Funerary and Memorial Cultural Glossary

Some words have jumped out at us over the course of our work with funeral and memorial culture. This glossary explores the psychology of aging, death, dying, as well as funeral and memorial customs as reflected in language.

~A~

• Active Dying - the process of physically dying; permanent cessation of bodily functions

• 

  Advance Directive

  Advance Directive - a written document that indicates what types of medical treatments a person wants and whom the doctor should talk to when a person is unable to speak for himself/herself. This document is the combination of a Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare.
• Age-related Grief - Grief as that occurs in relation to one's age. The grief over lost youth.
• Agnostic Funeral - funeral for a person who neither believes nor disbelieves in a deity, agnostics claim neither faith or disbelief
• Al Kafan - (see burial shroud)



Arrangement Conference

• Aqua pyre - (see hydro cremation)

• Arrangement conference - the meeting with the funeral director in which you make plans for your loved one's funeral or memorial and the preferred method of disposition
• Art Coffin - craft coffin used in memorial art therapy to write special messages and decorate with special artwork in tribute of the deceased

~B~

Basket Casket

• Basket Casket - a casket that is fabricated of a natural woven material, often wicker, willow, bamboo, banana leaf, and seagrass
• Bereavement Coordinator - coordinates the grief counseling to the families of the recently deceased
• Blended Family - generally consists of one female and one male and the children from their prior relationships; may also include children from their present relationship
• Burial - also referred to as interment; generally refers to earth burial at a cemetery or a natural woodland burial
• Burial Basket - (see basket casket)
• Burial Doll - effigy created in likeness of missing person for the purpose burial rites in memorial art therapy; promotes closure for families of missing persons
• Burial Garments - clothing selected and worn by the deceased for burial or cremation
• Burial Pod - biodegradable papier mâché burial container
• Burial Shroud - cloth wrapping placed around a decedant in preparation for burial (see photos of burial shrouds )
• Burial Swaddling - cloth used to wrap infants that have died in preparation of burial
• Burial Tree - tree planted in memory of the deceased, may or may not be placed at the gravesite

~C~

• Cadaver - a dead human body used for the purposes of medical research, study, anatomical dissection and transplantation.
• Casketry - selection of burial coffins and caskets found in a funeral home's merchandise display room 

La Catrina

  

• la Catrina - Originally drawn by Jose Guadalupe Posada, La Catrina is a female skeleton caricature of the rich and wealthy and sysymbolizes that no matter how much money we have, we cannot escape death. La Catrina is used in many Day of the Dead (el dia de los muertos) decorations and statues. (See Day of the Dead below)
• Celebrant - a person who officiates a personalized and meaningful memorial or funeral ceremony

  

  Celebrant

• Cemetery Arts - monuments or art installations present at cemeteries for the purpose of memorialization
• Chevrah Kadisha - In the Jewish faith, a group of men or women from the synagogue who are assigned to care for the dead
• Columbarium - an standing structure with spaces (niches) where cremated remains are secured
• Committal service - a brief graveside service held before the casket or urn is placed into the ground or columbarium
• Contemporaneity - existing or occurring in the same period of time
• Corpse - a dead human body
• Corpse Dog - (also incorrectly referred to as Cadaver Dog) dogs used for locating the dead in disasters
• Coroner - an official in a community responsible for researching unexplicable, violent and or sudden deaths
• Cortege - a procession of vehicles driving from the funeral service to the place of disposition (usually the cemetery)

• 

  Fire-based Cremation

• Cremation - the Greek originated method of reducing the dead body small bone fragments by fire (flame based) or present day, by treated water (alkaline hydrolysis) (see hydro cremation)
• Crone movement - A movement that takes its name from the archetype of the older woman, as a symbol of wisdom and strength (also known as crone energy)
• Crypt - an above ground burial site inside a mausoleum

~D~

Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead Skeletons

• Day of the Dead (el dia de los muertos) - a holidayy, usually celebrated on November 2nd in Mexico and other Central and South American countries when people honor and pay tribute to deceased relatives by decorating the grave and setting up an altar of food and gifts as tribute to the deceased at home. Skeleton imagery and statues are often used as part of the decorations. (Learn more about the history of the holiday by viewing our video on Day of the Dead.)
• Death Doula - one (can be either a male or female) who aids the dying through the final dying process and often prepares the body for viewing once death has occurred.
• Death Midwife - female version of death doula 

Oregon has Death with Dignity Law Since 1994

• Death with Dignity - in Oregon, a 1994 Measure established the U.S. state of Oregon's Death with Dignity Act (ORS 127.800-995[1]), which legalizes physician-assisted dying with certain restrictions. Passage of this initiative made Oregon the first U.S. state and one of the first jurisdictions in the world to permit some terminally ill patients to determine the time of their own death. (Visit the Death with Dignity national center for more info)
• Decompiculture - refers to how decomposing organisms could be grown or cultured for a variety of uses, for instance to decompose waste; in human burial, refers to cultivating fungi for the purpose of facilitating corpse decomposition.
• Direct cremation - immediate cremation without a funeral or memorial service
• Direct burial - immediate burial without a funeral service
• Disaster Mortuary - an emergency response mortuary team deployed to a mass fatality disaster for the purpose of preserving the dead for identification (visit DMORT - Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team)
• Disaster Veterinary - an emergency response veterinary team deployed to disasters for the purpose of collecting, treating and caring for displaced animals (Visit the AVMA Disaster Veterinary page)
• Doll Urn - anthropomorphic doll used to hold cremated remains, often in the form of a soft stuffed animal or bear
• DNR - Stands for Do Not Resuscitate. It is a request to not have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if your heart stops and/or if you stop breathing

~E~

Embalming Fluid

• Embalming - (see hygienic treatment)
• Entombment - placement of a casket in an above-ground structure (mausoleum)
• Enzyme Hydrolysis - (see hydro cremation)
• Ethical Will - a document written by the dying to pass along ethical values, life lessons and wishes for the surviving loved ones; a practice that originated with the Lakota Sioux and the Hebrews (read more on ethical wills )

 

~F~

• Family-Led Funeral - (see home funeral)

  

  Family Led Funeral

• Fantasy Coffin - Decorative coffins made in bright colors and bold shapes that are themed in celebration of the way the deceased lived; an idea that originated in Ghana
• Final Disposition - the performance of final services pertaining to the dead (Next of Kin decides this for each person)
• Fluctuating capacity - when the patient sometimes has the mental ability to make his or her own decisions and sometimes does not have the ability
• Funeral - a ceremony honoring the life of a person who has died where the body is present for the service (not to be confused with memorial which takes place without the body present)
• Funeral Fundraiser - a fundraising effort used to aid a family in the funeral expenses of a loved one, often in the cases of unexpected deaths
• Funeralogy - the study of funeral rituals, ceremonies, culture and customs

~G~

Ghost Bike

• G-Burial - abbreviated version of green burial
• Gerontophobia - the fear of growing old, or a hatred or fear of the elderly.
• Green Burial - natural earth burial without the use of chemicals, graveliners or crypts, usually in biodegradable containers (read more on green burial)
• Ghost Bicycle - a bike painted entirely white (including tires), that is affixed where a fatal bike accident occurred (usually in an urban setting or on a roadside), in memoriam of one who has died; the practice of which originated from the United Kingdom (see a ghost bike )
• Grave liner - concrete slabs used instead of a vault, to support the earth load inside of a grave (not used in green burial) (see how a vault supports the earth load)
• Grief Facilitator - (see bereavement coordinator)

• 

  Guardian

• Guardian - A court-appointed person who is assigned to make decisions for an incapacitated person. This person may also be called a conservator. This person is often in charge of medical decisions and or financial decisions.

~H~

• HIPPA - Health Information Portability and Accountability Act; A law that protects medical information and gives individuals the right to decide who will and will not have access to his/her own personal health information (see more info on the HIPPA act )
• Holistic End-of-Life Care - focused on continuity of care from aging well, dying, death, funeralization and after care
• Holographic Will - a will that is written entirely by hand of the person the will belongs to
• Home-Funeral - a funeral that is held in the home of the decedant; it may be with or

  

  Home Funeral

  without the assistance of a funeral director, but can alleviate the need to move the deceased to a funeral home (read about home funerals) (also known as family-led funeral)
• Honorarium - the charitable fee typically paid to a clergy person or celebrant for officiating the funeral or memorial ceremony, or for the musicians or soloists for their performances in the ceremony
• Humanist - Humanism is a broad category of ethical philosophies that affirm the dignity and worth of all people, based on the ability to determine right and wrong by appealing to universal human qualities, particularly rationality, without resorting to the supernatural or alleged divine authority from religious texts.

Hydro Cremation

• Hydro Cremation -the environmentally friendly version of cremation that reduces human remains to small bone fragments through the process of hydrolysis, using water, heat, agitation and an alkali solution (also known as bio-cremation and resomation) (read more about hydro cremation)
• Hygienic Treatment - the intravascular cleansing of the circulatory system of the dead human body for the purposes of slowing putrefaction and for disease control during extended viewing or travels (also known as embalming)

~I~

• Iatrogenic illness - induced inadvertently by a physician or surgeon or by medical treatment or diagnostic procedures & iatrogenic rash
• Identity-stripping - All persons flying on commercial airlines would be identity-stripped by a database that would include their names, phone numbers, addresses, dates of birth, their traveling companions and itineraries, how tickets were paid, rental car information and destinations, names and addresses of businesses the passenger has used, all information about their current and past car ownership and even newspaper subscriptions. Gullette's use is different. Gullette's idea is a more personal loss/sense of identity, whereas the above definition refers to an exposure of one's personal information.

~J~

• Jinazah - a funeral or funeral prayer for Muslims (in Islam)

~K~

Kin

 

• Kin - one's relatives, referring to blood relationship. (Next of kin has right of final disposition for one who has died.)

 

 

~L~

• Life cycle - The biological cycles of life from conception to death.
• Life Story Review - the review and collection of one's biographical history and important life events, often in a hospice setting, but sometimes collected during pre-need funeral arrangements (how to collect a life review)
• Living Will - a written document that indicates what types of medical treatments are desired. This can be specific or general. It can also be called an Advance Directive.
• Living Funeral - a pre-death celebration of life to honor one who is nearing the end of life; the tone is often celebratory, but can be serious in nature as well (read more about living funerals and activities )

~M~

Memorial Art Therapy

• Mausoleum - a small building in a cemetery that where a body is interred above ground
• Memorial - a service or ceremony honoring the life of a person who has died, the body is not present for this service. Cremated remains (ashes) may or may not be present. (Not to be confused with funeral)
• Memorial Adventure - the process of scattering a loved one's ashes on pilgrimage to location(s) of special significance (read more about scattering ash stories and travels)
• Memorial Art Therapy - the therapeutic use of art to address and heal grief; artwork made in memory of one who has died; can include works that incorporate a loved ones cremated ashes, artifacts or hair (cremation jewelry with ashes incorporate into the art piece)
• Memorial Ecosystem - the biological community of interacting organisms within the cemetery environment
• Memorial Fundraiser - (see funeral fundraiser)
• Memorial Telecast - the transmission of funeral/memorial services over the internet or television
• Memorialogy - the study of memorialization and remembrances
• Mortuary Arts - the science and study of preserving human remains for the purpose of viewing
• Mourning Wear - clothing that communicates one is grieving, historically this was worn for a designated period of time after a death (see photos of historic mourning clothing)

~N~

• Niche - a space in a cemetery columbarium that holds cremated remains (ashes) permanently for visitation

~O~

Obituary

• Obituary - a notice placed in a newspaper that announces the death to the community, covers a briefly write up on the person's life and may or may not invites readers to attend a funeral or memorial
• Ontological - the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being.
• Out Funeral - a funeral that celebrates the lifestyle preference of the individual in addition to honoring the deceased

~P~

Private Property Burial

• Pallbearers - the people who carry the casket from the funeral ceremony to the hearse and from the hearse to the gravesite
• POLST - Physicians Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatments, which is a doctor's order form that documents the patient's wishes, not only about CPR but for other end-of-life choices. (Visit Official POLST website for Oregon)
• Private Property Burial - burial on one's home property, the legality of which is usually determined by local ordinances (view more info on private property burial)

~Q~

• Quasi -Property Theory - the legal theory pertaining to the dead human body whereby rights to the body are only associated with disposition purposes only; no other property rights to the body exist.

~R~

Rental Coffin / Rental Casket

• Rental Coffin - a coffin that is used purely for the funeral service and not utilized for final burial or cremation. It is designed to accommodate a fitted liner which the body is laid within, the liner is then placed inside the rental coffin and removed immediately after services, usually used in cases of cremation
• Restorative Art - a term that refers to repair of the dead body to make it presentable for final viewing

~S~

Sindone or Tachrichim aka Burial Shroud

• Second Burial - when a body is exhumed after some time, then cremated and placed in a family columbarium (usually occurs in traditional Asian cultures)
• Secular Funeral - a funeral service focused on celebrating the individual's life and accomplishments; not religious or spiritual in nature
• Sindone - (see burial shroud)
• Somatic Death - activation-induced cellular death, cessation of life

~T~

• Tachrichim - a Jewish burial shroud that is typically handsewn and made of white linen
• Thanatology - the study of death

~U~

Cremation Urn

• Urn - A container used to hold the ashes (cremated remains) of one who has been cremated. Urns are presently offered in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials. (see photos of handmade plush cremation urns or handwoven cremation urns)

~V~

Vault around casket

• Vault - a concrete or metal container into which the casket is placed in a traditional cemetery burial (green burial grounds require that vaults not be used) (learn how a vault is used to support the earth load)
• Village Memorial - When family, friends and neighbors (community) comes together to celebrate a life, and or participate in end of life care.
• Visitation - a scheduled time for family and friends to view the person who died (also referred to as a viewing)

~W~

Water Cremation

• Water Cremation - (see hydro cremation)

~X~

• 
  

~Y~

• Yahrzeit - anniversary of the death (in the Jewish faith)
• Yizkor - a memorial service that is recited 4 times a year (in the Jewish faith)

~Z~

• Zenetery - a cemetery that is styled in the tradition of the Japanese Zen Garden
• Ziegler Case - a metal container that is gasket-sealed and used for shipping human remains either inside of a casket, or on its own 

Are there any words or meanings you found especially interesting? Are there subjects or terminology that you feel should be included here? Please share.

The Ethical Will

The most important element of a funeral is The Ethical Will. An Ethical Will is, “A document in which a dying person states his or her legacy to the family. It is a statement of the individual’s hopes and dreams for his or her family, the values which he or she would like to pass on and any other thoughts or messages which the individual would like his or her family to remember.” Irish (1993) Its religious origins trace back to the Hebrew bible where it was first described more than 3000 years ago, and in the Christian Bible (John Ch. 15 – 18).
 
Some cultural universals found in the funeral rite are in the storytelling aspects of ceremony. We make mention of family history reminding each other of the awesome qualities and peak experiences we shared as well as important events that took place. We come to terms with regrets and share items that articulate our feelings with those taking part.

The Ethical Will allows us to address these issues while we are still alive. It is a method of passing the torch. We share our hopes, aspirations and legacy of values with our loved ones and hope that our wishes will be realized through them. In this way, the Ethical Will serves as a method of enculturation. The Ethical Will is a tool for empowering our descendants.

As a funeral rite, cultural norms include the passing on of wisdom, family traditions and records. We narrate pictures and teach one another about our roles. These blessings, personal values, and beliefs communicate love. It is a time of reconciliation and forgiveness. The Living Funeral focuses on a proactive message such as things we are grateful for, things we learned from experience, and things that served us well in guiding our actions. As a rule, we universally want to follow through with final wishes so perhaps we ought to send our benefactors off on a quest, their very own “Message to Garcia” of sorts. Perhaps their quest is an ancestral scavenger hunt or quest to confront a fear. 

Imagine receiving a message from beyond the grave, where someone who cared about you, shared some bit of personal life experience that could not be said in person. These messages are healing to friends and relatives who might also be inspired to repeat the favor to their forebears as well. The funeral home is a logical place to store such materials to ensure that they can and will be found BEFORE the funeral. It serves no one to have these materials stored in the back of a dark closet or secret bank safety deposit box, where they are generally found long after the funeral.

Please share your thoughts on writing an Ethical Will. How will you document your legacy to your family? What special instructions will you leave?

Lakota Sioux Thoughts on Death and Dying

Wikicommons/SiBr4

A wonderful example of the Living Funeral is the tradition of the Lakota Sioux people of South Dakota. They accept death as part of the natural order of life. They identify more with their consciousness and allow themselves to disengage from their bodies. They see life’s journey as its end goal, and appreciate that life is always on the edge of death.

Wikicommons

Prior to death, the Lakota Sioux make sure to forgive. They ease tensions by making amends. They release loved ones from feelings of guilt for acts they may have committed against them. They make a point to accept each others faults and thoughtfully collect their precious family heirlooms to distribute to their family members. The gifts passed on to decedents are meant to be passed on down the line each generation. Thus, each member becomes a caretaker of the family heirlooms rather than the singular owner. As one approaches death, one of their folkways requires that traditional foods be eaten as part of purifying oneself for death. This is the time for handing down family recipes.

At the time of death, family, friends, and neighbors will all crowd into the critical care unit hospital room (which can be difficult.) It is their tradition to show respect and appreciation for their relationship by being at bedside to say farewell. Once all are there, the dying person lets go. They believe death is but a transitional period, and that their energy is released into the world to become once again part of nature.

The year following the death is a trial period for the family. The bereaved must strive toward exemplary behavior. They will avoid controversy, jealousy, anger, and licentiousness at all costs because it is believed that one's true character emerges at the time of grief. Throughout the year, the family will also prepare for the death anniversary party by collecting items and money. 

The death anniversary party is partly a memorial service and partly a tribute to the individuals who showed kindness to the departed loved one and the family. The guest of honor (this might be the best friend of the deceased), will carry a picture of the deceased to show it to all who attend. After a memorial service, the atmosphere changes, and the event becomes festive and joyful. Attendees will share a meal as they share happy memories and stories about the deceased. At the end of the party, attendees are honored by gifts - former belongings of the deceased's.

Please share your thoughts on the Lakota Sioux tradition. What did you find to be most helpful? What personal family traditions do you feel are helpful or healing?

Tips to Plan a Living Funeral

A Funeral for the Living

Living funerals are gatherings that are centered around those who have been diagnosed with an incurable illness or simply those individuals who feel they would like to celebrate their many years of life while they can plan the event and enjoy it.

A living funeral can range from a formal tribute to a “roast” type of atmosphere. A living funeral can be a meaningful experience that benefits the psychological state of the person passing and his or her loved ones. Sometimes, the living funeral can serve the business purpose of reading the will and the reasoning behind it. A living funeral can also serve the purpose of the reading of the ethical will, or will that states what the person dying wishes for his family members. Under these circumstances, the family can arrange a “Funeral Reunion” or ‘Funeral Party” for their loved ones to attend prior to death becoming imminent. Similar to the wedding reception tradition, it is best planned by the family themselves.

Family Funeral Reunion

When planning traditional funerals, families are often pressured to keep their funeral events brief, but with living funerals, there is no need to be concise - after all when one has gathered the entire family together one should allow plenty of time for quality time - stories, discussions, meals, and sharing. Some living funeral gatherings can be joyous, extensive 4-day weekends to exotic destinations or resorts, lighthearted family reunions, or quaint picnics with those closest to one who is departing. National parks and eco destinations are gaining ground as locations for end-of-life ceremonies, satisfying the needs of the contemporary family.

Plan a Living Funeral - Timeline

• One year ahead - Start a mailing list, Send postcards surveying family members about possible dates. Determine the interests of family through email correspondence. Get confirmation about who can help with event tasks. Begin developing a rough budget, Lastly begin scouting locations for the event.

• 9 months ahead - Set date, Choose location, Hire entertainment, caterer, photographer, videographer, printer, Locate missing family members, Scout out possible reunion sites.

• 6 months ahead - Reminder announcements, Schedule events and activities program, contract musicians, decide on speakers, ceremony officiants, tours, reserve hotel/travel accommodations for attendees. Begin collecting souvenirs, confirm reservations entertainment, photographers, catering, Reserve any rental equipment needed. (i.e. audio video equipment) Set budgets and collect fees. Scout out potential lodging for out of towners. Plan activities and prepare entertainment schedule.

• 3 months ahead - Announce event with local news and media to notify friends and acquaintances who may have been overlooked in your invitations list. Interview prospective entertainers and book favorites. Mail final invitations and log RSVPs.

• 6 weeks before - Create checklist of party tasks, designate assignments for volunteers. Make lodging arrangements for out-of-town relatives. Plan menu if there is going to be catering or plan out pot luck items. Begin gathering family memorabilia. Assemble family-history information to bring to reunion including bios and lineage charts.

• 2 weeks before - Solve last minute problems, Review final details, Decide what is needed to be borrowed or rented. Purchase decorations and arrangements.

• Last few days - Begin set up of tables, collect rental items, equipment, and displays, decorate. Delegate responsibilities to volunteers. Purchase grocery items and prepare last-minute foods.

• Reunion day - Enjoy!

• Day after - Make sure everyone gets back home or one their planes. Reflect and evaluate what worked and what didn’t. Return rental items, cleanup.

• Over the following month - Write your thank you cards and begin sorting and copying of digital media recorded of the event for sharing. Start planning the next event soon while warm memories of the event are still fresh in everyone’s mind. Recover and return all keepsakes, mementos, souvenirs, memory books, photos.

Have you ever attended or organized a living funeral? If so, please share anything helpful. What advice would you give others to help them plan a living tribute?