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BODY

a common term for a corpse

BODY SNATCHER

A person or persons who illegally disturb a grave or crypt with the intention of stealing the remains of an individual

BRAIN DEATH

a term used to indicate that a person is dead and that a lack of brain function was used to make that determination.  An imprecise term, it is now being replaced by "death by brain criteria."

BURIAL

Placing a body in a coffin or other container, in a wide range of positions, by itself or in a multiple burial, with or without personal possessions of the deceased, and put into an open grave or crypt.

BURIAL ALLOWANCE

the amount of money allocated by insurance or an organization to pay for funerary rites

BURIAL CACHE

A concealed place for burial remains and objects

BURIAL CERTIFICATE

A legal paper issued by the local government authorizing burial. The permit may authorize earth burial or cremation or removal to a distant point.

BURIAL CHEST

a nineteenth-century term for casket

BURIAL GARMENTS

Wearing apparel made especially for the dead

BURIAL MOUND

a heap of earth placed over prehistoric tombs

BURIAL PERMIT

In some states, when burial will be outside the county or town where death occurred, you will need an additional permit to inter from the local registrar in that area. In many states, the top of the coffin must be at least 3 feet below the soil surface. A burial location should be 150 feet or more from a water supply and outside the utility or power line easements.

BURIAL VAULT

a structure built within the grave to receive the body which may be used to prevent crushing of the remains, to allow for multiple burials such as a family vault, retrieval of remains for transfer to an ossuary, or because it forms a monument; for protection of the casket, it may be made of a variety or combination of materials including concrete, stainless steel, galvanized steel, copper, bronze, plastic or fiberglass.

BURIAL-TRANSIT PERMIT

a combined permit allowing transportation and cremation or burial of the body

CANOPY

A roof like structure projecting from the outside wall over the driveway allowing passengers to board and alight from vehicles without being directly exposed to the elements - sometimes construed as a portable canvas shelter used to cover the grave area during committal service.

CASH ADVANCE ITEMS

Goods and services furnished by a third party and paid for by the funeral director on your behalf.

CASKET

a rectangular funerary box used in the display and containment of deceased remains, either for burial or cremation, available in many variations;. The most common variety is split lid design, available in different guages of steel, with tailored interior lining options and various exterior embelishments. Models are advertised as sealing (protective) and non-sealing (traditional) by the funeral industry.

CASKET COACH

A motor coach designed and used for the conveyance of the casketed remains from the place the funeral service is conducted to the cemetery. Also known as a Funeral Coach.

CASKET RACK

A device which allows caskets to be placed one on top of the other for display purposes.

CASKET VEIL

A silk or net transparent covering for the casket for the purpose of keeping flies and other insects from the remains.

CASKETING

Placing of the body in the casket upon completion of embalming, dressing and cosmetizing.

CATACOMB

a network of caves, grottos, or a subterranean place that is used for the burial of the dead, Originally used to describe  A Roman underground burial spot where Christians formerly indulged in symbolic cannibalism among the proscribed bodies of friends, relatives, and countrymen. Now used to name any underground burial ground with walking space. Famous examples are: the Catacombs of Rome and Paris, the Catacombs of Kom el Shuqafa, the Catacombs of Malta and Sacromonte, the Capuchin catacombs of Palermo, Italy, and the Peruvian Catacombs of Lima in Peru.

CATAFALQUE

A stand upon which the casketed remains rest while instate and during the funeral service.

CEMETERY

An area of ground set aside for burial or entombment of the deceased.

CENOTAPH

a tomb or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of persons whose remains are elsewhere, or the initial tomb for a person that has since been interred elsewhere

CERTIFIED DEATH CERTIFICATE

A legalized copy of the original certificate, issued upon request by the local government for the purpose of substantiating various claims by the family of the deceased such as insurance and other death benefits.

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RD Glossary by Run Digital