Funeral and cremation terms and their meanings

Funeral Terminology

Funeral, memorial service, committal, wake, visitation, calling hours - what does it all mean? Funeral terminology can be really confusing to anyone who hasn’t had to arrange a funeral before.

You will find a list of commonly-used terminology below.

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Autopsy

A medical examination of the body of the deceased by a pathologist to determine the cause of death.

Burial permit

A legal document issued by a government office which allows for the burial of the deceased.

Columbarium

A structure, room or space that includes niches, which are recesses used for the permanent placement of cremated remains.

Committal service

The part of the service that occurs at the place of final disposition. If burial is chosen, the committal is held at the cemetery. If cremation is chosen, the committal may be at the funeral home or place of the family's choosing.

Cremation

A heating process which incinerates the remains.

Crypt

The name for the chamber of a mausoleum in which the casket is placed.

Death certificate

A legal document containing vital statistic information about the life and death of the deceased.

Eulogy

A speech given at a funeral or memorial service about the life of the deceased.

Funeral

A ceremony which honors the life of the deceased. The body of the deceased is present in a casket.

Funeral arrangements

The process of designing the funeral or memorial service and providing information for the necessary paperwork after a death occurs.

Funeral program

Also known as a service folder or memorial folder, this provides information about the deceased and the funeral service. It is handed out to guests at the service.

General Price List

A document published by our funeral home which lists the retail prices of goods and services.

Honorarium

A payment given as a token of appreciation by the family to the minister or officiant of a funeral or memorial service.

Honorary pallbearer

Also known as an honorary casket bearer, these are friends or members of an organization or group who act as an escort or honor guard for the deceased. They do not carry the casket.

Interment

The act of placing the body of the deceased in the ground; burial.

Inurnment

The act of placing cremated remains into an urn.

Mausoleum

A building or structure found at a cemetery which contains several crypts or vaults in which caskets are permanently placed.

Memorial folder

Also known as a service folder or funeral program, this provides information about the deceased and the funeral service. It is handed out to guests at the service.

Memorial service

A service to honor the life of the deceased at which the body is not present. (Cremated remains may be present in a cremation urn.)

Mourning

An adjustment process which expresses grief or sorrow and reorganizes life after a loss.

Niche

A recess inside a columbarium used for the permanent placement of cremated remains.

Obituary

A published notice, usually in the newspaper or online, that gives a biographical sketch of the deceased. The obituary also provides information about the funeral or memorial service and the visitation.

Perpetual care

An arrangement made by the cemetery whereby funds are set aside from each purchase. The income from these funds is used to care for and maintain the cemetery plot indefinitely.

Postlude

The music played at the close of the service.

Prearranged funeral

A funeral in which arrangements were completed before the time of need, whether by the deceased themself or a representative.

Prelude

The music played prior to a service.

Procession

The movement of the funeral from one location to another, such as from the funeral home to the cemetery.

Register book

A keepsake book signed by guests who attend the visitation or service.

State

As in "lie in state"; a time when the deceased is placed on public view so that family and guests can pay tribute to and honor the lost loved one.

Survivor

One who lives longer than another person. Surviving family members are often listed in the obituary.

Urn

A container which holds cremated remains. Urns come in many different styles and material types.

Visitation

Also known as calling hours, this is a time prior to the service for family and friends to gather at the funeral home or the family's residence to pay their respects.

Widow

A woman who has lost a spouse through death.

Widower

A man who has lost a spouse through death.

Autopsy

A medical examination of the body of the deceased by a pathologist to determine the cause of death.

Burial permit

A legal document issued by a government office which allows for the burial of the deceased.

Columbarium

A structure, room or space that includes niches, which are recesses used for the permanent placement of cremated remains.

Committal service

Cremation

A heating process which incinerates the remains.

Crypt

The name for the chamber of a mausoleum in which the casket is placed.

Death certificate

A legal document containing vital statistic information about the life and death of the deceased.

Eulogy

A speech given at a funeral or memorial service about the life of the deceased.

Funeral

A ceremony which honors the life of the deceased. The body of the deceased is present in a casket.

Funeral arrangements

The process of designing the funeral or memorial service and providing information for the necessary paperwork after a death occurs.

Funeral program

Also known as a service folder or memorial folder, this provides information about the deceased and the funeral service. It is handed out to guests at the service.

Honorarium

A payment given as a token of appreciation by the family to the minister or officiant of a funeral or memorial service.

Honorary pallbearer

Also known as an honorary casket bearer, these are friends or members of an organization or group who act as an escort or honor guard for the deceased. They do not carry the casket.

Interment

The act of placing the body of the deceased in the ground; burial.

Inurnment

The act of placing cremated remains into an urn.

Mausoleum

A building or structure found at a cemetery which contains several crypts or vaults in which caskets are permanently placed.

Memorial folder

Also known as a service folder or funeral program, this provides information about the deceased and the funeral service. It is handed out to guests at the service.

Memorial service

A service to honor the life of the deceased at which the body is not present. (Cremated remains may be present in a cremation urn.)

Mourning

An adjustment process which expresses grief or sorrow and reorganizes life after a loss.

Niche

A recess inside a columbarium used for the permanent placement of cremated remains.

Obituary

Perpetual care

An arrangement made by the cemetery whereby funds are set aside from each purchase. The income from these funds is used to care for and maintain the cemetery plot indefinitely.

Perpetual care

An arrangement made by the cemetery whereby funds are set aside from each purchase. The income from these funds is used to care for and maintain the cemetery plot indefinitely.

Postlude

The music played at the close of the service.

Prearranged funeral

A funeral in which arrangements were completed before the time of need, whether by the deceased themself or a representative.

Prelude

The music played prior to a service.

Procession

The movement of the funeral from one location to another, such as from the funeral home to the cemetery.

Register book

A keepsake book signed by guests who attend the visitation or service.

State

As in "lie in state"; a time when the deceased is placed on public view so that family and guests can pay tribute to and honor the lost loved one.

Survivor

One who lives longer than another person. Surviving family members are often listed in the obituary.

Urn

A container which holds cremated remains. Urns come in many different styles and material types.

Visitation

Also known as calling hours, this is a time prior to the service for family and friends to gather at the funeral home or the family's residence to pay their respects.

Widow

A woman who has lost a spouse through death.

Widower

A man who has lost a spouse through death.

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