Glossary of Terms

Consumer education plays an essential role in funeral pre-planning. Without sufficient knowledge, the task of selecting the elements of your funeral is an overwhelming prospect. Contributing to this difficulty is the fact that the world of funerals and funeral planning is often perceived as morbid and somewhat mysterious. Much of this impression is largely due to the fact that the subject of death is frequently addressed tentatively, and with a great deal of discomfort. Furthermore, most dialogue concerning death and funerals occurs after death, when emotions are the most fragile. For these reasons, we at Good Life Consultants have compiled a helpful " Glossary of Terms" which will serve to define and explain both common and obscure terms encountered when planning a funeral.

Glossary of Terms -

Burial:
The act of placing the body in an underground grave; also called interment.
Burial Certificate:
A legal document obtained from the local government that gives authorization for burial; also called a burial permit.
Casket:
A container in which the body is placed for burial. They come in varying materials, such as metal, wood, and plastic.
Casket Coach:
A hearse, or a vehicle designed specifically to transport the casket from the funeral service to the cemetery.
Catafalque:
A stand upon which the casket rests during the funeral service.
Certified Death Certificate:
A government-issued copy of the death certificate, which is issued upon request in order to verify various claims, such as those pertaining to insurance.
Columbarium:
A wall or structure containing niches, or small spaces, in which an urn may be placed.
Cremains:
The remains of a body that has been cremated.
Cremation:
The process of reducing the body to small bone fragments and ash by means of extreme heat.
Crematory:
A specialized furnace used to cremate human remains.
Cortege:
The funeral procession
Cremation Permit:
A legal document obtained from the local government that gives authorization for cremation.
Death Certificate:
A legal document that states the cause of death as well as other vital statistics, which is signed by the assisting physician.
Embalming:
Circulating chemical preservatives and antiseptics through a dead body, in a process of preservation.
Embalming Fluid:
The fluid preservative inserted into the veins and arteries of a body.
Entombment:
Placing the body in a casket in an above ground structure, such as a mausoleum.
Grave Liner:
A container in which the casket is placed to protect the casket, as well as to prevent ground settling after burial. These liners may be made of concrete, metal, or wood.
Grave Marker:
A monument made of permanent material, such as metal or stone, which identifies the occupant of a grave and notes the dates of birth and death.
Graveside Service:
A service held at the gravesite, just prior to burial.
Interment:
Earth burial of the body in a grave.
Mausoleum:
A building designed to entomb bodies above ground.
Memorial Service:
A service to honor and remember the dead, without the body present.
Niche:
A small space cut into a wall in which an urn may be placed.
Pallbearers:
A group of people selected to carry the casket (if necessary) during the funeral service. Many times these individuals are family and friends of the deceased.
Plot:
An area of ground in a cemetery owned by an individual or a family, for the purpose of earth burial.
Procession:
The transport of the casket and funeral attendees from the funeral location to the cemetery.
Urn:
A small container that may be made of wood, stone, or metal, in which the cremated remains are kept.
Visitation:
A time that typically occurs at the funeral home, during which the body is present, and family and friends may pay their respects and offer comfort to the family.