Funeral Terms Glossary

Here is a list of 50 key funeral terms that we have defined that you should know:

1. Aftercare – Support provided to the family after the funeral, often including grief counseling or help with legal documents.
2. Aquamation – A water-based process of body disposition that uses alkaline hydrolysis to reduce the body to bone fragments, considered an eco-friendly alternative to cremation. See more
3. Ashes – The remains of a body after cremation, also known as cremated remains. See more.
4. Burial – The act of placing a body into the ground, usually in a cemetery. See more.
5. Burial Plot – A specific piece of land in a cemetery where the body is buried.
6. Burial Vault – A lined and sealed outer container that houses the casket in the ground to prevent collapse of the surrounding soil.
7. Casket – A container, typically made of wood, metal, or other materials, used to hold the body for burial or cremation.
8. Celebration of Life – A non-traditional gathering or event focused on celebrating the deceased’s life rather than mourning their death. See more info.
9. Cemetery – A place where people are buried, typically offering various types of burial spaces such as plots and mausoleums.
10. Chapel Service – A funeral service held in a chapel, often within a funeral home or church.
11. Columbarium – A structure with niches designed to hold cremation urns.
12. Committal Service – A brief service held at the gravesite, typically after the funeral, when the body or ashes are interred.
13. Cremation – The process of reducing the body to ashes using high heat.
14. Cremation Jewelry – Jewelry designed to hold a small portion of cremated remains.
15. Cremation Urn – A container used to hold cremated remains after the cremation process.
16. Death Certificate – An official document issued by the government that states the cause, date, and location of a person’s death.
17. Direct Burial – A burial that takes place without a viewing, visitation, or formal funeral service beforehand.
18. Direct Cremation – A cremation that occurs without a formal funeral service beforehand.
19. Disinterment – The act of removing a body from its grave, typically for relocation or legal reasons.
20. Eulogy – A speech or tribute delivered in honor of the deceased, typically during a funeral or memorial service.
21. Embalming – A process used to preserve a body temporarily by injecting it with chemicals to slow down decomposition.
22. Entombment – The placement of a casketed body in a mausoleum or tomb.
23. Estate – The total property, assets, and debts left by a person at death.
24. Exhumation – The process of removing a buried body from the ground, usually for medical or legal reasons.
25. Family Car – A car, often a limousine, provided by the funeral home for family members to use during the funeral procession.
26. Floral Tribute – Flowers arranged in honor of the deceased, often displayed at the funeral service.
27. Funeral Director – A professional responsible for managing funeral arrangements, including the care of the deceased, organizing services, and handling paperwork.
28. Funeral Home – A facility where bodies are prepared for burial or cremation, and where funeral services may be held.
29. Funeral Procession – A line of vehicles following the hearse from the funeral to the burial site.
30. Grave – A hole in the ground where a body is buried.
31. Grave Liner – A structure placed around the casket in the grave to protect it from the weight of the soil.
32. Grave Marker – A plaque, headstone, or other memorial that marks the location of a grave.
33. Green Burial – A burial method where the body is not embalmed and is placed in a biodegradable casket or shroud, allowing for natural decomposition.
34. Hearse – A vehicle used to transport the body from the funeral home to the burial site.
35. Inurnment – The act of placing cremated remains into an urn.
36. Interment – The act of placing a body in a grave or tomb.
37. Living Will – A legal document that outlines a person’s wishes for medical care at the end of life, including decisions about life support.
38. Mausoleum – A building designed to house the remains of the deceased above ground.
39. Memorial Service – A ceremony held in honor of the deceased, usually without the body present.
40. Niche – A small space in a columbarium where cremation urns are placed.
41. Obituary – A written notice of a person’s death, often including a biography and details of the funeral service.
42. Pallbearers – Individuals chosen to carry or escort the casket during a funeral service.
43. Pre-Planning – Funeral arrangements made in advance of a person’s death, detailing their specific wishes for services and disposition.
44. Processional – The act of walking or driving in a formal procession, typically at the beginning of a funeral service or to the burial site.
45. Repass (Repast) – A meal or gathering held after the funeral service, often for family and close friends to celebrate and remember the deceased.
46. Sarcophogus: An ornate container that protects a coffin. No longer used in modern times.
47. Scattering Garden – A designated area in a cemetery where cremated remains can be scattered.
48. Urn Vault – A container that houses an urn, typically placed in the ground to protect it during burial.
49. Viewing – A time for family and friends to see the deceased in the casket before burial or cremation, often held before the funeral service.
50. Wake – A vigil or gathering where family and friends come together to honor and remember the deceased, often including a viewing.
51. Wreath – A circular arrangement of flowers or foliage, often used as a floral tribute at funerals.

This comprehensive list provides an overview of the terms most relevant when planning or attending a funeral, helping people navigate the process with greater ease.