Funeral Industry Definitions and Glossary of Terms

Advance Directive

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ədˈvæns dəˈrɛktɪv/
• Definition: A legal document that outlines a person's wishes regarding medical treatment if they are no longer able to communicate.
• Etymology: The term combines "advance" (from Latin "advantia," meaning "forward") and "directive" (from Latin "directivus," meaning "to guide or manage").

Burial

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ˈbɛriəl/
• Definition: The act of placing a deceased person into the ground.
• Etymology: Derived from the Old English "byrgan," meaning "to conceal or protect".

Burial Plot

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ˈbɛriəl plɑt/
• Definition: A designated piece of land in a cemetery for burying the deceased.
• Etymology: "Plot" from Old English "plot," meaning "a small piece of ground".

Burial Vault (Casket Vault)

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ˈbɛriəl vɔlt/
• Definition: A lined and sealed outer container that houses the casket in the ground.
• Etymology: "Vault" originates from Latin "volutus," meaning "to turn or roll".

Casket

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ˈkæskɪt/
• Definition: A container in which a deceased person is buried. See also "Coffins"
• Etymology: From the Old French "cassette," a diminutive of "casse," meaning "box".

Cemetery

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ˈsɛmɪˌtɛri/
• Definition: A place where the dead are buried.
• Etymology: From Greek "koimeterion," meaning "sleeping place".

Coffin

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ˈkɒfɪn/
• Definition: A container for a deceased person, typically more anthropoid in shape compared to a casket. See also "Casket"
• Etymology: From Old French "cofin," meaning "basket".

Columbarium

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ˌkɒləmˈbɛəriəm/
• Definition: A building with niches for storing urns containing cremated remains.
• Etymology: From Latin "columba," meaning "dove," as these structures were originally dovecotes.

Condolence

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /kənˈdoʊləns/
• Definition: Express sympathy for the loss of a loved one.
• Etymology: "Condolence" from Latin "condolere," meaning "to suffer together"
• Variations:
• Condolence Gift
• Condolence Flowers

Cremation

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /kriːˈmeɪʃən/
• Definition: The process of burning a deceased body into ashes.
• Etymology: From Latin "cremare," meaning "to burn".

Cremation Garden (Scattering Garden)

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /kriːˈmeɪʃən ˈɡɑrdən/
• Definition: A designated area in a cemetery where cremated remains can be scattered.
• Etymology: "Garden" from Old Norse "gardr," meaning "enclosure".

Cremation Urn

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /kriːˈmeɪʃən ɜrn/
• Definition: A container used to hold cremated remains.
• Etymology: See "Cremation" and "Urn".

Crypt

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /krɪpt/
• Definition: An underground room or vault beneath a church, used as a burial place.
• Etymology: From Greek "kryptos," meaning "hidden".

Direct Cremation

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /dəˈrɛkt kriˈmeɪʃən/
• Definition: A cremation process without a preceding funeral service.
• Etymology: See "Cremation".

Double-Depth Burial Plot

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ˈdʌbəl dɛpθ ˈbɛriəl plɑt/
• Definition: A burial plot where two caskets are buried one above the other.
• Etymology: "Double" from Latin "duplus," meaning "twofold".

Embalming

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ɛmˈbɑːmɪŋ/
• Definition: The process of preserving a deceased body using chemicals.
• Etymology: From Middle French "embaumer," meaning "to put balm around".

Eulogy

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ˈjuːlədʒi/
• Definition: A speech given at a funeral in praise of the deceased.
• Etymology: From Greek "eulogia," meaning "praise".

Exhumation

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ˌɛkshjuːˈmeɪʃən/
• Definition: The act of digging up a buried body.
• Etymology: From Latin "exhumare," meaning "to remove from the ground".

Family Plot

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ˈfæmɪli plɑt/
• Definition: A section of a cemetery reserved for members of the same family.
• Etymology: "Plot" from Old English "plot," meaning "a small piece of ground".

Flat Headstone

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /flæt ˈhɛdstəʊn/
• Definition: A grave marker that lies flat on the ground.
• Etymology: "Headstone" from Old English "heafodstán," meaning "stone at the head of a grave".

Flower Spray

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ˈflaʊər spreɪ/
• Definition: An arrangement of flowers used for funerals or memorial services, typically laid on top of the casket.
• Etymology: "Spray" from Old English "spræg," meaning "a small branch".

Funeral

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ˈfjʊnərəl/
• Definition: A ceremony honoring and remembering a deceased person.
• Etymology: From Latin "funus," meaning "funeral rites".

Funeral Flowers (Burial Flowers)

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ˈfjʊnərəl ˈflaʊərz/
• Definition: Flowers used in a funeral service to honor the deceased.
• Etymology: "Flower" from Old French "flor," meaning "blossom".

Funeral Music

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ˈfjʊnərəl ˈmjuːzɪk/
• Definition: Music played during a funeral ceremony.
• Etymology: "Music" from Greek "mousike," meaning "art of the Muses".

Funeral Planning

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ˈfjʊnərəl ˈplænɪŋ/
• Definition: The process of arranging a funeral.
• Etymology: "Planning" from Latin "planus," meaning "flat" or "level".

Funeral Director

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ˈfjʊnərəl dəˈrɛktər/
• Definition: A professional who manages funeral services and provides support to the bereaved.
• Etymology: "Director" from Latin "dirigere," meaning "to guide"​.

Funeral Home

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ˈfjʊnərəl hoʊm/
• Definition: A facility where a body is prepared for funeral and disposition, and where the body can be viewed by friends and family.
• Etymology: "Home" from Old English "ham," meaning "dwelling"​​.

Grave

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ɡreɪv/
• Definition: A hole dug in the ground for the burial of a deceased person.
• Etymology: From Old English "græf," meaning "a trench or ditch".

Grave Marker

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ɡreɪv ˈmɑrkər/
• Definition: A stone or plaque that marks a grave.
• Etymology: "Marker" from Old English "mearc," meaning "boundary or sign"​​.

Green Burial

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ɡrin ˈbɛriəl/
• Definition: A burial process that uses no chemicals, casket, or burial vault, and is carried out in a cemetery that uses no artificial pesticides.
• Etymology: "Green" from Old English "grene," meaning "to grow"​.

Hearse

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /hɜrs/
• Definition: A vehicle for transporting the casket during a funeral.
• Etymology: From Middle English "herse," meaning "a framework for candles".

Headstone

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ˈhɛdstəʊn/
• Definition: An upright marker placed at the head of a grave. See Signature Headstones
• Etymology: Combination of "head" and "stone"​.

Interment

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ɪnˈtɜrmənt/
• Definition: The act of burying a body in a grave.
• Etymology: From Medieval Latin "intermentum," meaning "to place in the earth"​​.

Inurnment

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ɪnˈɜrnmənt/
• Definition: The placement of cremated remains into an urn.
• Etymology: "In-" meaning "into" and "urn"​.

Mausoleum

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ˌmɔsəˈliəm/
• Definition: An above-ground building used to house one or more deceased.
• Etymology: Named after Mausolus, an ancient Persian satrap, whose tomb was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World​.

Memorial Service

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /məˈmɔriəl ˈsɜrvɪs/
• Definition: A ceremony to honor the deceased without the body present.
• Etymology: "Memorial" from Latin "memoria," meaning "memory."

Niche

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /nɪtʃ/
• Definition: A small compartment in a columbarium for storing an urn.
• Etymology: From Old French "nicher," meaning "to nest."

Plot

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /plɑt/
• Definition: A specific piece of land within a cemetery designated for burial.
• Etymology: From Old English "plot," meaning "a small piece of ground."

Pre-Need

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /priː-niːd/
• Definition: Arrangements made in advance for funeral services. See Overnight Caskets
• Etymology: "Pre-" meaning "before" and "need."

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ˈtüm-ˌstōn/
• Definition: See Headstone
• Etymology: From the Greek words tymbos, which means "burial mound", and stia, which means "pebble". 

Urn

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /ɜrn/
• Definition: A container used to hold cremated remains.
• Etymology: From Latin "urna," meaning "a vessel."

Wake

• Phonetic Pronunciation: /weɪk/
• Definition: A social gathering associated with death, traditionally held before the funeral where family and friends can pay their respects to the deceased.
• Etymology: From Old English "wacu," meaning "watch" or "vigil," referring to the act of staying awake to watch over the deceased​