Arrangement Room | The room where the Funeral Planner, and the deceased’s family, make arrangements for the funeral. |
Autopsy | Medical procedure used to determine the cause of death. |
Bereaved | Someone who is experiencing bereavement. |
Bereavement | Experiencing grief due to experiencing a loss. |
Bier | (Pronounced “beer”). A fixed stand on which a coffin/casket is placed for a viewing. Sometimes a mattress is placed on the bier and the person is viewed as if lying in bed. |
Burial | Placing a casket or coffin in a grave (also called interment). |
Casket | A rectangular container for holding the body of the deceased. A casket can be made of wood or metal. |
Casket/Coffin flowers | A collection of flowers placed on top of coffin/casket for the funeral service. |
Catafalque | A platform sometimes used in funerals on which the coffin/casket stands. |
Chapel | A room at the funeral company premises where services are held. |
Coffin | A body shaped container for holding the body of the deceased - usually constructed of wood. |
Columbarium | A structure with niches (small spaces) for placement of cremated remains in urn containers. It may be outdoors or part of a mausoleum. |
Committal Service | The last part of the funeral service that deals with interring or burying the deceased’s body. |
Coroner | A government official who may be required to perform an autopsy. |
Cortege | The procession of cars led by the hearse which travels from the funeral service to the place of interment. |
Cremated Remains | The remains of the body after a cremation. |
Cremation | Reduction of the body by fire to ashes and fragments. |
Cremator | A furnace used for the cremation process. |
Crypt | An above-ground chamber used for the keeping of remains. |
Death Certificate | A legal paper signed by the attending physician showing the cause of death. |
Deceased | A person who has departed from life. |
Embalm | This process preserves a dead body to delay decomposition, enables the body to be presented for viewing and prevents transfer of infections. |
Embalmer | Person who embalms. |
Entombment | Burial in a mausoleum. |
Exhume | To take out of a grave or tomb. |
Floral Tribute | Flowers on display at funeral sent out of respect to the deceased by family and friends. |
Fully Paid Funeral Plan | Where an individual decides to pre-pay for his/her funeral arrangements prior to death occurring. |
Funeral Arrangements | Making the preparations and decisions associated with the funeral. |
Funeral Director | The professional who supervises and/or prepares the final disposition and oversees funeral preparations. |
Funeral Service | The ceremony conducted immediately before the interment or committal service. |
Grave | The space in the earth in a cemetery where the coffin/casket will be placed with the remains of the deceased. |
Headstone | An above ground marker that identifies the occupant of a particular grave. |
Hearse | The vehicle that carries the casket/coffin from the church or funeral chapel to the cemetery or crematorium. |
Interment | Burial in the ground or entombment. |
Inurnment | The placing of cremated remains in an urn. |
Mausoleum | An above ground building built and designed to receive entombments. |
Memorial Book | A book that is available to record names of those who attend the funeral services. |
Memorial Service | A service conducted in memory of the deceased without the presence of the remains. |
Mortuary | The building used for safe-keeping and embalming of the body of the deceased. |
Mourner | A person who attends the funeral out of respect for the family. |
Mourning Coach | A car assigned for the immediate family which follows the hearse in the funeral procession. |
Niche | A compartment, usually in a wall, in a columbarium or mausoleum which holds cremated remains of the deceased. |
Obituary | A notice of death that is usually placed in the newspaper. |
Plot | An area of cemetery land that is usually reserved for two or more burials. |
Pre-need Arrangements | When funeral arrangements are completed prior to a person’s death. |
Remains | The body of the deceased. |
Selection Room | A room which holds coffins and caskets for display purposes to allow the family a choice for the deceased. |
Urn | A container for the cremated remains of the deceased. |
Vault | A grave liner that completely encloses the casket. |
Viewing | A time set aside for mourners to visit the deceased in an open coffin to pay final respects. |
Vigil | A Roman Catholic service held on the evening before a funeral service. |