remains of a number of people are “co-mingled” or mixed.
Pallbearer
A person who helps carry the casket at a funeral. They are usually close family members and friends, but anyone can serve as a pallbearer.
Plot
A small area of land where a person’s remains will be buried when he or she dies.
Pre Need
A type of arrangement where you pay for funeral products and services in advance. You enter into a preneed contract with a particular funeral provider, such as a funeral home or cremation service. You may pay the provider directly in a one-time payment or under an installment payment plan. Another option is to secure the contract with a preneed insurance policy, a specific type of life insurance
Retort
An industrial furnace (also known as a cremation chamber) designed to hold one body. Lined with fire-resistant bricks, the chamber can withstand temperatures up to 2,000 degrees.
Scattering
Referring to casting or throwing cremated remains (ashes) into the wind or another place of significance to the deceased.
Sea Burial
The disposal of human remains in the ocean, normally from a ship or boat. The EPA has issued a general permit under the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) to authorize the burial of human remains at sea.
Social Security Death Benefit
Social Security survivors benefits are paid to widows, widowers, and dependents of eligible workers. Your family members may receive survivors benefits if you die. If you are working and paying into Social Security, some of those taxes you pay are for survivors benefits. Your spouse, children, and parents could be eligible for benefits based on your earnings.
State Room
The room where the deceased lies in state once casketed and awaiting the time of the funeral service; also known as reposing room.
Taps
A bugle call blown at military funerals, memorial services and wreath-laying ceremonies.
Tissue Donations
A process by which a deceased person donates parts of his/her body for use in transplant procedures in order to repair various defects, injuries, etc.
Tombstone
A large, flat inscribed stone standing or laid over a grave.
Tribute
A way of honoring the deceased that is often in the form of a written speech (eulogy) but it can be a memorable act like leaving flowers at a grave.
VA Death Benefits
Additional benefits designated for the survivor of a Veteran or service member that can include help with burial costs and survivor compensation.
VA Markers
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes upon request, at no charge to the applicant, a Government headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of any deceased eligible Veteran in any cemetery around the world, regardless of their date of death.
Veterans Funeral
A funeral service for people who have served in the military. Also see Military Funeral Honors.
Video Tribute
A way of honoring the deceased that is often in the form of a written speech (eulogy) but it can be a memorable act like leaving flowers at a grave.
Viewing Room
A room designated in the funeral home for the deceased to lie before the funeral so that people can view the deceased, (also known as state room).
Undertaker
A person who prepares the deceased for burial and burial service; see funeral director.
Urn
A vessel that is typically an ornamental vase on a pedestal and that is used for various purposes, especially storing the cremated remains of the one deceased. They can also come in various shapes and materials, such as bronze and wood.
Viewing / Visitation or Wake
A time, typically before a funeral or memorial service, when friends and family members gather together after a loved one has passed. It’s a common practice to have the body present and the casket is open or closed according to the family’s wishes
Will
A legal document declaring a person’s wishes regarding the disposition of his or her property or estate after passing.
