Funeral Directing Flashcards
Acknowledgment Cards
thank you cards
Acolyte
an alter attendant
Adaptive funeral rite
a funeral rite that is adjusted to the needs and wants of those directly involved
Aftercare (Post funeral follow-up)
those appropriate and helpful acts of counseling, personal and/or written contact that come after the funeral.
Allah
in the Islam faith, the name for God
Altar
an elevated place or structure on which sacrifices are offered or at which religious rites are performed; in the Christian faith, a table on which the Eucharist or Holy Communion is offered.
Alternative container
an unfinished wood box or other non-metal receptacle or enclosure, without ornamentation or a fixed interior lining, which is designed for the encasement of human remains and which is made of fiberboard, pressed-wood, composition materials (with or without an outside covering) or like materials.
Apostille
certification/legalization of a document for international use (under terms of the 1961 Hague Convention)
Archbishop
in the Roman Catholic faith, the head of an archdiocese
Aron
Hebrew meaning container; a casket made entirely of wood with no metal parts.
Arrangement conference
the meeting between the funeral director and the client family during which funeral arrangements are discussed, and may refer to pre-need or at-need situations
At need
when a death has occurred
Bishop
leader of multiple churches in a particular denomination;
in the Roman Catholic faith, the head of a diocese;
in the LDS faith, Bishop of the ward is leader of a single congregation.
Bonze
the title of the Buddhist priest
Book of Dates
term used in the Buddhist faith to describe a calendar that is used to determine an accurate time for casketing the deceased, services and disposition.
Brother
in the Roman Catholic faith, a man who is a member of a religious order without being ordained.
Brotherhood
relating to a social or religious organization
Burial (Interment / Inhumement)
the act of placing the dead human body in the ground.
Burial-Transit Permit (Disposition Permit)
a legal document, issued by a governmental agency, authorizing transportation and/or disposition of a dead human body.
Calling hours
Also called Visitation / Visiting hours. Time set aside for friends and relatives to pay respect for the deceased prior to the funeral service.
Cantor
a religious singer who assists the clergy; one who assists the Rabbi in the Jewish faith; or one who assists the priest in the Eastern Orthodox faith.
Cardinal
in the Roman Catholic faith, Bishops who have the right to participate in a Papal election.
Cash Advance
any item of service or merchandise described to a purchaser as a “cash advance,” “accommodation,” “cash disbursement,” or similar term. A cash advance item is also any item obtained from a third party and paid for by the funeral provider on the purchaser’s behalf. Cash advance items may include, but are not limited to: cemetery or crematory services; pallbearers; public transportation; clergy honoraria; flowers; musicians or singers; nurses; obituary notices; gratuities and death certificates.
Casketbearer (Pallbearer)
one who actively bears or carries the casket during the funeral service and at the committal service.
Celebrant
a person who officiates at a ceremony or rite; the officiant who celebrates the Mass in the Roman Catholic Church
Cemetery
an area of ground set aside and dedicated for the final disposition of dead human remains
Certified copy of a death certificate
a legal copy of the original death certificate
Chancel
the portion of the church surrounding the altar, usually enclosing the clergy; area behind the altar or communion rail.
Chapel
a building or designated area of a building in which services are conducted.
Chaplain
a person chosen to conduct religious exercises for the military, the chapel of an institution or a fraternal organization.
Chevrah Kadisha
Hebrew meaning “Holy Society”; a group of men or women from the Synagogue who care for the dead; they may be referred to by laymen as the “washers”; in the past, took care of all funeral arrangements and preparations for Jewish funerals.
Christian Burial Certificate
(Christian Burial Permit, Priest Lines) a letter or form from a priest stating the eligibility of the deceased for burial in a Roman Catholic Cemetery.
Columbarium
a structure, room or space in a mausoleum or other building containing niches or recesses used to hold cremated remains.
Committal service
that portion of the funeral which is conducted at the place of disposition of dead human bodies.
Common carrier
any carrier required by law to convey passengers or freight without refusal if the approved fare or charge is paid (airline, train, etc.)
Contemporary funeral rite
funeral observances that reflect present day (modern) influences in lieu of (or in addition to or as part of) the traditional ceremonies.
Coroner
a public officer whose chief duty is to investigate questionable deaths. (Also see: Medical Examiner)
Cortege
historical reference for funeral procession
Cot
a portable stretcher commonly employed in a transfer vehicle for the moving of the deceased.
Cremated remains (cremains)
the result of the reduction of a dead to inorganic bone fragments by intense heat.
Cremation
the reduction of a dead human body to inorganic bone fragments by intense heat in a specifically designed retort or chamber.
Crematory (Crematorium)
a furnace or retort for cremating dead human bodies; a building that houses a retort.
Cross
a religious emblem consisting of two plain bars which intersect at right angles to each other.
Crucifer/Crossbearer
one who carries the crucifix/cross during an ecclesiastical procession.
Crucifix
a cross with a figure or image representing the body of Christ (Corpus).
Crypt
a chamber in a mausoleum, of sufficient size, generally used to contain the casketed remains of a deceased person.
Deacon
a subordinate officer in a Christian church.
Death Certificate
a legal document containing vital statistics, disposition, and final medical information pertaining to the deceased.
Death Notice
usually a classified notice publicizing the death of a person and giving those details of the funeral service that the survivors wish to have published.
Deceased
a dead human body
Dentures
false teeth
Department of Veterans Affairs or VA (previously known as Veterans Administration)
a federal agency that administers benefits provided for veterans of the armed forces.
Diocese
in the Roman Catholic faith, a geographical grouping of parishes under the jurisdiction of a Bishop.
Direct Cremation
disposition of a human body by cremations, without formal viewing, visitation or ceremony with the body present. [16 CFR 453(g)]
Direct Disposition
any method of disposition of the human remains without formal viewing, visitation or ceremony with the body present.
Dismissal
procedures or invitation intended to facilitate an organized departure.
Disposition Permit
Burial Transit Permit
Divine Liturgy
liturgical celebration of the Eucharist in Eastern Orthodox churches.
Ecclesiastic
pertaining to the church or clergy.
El Malei Rachamin
in the Jewish faith, a memorial service; literally “God full of compassion”; usually the last prayer of the funeral service; sometimes referred to as the Malei.
Elder
governing officer of a church, often having pastoral or teaching functions; specific duties dependent upon various denominations
Elegy
song or poem expressing sorrow or lamentation for the dead.
Entombment
the placing of remains in a crypt in a mausoleum
Epitaph
a commemorative inscription on a tomb or cemetery marker.
Escort
a leader(s) of the procession or guardian of the group, such as a military escort, police escort, etc.
Eucharist
the consecrated elements of Holy Communion.
Eucharistic Minister
layperson sanctioned to administer Holy Communion and other assigned tasks.
Eulogy
an oration praising an individual, usually after death.
Final Commendation
in the Roman Catholic faith, the ending portion of the Funeral Mass
First Call
funeral home receives notification of death
Forwarding remains
one of the categories required to be itemized on the GPL (if the funeral provider offers the service). This involves services of the funeral provider in the locale where death occurs and preparation for transfer to another funeral provider as selected by the family (consumer). Funeral Rule requires package pricing of this service with a description of the components included.
Foyer (Lobby, Narthex, Vestibule)
the entry way, funeral home or other public building; entrance hall.
Fraternal
relating to a social organization
Funeral arrangements
the term applied to the completing of the service and financial details of a funeral
Funeral Liturgy (Funeral Mass)
the name of the funeral service in the Roman Catholic Church.
Funeral procession
the movement of vehicles from the place of the funeral to the place of the disposition.
Funeral rites
any funeral event performed
Funeral service
the rites held at the time of disposition of human remain, with the body present.
Gatha
the first two and last two verses of a Buddhist hymn sung at the funeral service
General Price List (GPL)
a printed list of goods and services offered for sale by funeral providers with retail prices. GPL is considered the keystone of the Funeral Rule.
Genuflect
the act of bending the right knee as an indication of reverence or as an act of humility
Gratuity (tip)
gift or small sum of money tendered for a service provided.
Grave
an excavation in the earth as a placement for interment; interment space.
Grave straps
webbing or similar material used for lowering the casket into the grave.
Graveside service
a ceremony or ritual, religious or otherwise, conducted at the grave.
Great Panachida (Parastas)
vigil service associated with eastern Orthodox funerals
“Green”
ecologically friendly
Guaranteed contract
an agreement where the funeral home promises that the services and merchandise will be provided at the time of need for a sum not exceeding the original amount of the contract plus any accruals, regardless of the cost current prices associated with of providing the services and merchandise at the time of the funeral.
Hesped
in the Jewish faith, a eulogy or true evaluation of the deceased’s life that is a part of the funeral service.
Holy Water
water blessed by a priest