Funeral Terminology

Funeral Terminology
Funeral Terminology

Funeral directors and related professionals use a number of terms and words that might be unfamiliar to people not of the industry. Here’s a list of all those terms and their meanings:

1. Funeral Director - They are a trained, licensed, and certified professional who plan and supervise burials or cremations.

2. Funeral Assistant - Provides assistance to the director or mortician and isn’t certified.

3. Embalmer - Carries out the task of disinfecting and preserving human remains.

4. Coroner - A government official who investigates the cause of death if there’s no physician present prior to death.

5. Medical Examiner - Professional that handles autopsy if needed.

6. Pallbearers - The family and friends of the decedent that carry the casket.

7. Bereavement or Grief Counselor - Professional trained to offer counseling to help people cope with death of their loved one.

8. Preplan Adviser - Professional who helps people plan their funerals in advance.

9. Certified Crematory Operator - A professional who is trained, certified, and licensed to operate a crematory.

10. Arrangement Conference - The meeting between the funeral director and clients to make funeral arrangements.

11. Committal service - The portion of the service where the decedent is interred, entombed or cremated

12. Cortege - Funeral procession

13. Cosmetology - Using makeup to make the decedent presentable for the memorial service.

14. Eulogy - A speech honoring the decedent usually given by a loved one.

15. Final Disposition - The last processing of human remains.

16. First Call - When the funeral director collects the decedent’s body.

17. Viewing - Where the family and friends can see the deceased before the funeral service.

18. Vigil - A Catholic ritual that is help on the evening before the funeral service.

19. Visitation - Visiting the decedent.

20. Wake - A ceremony that allows people to honor the memory of the decedent before the funeral.

If you want to know more about funeral services, don’t hesitate to contact us at The Jerry Spears Company. Our team will be happy to help.

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