Glossary

Navigating the world of Funeral Care, Funeral Needs, and Funeral Questions can be confusing. The Valedictory has compiled this comprehensive glossary to help families and professionals alike understand the terminology used throughout end-of-life planning, services, and memorialization.

A

Aftercare: Definition: Ongoing support and resources provided to the bereaved following a funeral, memorial, or cremation. Services may include grief counseling referrals, support groups, and practical guidance on paperwork.
See also: Grief Counseling; Support Group.
Alkaline Hydrolysis: Definition: A disposition method using water, alkaline chemicals, heat, and gentle circulation to reduce remains to bone and liquid, sometimes called “water cremation.” It is legal in select jurisdictions and results are processed similarly to flame cremation.
Synonyms: Water Cremation, Resomation.
Alternative Container: Definition: A simple, non-ornamental container (often cardboard or fiberboard) used for cremation in place of a traditional casket. It satisfies crematory requirements and is typically the most economical enclosure.
See also: Cremation; Casket.

B

Biodegradable Urn: Definition: An urn made from materials that naturally break down (e.g., paper, salt, sand, cornstarch) for eco-conscious burial or scattering. Used in ground, sea, or memorial garden settings.
Body Donation: Definition: The gifting of one’s body to a medical school or research program for education or science. Reputable programs handle transportation and final disposition, often returning cremated remains to the family after studies conclude.
Burial Vault: Definition: A lined outer burial container placed in the grave to support the earth and help maintain cemetery grounds. Requirements vary by cemetery; it is not mandated by law in many areas.
See also: Outer Burial Container; Grave Liner.

C

Catafalque: Definition: A raised platform or bier on which a casket or coffin rests during visitation, funeral, or state services. It provides a dignified focal point for viewing and honors.
Committal Service: Definition: A brief graveside or mausoleum ceremony where the remains are formally committed to their final resting place. Clergy, celebrants, or family may offer prayers, readings, or military honors.
See also: Interment; Entombment.
Cremation: Definition: A disposition method using high heat to reduce remains to bone fragments, which are then processed into cremated remains. Authorization and identification procedures are governed by state or local law.
See also: Urn; Scattering.

D

Death Certificate: Definition: The official record of death issued by government authorities listing cause, manner, and vital statistics. Certified copies are required for estate settlement, insurance claims, and other legal purposes.
Direct Cremation: Definition: Cremation that occurs shortly after death without a viewing or formal ceremony beforehand. Families may hold a memorial service later with or without the cremated remains present.
Disposition: Definition: The legally recognized final handling of human remains, such as burial, cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, or natural organic reduction. Authorized next of kin or agent makes disposition decisions per law.
See also: Next of Kin; Authorization.

E

Embalming: Definition: A temporary preservation and sanitation process using chemical solutions to slow decomposition and improve appearance for viewing. It is not legally required except under certain circumstances (e.g., extended delay, transport) and by some facility policies.
Entombment: Definition: Placement of a casket or urn in a crypt or niche within a mausoleum. Often accompanied by a committal service at the mausoleum chapel or crypt front.
Eulogy: Definition: A tribute speech honoring the life, character, and legacy of the deceased. Delivered by a family member, friend, clergy, or celebrant during a funeral or memorial service.

F

Full-Service Funeral: Definition: A traditional sequence including professional care of the deceased, visitation/viewing, formal ceremony, procession, and burial or cremation. May include additional rites such as religious services or military honors.
Funeral Director: Definition: A licensed professional who coordinates care of the deceased, arranges ceremonies, manages legal documents, and supports families through planning and aftercare. Also called a mortician or undertaker.
Synonyms: Mortician, Undertaker.
Funeral Procession: Definition: The escorted line of vehicles traveling from the funeral venue to the cemetery or crematory. Local traffic laws and customs guide right-of-way and safety protocols.
Synonyms: Cortege.

G

Grave Liner: Definition: An outer burial container, typically unsealed, placed around the casket to support the grave. Often required by cemeteries to reduce ground settling.
See also: Burial Vault; Outer Burial Container.
Green Burial: Definition: A burial emphasizing environmental stewardship, typically avoiding embalming chemicals and using biodegradable containers or shrouds. Conducted in conventional or conservation cemeteries with minimal environmental impact.
Grave Opening and Closing: Definition: Cemetery services that include preparing the grave, setting the outer burial container (if used), and refilling/finishing the site after committal. Fees vary by cemetery policies and day/time of service.

H

Hearse: Definition: A specialized vehicle designed to transport a casket or coffin to and from services. Also known as a funeral coach.
Home Funeral: Definition: Family- or community-directed care of the body and ceremonies at home, within legal guidelines. May include vigil, washing, dressing, and private farewell rituals.
See also: Vigil; Shroud.
Honor Guard: Definition: A ceremonial team, often military or law enforcement, that performs rites such as flag folding, presentation, and Taps. Available to eligible veterans and public servants.

I

Immediate Burial: Definition: Burial that takes place shortly after death without viewing or formal ceremonies. Families may plan a graveside or memorial event later.
Interment: Definition: The act of placing remains in their final resting place in the ground. The term can also encompass placement of cremated remains in a grave.
See also: Committal Service; Inurnment.
Inurnment: Definition: The placement of cremated remains into an urn and into a niche or grave. Often accompanied by a brief committal or dedication.

J

Janazah (Salat al-Janazah): Definition: The Islamic funeral prayer offered in congregation to seek mercy for the deceased. It is performed without prostration and precedes burial.
Joss Paper: Definition: Paper offerings burned in some East and Southeast Asian funeral traditions to honor ancestors and provide symbolic goods in the afterlife. Practices vary by culture and family custom.
Joint Memorial Service: Definition: A single ceremony honoring two or more individuals, often spouses or family members. Can be scheduled when deaths occur close in time or when families wish to commemorate together.

K

Kaddish: Definition: A Jewish prayer recited by mourners that sanctifies life and affirms faith. Traditionally recited during the mourning period and on yahrzeit.
See also: Yahrzeit; Shiva.
Keepsake Urn: Definition: A small urn designed to hold a portion of cremated remains for sharing among family or for keepsakes. Available in many designs, including jewelry and mini-urns.
Synonyms: Mini-Urn, Keepsake Jewelry.
Keening: Definition: A traditional vocal lament expressing grief, historically associated with Irish funerals. Modern observances may incorporate readings, songs, or personal expressions of mourning.

L

Life Celebration: Definition: A personalized memorial event focusing on storytelling, music, and memories rather than formal ritual. Often held without the body present and tailored to the honoree’s life and values.
Synonyms: Celebration of Life.
Living Will: Definition: An advance directive stating medical treatment preferences if a person becomes unable to communicate. While not a funeral document, it often informs end-of-life decisions that impact post-death care.
See also: Pre-Need Arrangements; Next of Kin.
Livery Vehicle: Definition: Chauffeured vehicles provided for family and pallbearers, such as limousines or sedans, during funeral events. Coordinated as part of the procession and service logistics.

M

Mausoleum: Definition: A building or structure housing crypts and niches for entombment and inurnment. May include chapels, visitation spaces, and climate control.
Memorial Service: Definition: A ceremony honoring a life after the disposition has occurred, typically without the body present. Can be held in a funeral home, place of worship, home, or outdoors.
See also: Life Celebration.
Military Funeral Honors: Definition: Ceremonial rites for eligible service members, including the folding and presentation of the flag and the playing of Taps. Coordinated through the Department of Defense and local funeral providers.

N

Natural Organic Reduction (NOR): Definition: A regulated process that transforms human remains into soil through controlled aerobic decomposition. Legal in select jurisdictions and considered an eco-friendly disposition.
Synonyms: Human Composting.
Niche: Definition: A recessed compartment in a columbarium or mausoleum designed to hold an urn. Fronts may be glass, marble, or bronze, with engraving or plaques.
See also: Inurnment; Columbarium.
Next of Kin: Definition: The legally recognized person(s) with authority to make funeral and disposition decisions when no agent is designated. The order of priority is defined by state or local law.

O

Obituary: Definition: A public notice of death that may include biographical details, service information, and memorial donation preferences. Published in newspapers, online platforms, or funeral home websites.
Ossuary: Definition: A receptacle or chamber for collected skeletal remains after initial burial or decomposition. Traditionally used in some cultures to conserve space.
Outer Burial Container: Definition: A general term for products like vaults and liners that surround a casket in the grave to support the earth. Cemetery rules, not law, most often drive their use.
See also: Burial Vault; Grave Liner.

P

Pallbearer: Definition: An individual who carries or escorts the casket during services. May be honorary (symbolic) or active (lifting and carrying).
Pre-Need Arrangements: Definition: Planning and, sometimes, funding funeral services in advance. Ensures wishes are recorded and can help control costs and reduce stress for survivors.
See also: Living Will; Trust.
Prayer Card: Definition: A small memorial card distributed at services with a photo, dates, poem, scripture, or prayer. Serves as a keepsake for attendees.
Synonyms: Memorial Card.

Q

Quaker Memorial Meeting: Definition: A Friends (Quaker) gathering held in silent worship, where attendees speak as moved to honor the deceased. Highly participatory and reflective, often without formal officiants.
Quarantine Clearance (Human Remains): Definition: Public health authorization required for international shipment of remains, ensuring compliance with disease control and documentation standards. Often coordinated with consulates and airlines.
QR Memorial Plaque: Definition: A grave or marker plaque with a QR code linking to an online obituary or tribute page. Provides digital storytelling and remote access to memorial content.
See also: Obituary; Memorial Service.

R

Refrigeration: Definition: The use of controlled cooling to temporarily slow postmortem changes when embalming is not chosen or permitted. Often required by law after a set time post-death.
Repatriation of Remains: Definition: The process of returning a deceased person to their home country or state for services or disposition. Involves permits, consular documents, and specialized preparation/packaging.
Rosary Vigil: Definition: A Catholic prayer service, often held the evening before the funeral, during which the Rosary is recited for the deceased. May be combined with viewing or visitation.

S

Scattering: Definition: The dispersal of cremated remains in a meaningful place, subject to local laws and permissions. Options include sea, private land (with consent), parks, or scattering gardens.
See also: Biodegradable Urn.
Shroud: Definition: A cloth used to wrap the body for burial, commonly in green or religious burials. Can be used with a simple board or biodegradable tray.
Sympathy Flowers: Definition: Floral tributes sent to honor the deceased and comfort the bereaved. Displayed at visitation, funeral, or graveside, and sometimes repurposed after the service.

T

Temporary Urn: Definition: A basic container provided by a crematory to hold cremated remains until a permanent urn is selected. Often made of plastic or cardboard with a secure liner.
Tomb: Definition: A structure or chamber for the burial of the dead, above or below ground. May refer broadly to mausoleums, crypts, or historic burial sites.
Transit Permit: Definition: A legal document authorizing the transport of human remains or cremated remains across jurisdictions. Also called a burial-transit permit and typically issued after filing the death certificate.

U

Undertaker: Definition: A historical term for a funeral director who undertakes the responsibility for funeral arrangements. Still used colloquially in some regions.
See also: Funeral Director.
Unembalmed Burial: Definition: Burial of the body without chemical preservation, relying on prompt timing, refrigeration, or religious/green burial practices. Permissibility and timing requirements vary by jurisdiction.
Urn: Definition: A vessel designed to hold cremated remains for display, burial, inurnment, or scattering. Available in various materials, sizes, and styles, including companion and keepsake sizes.

V

Vault: Definition: A robust outer burial container, often sealed, used to support the grave and reduce ground settling. Its use is typically a cemetery requirement rather than a legal mandate.
See also: Grave Liner; Outer Burial Container.
Veterans Burial Benefits: Definition: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits that may include burial in a national cemetery, a government-furnished headstone or marker, a burial flag, and military honors. Eligibility depends on service and discharge status.
Visitation (Viewing): Definition: A scheduled time for family and friends to gather, offer condolences, and, if chosen, view the deceased. May be held at a funeral home, place of worship, or home.
Synonyms: Wake, Calling Hours.

W

Wake: Definition: A social gathering before the funeral or memorial where mourners share memories and support the family. In some traditions, it includes prayers, readings, or the Rosary.
See also: Visitation; Rosary Vigil.
Witnessed Cremation: Definition: A cremation where family members are present for the start of the process, honoring cultural or personal wishes for participation. Scheduling and safety procedures are coordinated with the crematory.
Woodland Burial: Definition: A type of green burial conducted in a forested or conservation cemetery with native plantings and minimal markers. Emphasizes ecological restoration and natural memorialization.

X

X-Ray Identification: Definition: The forensic comparison of radiographic images (e.g., dental or skeletal) to confirm identity when visual identification is not possible. Used in medical examiner cases and some authorization processes.
Xeriscape Memorial Garden: Definition: A memorial garden designed with drought-tolerant plants and water-efficient landscaping. Often chosen in arid regions or by eco-conscious families.
Xyloid Coffin (Archaic): Definition: A rarely used term referring to a wooden coffin. Not common in modern practice but encountered in historical texts.
Context: Historical/antiquarian usage.

Y

Yahrzeit: Definition: The Jewish anniversary of a death, observed annually with candle lighting, prayers, and remembrance. Families may visit the grave and recite Kaddish.
See also: Yizkor; Kaddish.
Yizkor: Definition: A Jewish memorial prayer recited on specific holy days to remember the deceased. Often accompanied by charitable giving in the loved one’s memory.
Youth Memorialization: Definition: Age-appropriate rituals and keepsakes designed for grieving children and teens, such as memory tables, handprints, or art. Supports healthy participation in mourning.

Z

Zen Memorial Garden: Definition: A minimalist memorial space emphasizing tranquility, natural materials, and contemplative design. Used for reflection, scattering areas, or niche settings.
Zinc Liner: Definition: A hermetic metal liner historically used inside caskets or shipping cases to meet transport requirements. Now less common due to modern embalming and regulatory alternatives.
Zoroastrian Funeral Rites: Definition: Traditions emphasizing purity and the separation of elements; historically included exposure in a dakhma (Tower of Silence) where lawful. Modern practice varies by region and local law.

For personalized guidance or questions about any term, please contact The Valedictory: https://thevaledictory.com/contact-us/.