Grief & Funeral Terms Glossary
Understanding funeral and bereavement terminology can help families make informed decisions during a difficult time. Below are commonly used terms and their meanings.
Terms & Definitions
Funeral Services
Services used to care for and prepare deceased human remains for burial, cremation, or other final disposition, and to arrange, supervise, or conduct funeral ceremonies.
Memorial Service
A ceremony honoring and celebrating the life of a deceased person without the body being present.
Viewing (Visitation or Wake)
A designated time for family and friends to gather, pay respects, and offer condolences before the funeral service.
Interment (Burial)
The act of placing a deceased person in the ground or a burial vault.
Cremation
The process of reducing a deceased human body to bone fragments through intense heat in a specially designed chamber.
Crematory
The facility where the cremation process takes place.
Cremated Remains
The final remains following the cremation and processing of bone fragments.
Urn
A permanent container designed to hold cremated remains for display, storage, or burial.
Death
The permanent cessation of all vital functions and signs of life.
Authorizing Agent
The individual legally entitled to make decisions regarding cremation and final disposition.
Contract
A legally binding agreement between parties.
Power of Attorney
A legal document granting one person authority to act on behalf of another. This authority generally ends upon the death or incapacity of the individual granting the power.
Durable Power of Attorney
A power of attorney that remains effective even if the individual becomes incapacitated.
Will
A legal document that outlines how a person's property and assets should be distributed after death.
Living Will
A legal document that provides instructions regarding medical treatment and life-sustaining measures if a person becomes unable to communicate their wishes.
Probate
The legal process of validating a will and administering a deceased person's estate.
Probate Court
The court responsible for overseeing estate administration and probate matters.
Probate Estate
The assets and liabilities of a deceased person that are subject to probate administration.
Preneed Funeral Arrangements
Funeral arrangements planned and documented before a death occurs for future use.
Beneficiary
The individual for whom a preneed funeral arrangement has been purchased.
At-Need Funeral Arrangements
Funeral arrangements made after a death has occurred and immediate services are required.
Prefunded Funeral Arrangements
Advance funeral arrangements that include prepayment or funding for future services.
Pre-Planned Funeral Arrangements
Advance funeral arrangements that specify preferences but do not include prepayment or funding.
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