Glossary of Funeral & Cemetery Terms
Burial Vault: A container, typically made of metal or concrete, that encloses and protects the casket
Casket: a box used for the display and interment of the deceased
Celebrant: A person who performs a rite
Chapel Service: A funeral service held in the chapel of the funeral home
Cremains: Cremated remains
Cremation: The reduction of a dead human body to inorganic bone fragments by intense heat
Crypt: A chamber in a mausoleum used to hold casketed remains of the deceased
Death Notice: A brief announcement in a newspaper or other publication informing the public about a person's death and including basic details about the deceased and service information
Entombment: Placing the deceased’s remains into a crypt in a mausoleum
Epitaph: An inscription on a monument commemorating the deeds or qualities of the departed
Flush Marker: Memorials that are flush or flat to the ground (may also be referred to as “flat markers” or “grass markers”)
Interment: Placing the deceased’s body into the ground
Inurnment: Placing cremains in an urn; placing cremated remains in a niche or grave
Mausoleum: An above-ground structure or building containing crypts or vaults for entombment of caskets, which may also include niches for cremated remains
Memorial: A physical object designed to honor and remember the deceased
Memorial Park: A cemetery or section with only flush-type markers
Memorial Service: Funeral rites held without the body present
Memorialization: Preserving the memory of individuals, events, or ideas through various means, including memorials or monuments
Niche: A recess or space in a columbarium used for the permanent placement of cremated remains
Obituary: A news article published by a newspaper or other media announcing a person’s death. An obituary typically includes details about the deceased's life, surviving relatives, and service details
Perpetual Care: An arrangement made by the cemetery whereby funds are set aside and the income is used to maintain it in perpetuity
Scattering Garden: A section in a cemetery set aside for scattering of cremated remains
Visitation: A less formal gathering before the funeral, where family and friends pay their respects to the deceased and offer condolences to the mourners
Glossary of Jewish Funeral Terms
Chevra Kadisha: “Holy Society”, an organization of Jewish men and women who prepare the deceased for burial per Jewish law.
Kohen (Kohanim pl.): A man descended patrilineally from the priestly tribe of Israel, directly from Aaron. Traditionally, a Kohen has special privileges in the synagogue, including reciting the first aliyah in the synagogue. Kohanim are not permitted to be in the presence of a deceased body, aside from close family members, and some funeral homes have a separate space where Kohanim are housed under a different roof or structure
Levite: A man directly descended from Levi, a member of the Tribe of Levi. Levites were responsible for singing, guarding, and carrying at the temple. Levites are often symbolized by the inscription of a pitcher of water on a memorial
Sheblach: Pieces of pottery placed over the deceased’s eyes and mouth after the tahara, symbolizing “see no evil, speak no evil”
Sheloshim: Hebrew for “thirty”, refers to the traditional thirty-day period of mourning following the burial and includes the seven-day mourning period of shiva.
Shiva: The formal seven-day mourning period observed by the immediate family. Shiva begins immediately after the burial and concludes on the seventh day after the morning service known as Shacharit
Shomer: “watcher”, sits with the deceased and prays over their soul until the interment or burial. The shomer guards over the body and provides the soul with comfort, as Jews believe that the soul and body are separated after death, returning at the time of burial
Shroud: Traditional Jewish burial garments, also known as “tachrichim,” that are commonly made from linen or cotton. A shroud is a full suit of dress consisting of pants, a shirt, foot coverings, a head covering, and an outer cover to wrap around the body. Shrouds are very plain, do not have any pockets, and symbolize that we are all equal in death
Tahara: The ritual cleansing and dressing of the deceased by members of the Chevra Kadisha. Following Jewish laws and customs, men prepare and dress men, and women prepare and dress women
Tallit/Talis: A fringed prayer shawl typically worn by Jewish men during religious services
Unveiling: A graveside religious ceremony marking the formal setting of a loved one's monument at the cemetery
Yahrzeit: The anniversary of death, following the Hebrew calendar. It is customary to recite the prayers, including those based on one’s relationship to the deceased and the Kaddish, and light a twenty-four-hour Yahrzeit candle
Yizkor: The Jewish memorial prayer service occurs four times annually in remembrance of those we have lost. Yizkor translates to “may He remember” and takes place on Yom Kippur, Shemini Atzeret, the 8th day of Passover, and the 2nd day of Shavuot.