AIR TRAY
A container used to surround a casket during airline shipping.

ARRANGEMENT ROOM
The room where the funeral director and the deceased’s family make arrangements for the funeral.

ARRANGEMENT CONFERENCE
When the funeral director and survivors meet to make the funeral arrangements.

AT-NEED ARRANGEMENTS
When funeral arrangements are completed after a person’s death, “at the time of need.” 

AUTOPSY
Medical procedure used to determine the cause of death.

BACKGROUND DRAPES
Drapes that are placed behind the casket to serve as a backdrop for flowers and decorations.

BASIC SERVICES OF FUNERAL DIRECTOR AND STAFF
Terms used to describe the services and minimum fees charged for: arrangement conference, completing and filing the death certificate, obtaining burial or cremation permits, etc.  Same as Professional Services of Funeral Director.

BEREAVED
Someone who is experiencing bereavement.

BEREAVEMENT
Suffering from grief due to experiencing a loss.

BURIAL
Placing a casket or urn in an underground chamber, also called Interment.

CANOPY
A portable canvas shelter that is rigged over the grave area during the committal service so that people are not directly exposed to the weather.

CASKET
A receptacle of wood, metal or plastic that houses the prepared body, same as coffin .

CASKET COACH
Also known as a Hearse or Funeral Coach, this is the vehicle that carries the casket from the church or funeral home to the cemetery.

CASKET PRICE LIST
A listing of the caskets offered for sale or rent by the funeral home.

CASKET SPRAY
A collection of cut flowers that is usually displayed on top of the closed casket, see funeral spray.

CATAFALQUE
A structure sometimes used in funerals for the lying in state of the body.

CEMETERY
The facility where the burial or entombment of the deceased occurs.

CENOTAPH
A tomb or a monument erected in honor of a person or group of persons whose remains are elsewhere.

CERTIFIED DEATH CERTIFICATE
A legalized copy of the original death certificate that is usually necessary for insurance policies and other death benefits.

CHAPEL
A room at the funeral home where services can be held.

CHURCH TRUCK
A collapsible Catafalque used by the funeral homes.

COFFIN
An eight-sided container that houses the prepared body, similar to a casket.

COLUMBARIUM
A collection of vaults with niches for the placement of urns.

COMMITTAL SERVICE
The last part of the funeral service that deals with the interring or entombing the remains.

CORONER
A public official that may be required to investigate the cause of death if death appears to be from unnatural causes.

CORTEGE
The cars that make up the funeral procession.

COSMETOLOGY
The use of make-up and prosthetics to restore the natural appearance of the deceased.

CREMAINS
The ash and body fragments left after cremations which are usually placed in an urn.  Also known as Cremated Remains.

CREMATED REMAINS
The ash and body fragments left after cremation, which are usually placed in an urn or spread.  Also know as Cremains.

CREMATION
Reduction of the body by fire to ashes and fragments.

CREMATORY
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.  Also known as the Remains.

DISINTER
To take out of the grave or tomb, same as Exhume.

DISPLAY ROOM
A room in the funeral home where the caskets, urns and supplies are displayed.

DOOR BADGE
A floral wreath/display that is placed on the door of the home of the deceased.

EMBALM
The process of preserving a dead body so that it can be available for viewing.

EMBALMER
The person who prepares and embalms the body.

EXHUME
To take out of the grave or tomb, same as Disinter.

FAMILY CAR
The limousine that carries the immediate family during the funeral procession.

FLOWER CAR
A vehicle used for transferring the flowers from the funeral home to the church and/or cemetery.

FINAL RITES
The funeral service.

FUNERAL COACH
This is the vehicle that carries the casket from the church or funeral home to the cemetery; the same as Casket Coach or Hearse.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
Making the preparations and decisions associated with funeral.

FUNERAL DIRECTOR
The licensed professional who supervises and/or prepares the final disposition of the body and oversees all funeral preparations.  Also known as Mortician.

FUNERAL HOME
The building used for arranging and conducting funerals.

FUNERAL SERVICE
The ceremony conducted immediately before the interment or committal service, same as Final rites.

FUNERAL SPRAY
A collection of cut flowers that is usually sent to the home of the family, see Casket Spray.

GENERAL PRICE LIST
A Price List of all goods and services provided by a funeral home.

GRAVE
The area that is prepared in the earth where the casket or urn will be placed.

GRAVE LINER
A receptacle made of concrete, steel, fiberglass, copper or bronze into which the casketed remains are placed.  The liner prevents the earth from settling over time.  Same as Vault.

GRAVE MARKER
A metal or stone marker that is placed flush with the ground that identifies the occupant of a particular grave.  Also known as a Memorial Marker.

HEADSTONE
An above-ground marker that identifies the occupant of a particular grave.

HEARSE
This is the vehicle that carries the casket from the church or funeral home to the cemetery.  Also known as a Funeral Coach.

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
People chosen by the family who act as an escort for the casket—they do not carry the casket.

IN STATE
Having the deceased available for viewing before and/or after the funeral service.

INTER
To place the casket in the earth or in a tomb, also called as Burial.

INURNMENT
The placing of the cremains in an urn.

LEAD CAR
The car that leads the cortege in the funeral procession.

MAUSOLEUM
An above-ground building built and designed to receive entombments.

MEDICAL EXAMINER
A government official who may be required to perform an autopsy.

MEMORIAL MARKER
A metal or stone marker that is placed flush with the ground that identifies the occupant of a particular grave.  Also known as a Grave Marker.

MEMORIAL SERVICE
A service conducted in memory of the deceased with the remains being present.

MORGUE
The facility that receives the deceased when death occurs outside of a hospital and holds the deceased pending identification by relatives.

MORTICIAN
The licensed professional who supervises and/or prepares the final disposition of the body and oversees all funeral preparations.  Also known as Funeral Director.

MORTUARY
The building used for arranging and conducting funerals.  Also known as Funeral Home.
 

MOURNER
A person who attends the funeral out of respect for the family.

NICHE
A space or shelf in the Columbarium made especially for placing urns containing cremains.

OBITUARY
A notice of death that is usually placed in the newspaper.

PALLBEARERS
Individuals chosen by the family that carry the casket during the funeral service.

PLOT
An area of cemetery land that is usually reserved for two or more graves.

PRE-NEED ARRANGEMENTS
When funeral arrangements are completed prior to a person’s death.  Same as Preplanning a Funeral.

PREPLANNING A FUNERAL
When funeral arrangements are completed prior to a person’s death.  Same as Pre-Need Arrangements.

PREPARATION ROOM
A room in a funeral home where body preparation occurs prior to viewing.

PROCESSION
When mourners follow the casket out of the church or funeral home.  Also, when the cars follow the Lead Car when traveling to the cemetery.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OF FUNERAL DIRECTOR
Terms used to describe the services and minimum fees charged for: arrangement conference, completing and filing the death certificate, obtaining burial or cremation permits, etc.  Same as Basic Services of Funeral Director and Staff.

REGISTER
A book that is available to record names of the guests who attended the services.

REMAINS
The body of the deceased.

REPOSING ROOM
The room in the funeral home where the body is placed from the time that it is casketed until the time of the funeral.

SERVICE CAR
Usually a car owned by the funeral home that is used to transport essential materials (i.e., stands, chairs, cases, etc.).

URN
A container for the cremated remains of the deceased.

VAULT
A receptacle make of concrete, steel, fiberglass, copper or bronze into which the casketed remains are placed.  The liner prevents the earth from settling over time.  Same as Grave Liner.

VIGIL
A Roman Catholic service held on the evening before a funeral service.

VISITATION
An opportunity for people to view the deceased in a private setting and can be held at a funeral home, church or residence.