Funeral Terminology for Client Families

Words and phrases commonly used by funeral providers

Terminology: The first contact with the funeral home:

First Call: The initial contact notifying the funeral home of a death.

Arrangement Conference: The meeting with the funeral director to discuss the service plans; the selection of services and merchandise with family.

Funeral Arrangements: The details of the service and disposition that are decided by family

Death certificate: The legal document identifying the deceased, medical information, and disposition.

Informant: The person who provides the information about the deceased for the death certificate

Obituary: A biographical written notice of a deceased person

Death notice: A newspaper announcement publicizing the death of a person

Transfer of remains/removal: The transporting of the deceased from the place of death to the funeral home

Embalming: The disinfection and temporary preservation of a deceased human

 

Service Terminology:

Funeral Service: A ceremony held to honor the deceased, with the body present

Memorial Service: A ceremony held to honor the deceased, without the body present

Graveside Service: A ceremony held for the deceased at the burial site

Celebrant: The person who leads the funeral, memorial, graveside service

Officiant: Traditionally, the religious person who leads the service

Eulogy: A speech given to honor the deceased

Viewing: A designated time to view the deceased prior to a service

Calling Hours/visitation/visiting hours: Designated time to pay respects to the family of the deceased

Memorial Package: Book, Folders, Prayer Cards, and Acknowledgment Cards: The products created for the service, about the deceased, for the family and friends to keep as mementos.

 

Terms related to Disposition:

Burial/Interment: The placing of the deceased in a gravespace

Casket: A rigid rectangular container for the placement of the deceased, constructed of wood or metal, typically used for burial or entombment

Coffin: A hexagonal-shaped container for the placement of the deceased

Grave liner: An outer container to protect  the casket from the weight of the earth, without the ability to be sealed

Outer burial container: An outer container to protect the casket from the weight of the earth, which is sealed

Cemetery: A designated area for the burial/interment of the deceased.  Cemeteries typically have the standing tall headstone placed at each gravesite

Memorial Park: A designated area for the burial/interment of the deceased. Memorial parks have flat stone or bronze markers at each gravesite

Mausoleum: A building that contains space for the crypts 

Entombment: The placing of the deceased in the mausoleum crypt.

Cremation: The process of disposing of a deceased by intense heat

Alternative container: A container designed for the placement of the deceased, used for the cremation process

Inurnment: The placing of the cremated remains in an urn, and burial of the urn

Urn: A container designed for the cremated remains, can be made of wood, stone, glass, metal, pottery, or ceramic.