DEFINITIONS
This page contains the definitions and illustrations to many of the terms we frequently use in the funeral industry.
Alternative
Container -
A
non-metal receptacle or enclosure, without ornamentation or a fixed interior
lining, designed for the encasement of human remains and made of cardboard,
pressed wood, composition material, pouches of canvas or other material.
Bereaved
-
To leave in a sad
and lonely state, as in death.
Bronze
-
A metal alloy consisting of 90%
copper with tin and sometimes zinc comprising the remaining 10%.
Casket
-
A
container, usually constructed of wood, metal or fiberglass, designed to hold
human remains; a case, or receptacle in which human remains are placed for
protection, practical utility, and a suitable memory picture; any box or
container of one or more parts in which a dead human body is placed prior to
interment, entombment or cremation which may or may not be permanently
interred, entombed or cremated with the dead human remains.
Cemetery
-
An area of
ground set aside and dedicated for final disposition of the deceased.
Chevra
Kadisha -
The
"Holy
Society"
responsible
for the
care of
the body
from the
time of
death
until the
burial.
Closed
Casket -
When the casket is not open for the public to view the deceased.
Columbarium
-
A
structure, room or other space in a mausoleum or other building containing
niches or recesses, used to hold cremated remains.
Common
Carrier -
one who publicly undertakes to
transport from place to place for a stated compensation, the property of any
person who may request his services up to the capacity of his facilities.
Coroner
-
A
public officer whose chief duty is to investigate death when the question of
accident, suicide or homicide may be evident or where there was no doctor in
attendance. Also to hold inquests and affix blame and responsibility.
Cremated
Remains -
The bone
fragments that are commonly referred to as ashes, which are left after cremation.
Cremation
-
The reduction of a dead
human body to inorganic bone fragments by intense heat in a specifically
designed retort or chamber.
Crematory
-
A furnace or establishment
for the incineration of corpses.
Direct
Burial -
The immediate
burial of a body without any type of funeral service.
Direct Cremation
-
The immediate cremation of
a body without any type of funeral service.
El
Malai
Rakhamim -
A memorial
prayer,
asking G-d
for
compassion
for the
soul of
the
deceased.
Embalming
-
A process of chemically treating the
dead human body to reduce the presence and growth of microorganisms, to retard
organic decomposition and to restore an acceptable physical appearance.
Funeral
-
A ceremony or group of
ceremonies held in connection with the burial or cremation of a dead person.
Funeral
Director -
An individual licensed by a state or
states to prepare dead human remains, other than by embalming, for interment or
other means of disposition; the person who conducts funeral services and
counsels with survivors.
Funeral
Home -
A building used for
the purpose of embalming, conducting funeral and supplying funeral
merchandise.
General
Price List -
The
GPL lists all the goods and services the funeral home offers, along with the
price of each. The Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Rule
compels funeral homes to give
customers a GPL at the beginning of any discussion of arrangements.
Grave
Liner -
An outer enclosure, in which the
casket is placed, which offers protection from the earth load, after
burial, but without sealing qualities.
Honorarium
-
an unsolicited gift, usually an
honorary payment for professional services to a clergy member.
Kaddish
-
A prayer
recited
for the
deceased,
up to a
year
following
the
burial, on
the
anniversary
of the
death, and
at some
memorial
services.
This
prayer is
said for
members of
one's
immediate
family.
A minyan
is
required
for
Kaddish.
Keriah
-
The ritual
of tearing
a garment
or ribbon
upon
hearing of
the death
of a close
relative.
Niche -
A recess or space in a
columbarium used for the permanent placing of cremated remains.
Magen
David -
The star
of David,
literally,
the shield
of
David.
Meal
of
Condolence
-
The
first full
meal eaten
by
mourners
after
returning
from the
funeral,
which is
prepared
by
neighbors.
Psychologically,
it is of
great help
in
assuaging
grief and
helping in
the
process of
recovery
from a
painful
loss.
The meal
typically
includes
round
items as
symbols of
eternal
life.
Round
rolls,
bagels or
eggs are
symbolic
of the
cyclical,
eternal
and
continuous
nature of
life.
Memorial Service
-
A funeral service
conducted in memory of the deceased without the remains being present.
Minyan
-
Traditionally,
a group of
ten men
whose
attendance
is
required
to recited
specific
prayers.
Today, in
more
egalitarian
communities,
women are
counted in
the
minyan.
Mitzvah
-
Commandment
or
obligation
of Jewish
living; a
good deed.
Procession
-
The
orderly movement of cars following a hearse from the location of a funeral to
the cemetery.
Removal
-
The moving of the dead human body
from the place of death to the funeral home or other designated place.
Scattering
-
To
throw here and there; sprinkle.
Shabbat
-
The
Seventh
day, the
day of
rest,
commemorating
G-d's day
of rest
after
creating
the world
and all
its
creatures.
"Remember
Shabbat"
is the
fourth of
the Ten
Commandments.
Shiva
-
Seven days
of
mourning
period
immediately
following
burial;
Sephardic
Jews refer
to this
period as Siete,
which,
like the
word Shiva,
literally
means
"seven".
Tahara
-
Ritual
purification
or
cleaning
of a dead
body.
Traditional
Service -
A
funeral service involving a casket, a visitation with the body present, a type
of service and disposition of the body.
Urn
-
A
container for cremated remains; a vase of varying size and shape, usually having a footed base or
pedestal.
Vault
-
An outer enclosure, in which the
casket is placed, which offers protection from the earth load, after burial, as
well as possessing sealing qualities.
Visitation
-
The
visiting of the friends and relatives to the residence and/or funeral home to
pay respects to the deceased prior to or after the funeral service.
Yahrzeit
-
Yiddish
word for
the
anniversary
of the
death.
The
comparable
Sephardic
term is
Anos.
Herman Meyer & Son, PO Box 4052, Louisville, Kentucky 40204 | 502.458.9569 | info@meyerfuneral.com