Welcome to our funeral terms and definitions glossary.

Aerial Scattering

The process of scattering cremated remains from an aircraft; most companies that offer this service have a scattering aparatus attached to the aircraft to avoid the cremated remains being blown back on the person releasing them.

Aftercare

Aftercare refers to the support that a funeral home gives to families following the funeral. At Park Memorial, this can include help with completing the many forms that must be filled out after someone dies, large and small community grief support events and annual remembrance services at Christmas and other dates on the calendar that can be painful after the death of a loved one.

Arrangements Appointment

This is the appointment that is made between surviving family members / executor and a funeral director to begin making funeral and end-of-life arrangements. This appointment can take anywhere from 1-3 hours, depending on the amount of information needing to be covered. For more information on what to expect from and what to bring to the arrangements appointment please visit our blog.

Attending Physician's Certificate of Death

This is a legal document issued by the attending physician showing the deceased's name, place of death, and all other pertinent information regarding the death.  It is used to file the death with Vital Statistics.

Bring Into Our Care

The process of transferring the deceased from the location of death into the care of Park Memorial.

Burial

Burial refers to a method of final disposition that quite often sees the deceased lain into a casket and then placed in the ground in accordance with municipal, provincial, and federal laws and guidelines. This can also apply to burial of cremated remains.

Burial Permit

This document is issued by Park Memorial from Vital Statistics. It is used by: the cemetery to give authorization for burial or entombment, the clergy (if applicable) for their own records, and for our crematory staff to authorize that cremation can take place. Park Memorial also must keep a copy for our legally required records.

Casket

The casket refers to both the burial container as well as the cremation container; a casket is required in both circumstances. Park Memorial offers a variety of options to suit all budgets.

Casket Carriage / Church Truck

The term 'casket carriage' or 'church truck' refers to a wheeled unit that is generally constructed of aluminium, used to transport and support the casket, both within the funeral service, as well as graveside. Where rough terrain or weather prevents pallbearers from safely carrying the casket from the hearse to the graveside, a church truck specially equipped with rugged wheels can be used at the cemetery.

Casket Floral Spray

This refers to the floral arrangement that the family chooses to adorn the top of the casket. They are created to fit the rounded top of the casket. Often, at the end of the graveside service, the flowers from the spray are handed out to family and friends in attendance who can opt to keep their flower as a keepsake or place it on the casket before it is lowered.

Celebration of Life

This term can be used for any ceremony of remembrance, but is most often used to describe a ceremony held following the crenation of a loved one. The urn may or may not be present, according to the family's wishes. These can range from traditional to unique, and can be personalized to include hobbies and interests of the person being honoured.

Cemetery

Also referred to as a 'graveyard', a cemetery is a designated and protected piece of land where people who chose burial as their final disposition are laid to rest.

Ceremonial Casket

This term refers to a casket that a family can rent if they wish to hold a ceremony with their loved one present prior to cremation. Only the outside layer of the casket is reused; all of the inside linens and liner are fresh and new for each family, and are cremated with the deceased after the ceremony.

Ceremony

Within the funeral profession, this broad term applies to all of the end of life services and celebrations that families plan with our assistance to honour the life of their loved one. They range from the very traditional to the completely unique, and can be personalized to really pay tribute to the person being honoured. It is proven that ceremony is a critical bridge to a healthy grieving process for the friends and family left behind. To read more about the importance of ceremony, please visit our blog.

Certificate of Cremation

This is a certificate of authentication that cremation has taken place by Park Memorial; we are one of very few local funeral homes with an on-site crematorium right within the funeral home. This means that not only does your loved one remain in our care and in our building, but it also means less inconvenience for families desiring witness cremations.

Closed Casket

When there is a casket present for a service, the family has the option to choose a closed casket or an opened casket. If they choose opened casket, some families choose to have the casket closed for the actual service, but may have it opened prior to the service for those who wish to have some time with the deceased, and / or may choose to have it opened after the funeral for friends and family to pay their last respects as they exit the service. 

Coach

Also known as hearse, this is the specialized vehicle that carries the casket from funeral home to church and from church or chapel to graveside. Ours are what we refer to as 'Tod Smolyk' green, the corporate colour chosen for Park Memorial by our founder and carried forward through the two generations that have led our organization since. Our fleet is kept meticulously clean and cared for, also as a result of Tod's early leadership and that of his successors. Our coaches may also be used to transfer your loved one into our care.

Columbarium

This is the term for a columnar structure, most commonly found outside, that has compartments called niches to house urns.

Cremated Remains

Often referred to as 'ashes', cremated remains are the bodily remnants that are left after a body is cremated. These remnants are treated meticulously  by our cremation specialists until they are smooth and fine. They are then placed into the urn that the family has chosen.

Cremation

Cremation refers to the method of disposition where the body is reduced to bone fragment through application of high heat, open flame and the resulting evaporation. The cremation is completed in a brick-lined industrial furnace called a cremation chamber.

Cremation Chamber / Crematorium

This refers to the brick-lined industrial furnace in which cremation takes place.

Cremation Container

This term refers to the container or casket that the deceased is lain into in order to be placed in the cremation chamber. Park Memorial offers a wide range of cremation container optionsthat not only treat your loved one with dignity, but also meet all legal requirements.

Crypt

This term refers to a sealed compartment within a mausoleum that houses a casket. When a deceased person's casket is sealed into a crypt, they are said to be 'entombed'.

Deceased

This is the term used for the person who has died.

Died By Suicide

This is a term that more respectfully replaces the former expression "committed suicide". It is a term used when a person chooses to end their own life.

Embalming

This is the process of preserving the body of someone who has died with a mixture of chemicals. Highly regulated both provinically and federally, this process allows for the time needed in order to have viewings, to have an opened casket service, and / or for family to arrive from afar for the funeral ceremony. 

Eulogy

The eulogy is the tribute delivered during the ceremony, often by a family member or close friend. In the Catholic faith, it is referred to as Words of Remembrance. It outlines the person's history and is often rich with story. It is usually written by a family member or group of family members, but can sometimes be written by the person, themselves, before they die. To read about how to write a eulogy, please visit our blog.

Executor / Executrix

This is the person whom the deceased has authorized to not only execute the financial and legal requirements surrounding their estate, but also to make decisions regarding funeral arrangements. It is critical that this person be worthy of your trust, as theirs is a big job with many decisions and responsibilities. For more information on choosing an executor / executrix, please visit our blog.

Family Car

This is the car from our Park Memorial fleet that transports the family from their home to the service, and to graveside where needed. On a day when distractions and emotions are already so high, driving can be a bit of a burden. Families are given the option of adding a family car(s) to their funeral arrangements to eliminate the stress of having to drive on such a hard day. It also allows for more togetherness and connection for the family.

Final Disposition

This term refers to the method chosen for the final care of one's physical body: burial, entombment, or cremation.

First Call

Or "At Need Call", this is the term that we use internally for the initial phone call that we receive after someone has died. During this call, we will ask several questions so that we can best serve the bereaved family and receive their loved one into our care. During this call, we will also book a date and time for an arrangements meeting, and follow up with an email outlining what to expect and what to bring to the meeting. (Insert link to "first call" email form)

Form 4

This is an authorization form that must be received from the Medical Examiner to proceed with cremation.

Funeral

Traditionally this term referred to a ceremony to honour the life of someone who died before a graveside burial or cremation takes place. Presently within the funeral profession, this broad term can apply to all of the end of life services and celebrations that families plan with our assistance to honour the life of their loved one. They range from the very traditional to the completely unique, and can be personalized to really pay tribute to the person being honoured. It is proven that ceremony is a critical bridge to a healthy grieving process for the friends and family left behind. To read more about the importance of ceremony, please visit our blog.

Funeral Arrangements

This is the term given to all of the decisions made regarding the end-of-life wishes, final disposition, and funeral / celebration of life after someone dies. For information about making funeral arrangements, please visit our blog.

Funeral Attendant

These members of our team perform a variety of tasks that help support all of the plans and processes that the funeral director team puts into place as they meet with and serve our families.

Funeral Director's Statement of Death

This is a legal document that Park Memorial produces to authorized personnel to be used for legal transactions such as cancellation of credit cards, bank accounts, utilities, and other legal matters.

Funeral Procession

This is the term given to the procession of vehicles from the funeral ceremony to the graveside. It is led by a lead vehicle with a purple flashing light, followed by the pallbearer's car, the coach / hearse which carries the casket or the urn, the family car(s) if any, and then the vehicles of the friends and family making their way to the graveside service. All vehicles are instructed to have their hazard lights flashing, and are given a sticker to place in their widshield identifying them as a vehicle in a funeral procession. The procession travels slowly, in a single file line. The funeral procession is governed under the Alberta Highway Traffic Act.

Grave

This term refers to the rectangular section of earth that a casket is lowered into when a family chooses burial as method of disposition for their loved one.

Grave Liner

Also known as "vault", most cemeteries within the city of Edmonton require a vault to enclose a casket or urn inside of a grave. The role of the vault, in addition to protecting the integrity of the casket and the loved one inside of it, is to prevent the grave from settling both from time lapse as well as from the tractors and implements that must drive through the cemetery to dig and seal graves.

Grave Marker

Grave marker can refer to a monument, headstone or other item on the grave indicating who is there. It can also refer to a temporary plastic one placed at the graveside on the day of the inturment until a permanent marker can be placed.

Headstone

This is the term given to the permanent monument that a family chooses to place on their loved one's grave

Honorary Pallbearer

Honourary Pallbearers are appointed for a number of reasons: in the circumstance of cremation when there is no casket to be carried, to honour those who cannot meet the demands of a pallbearer role due to health or mobility concerns, or when there are people deserving of the honour of ‘pallbearer’ in addition to those needed to physically carry out the duties of pallbearer. An honourary pallbearer can be included in the service by walking ahead of the casket, sitting together for the service, standing together at the graveside, or simply being named in the memorial card.

Interment

This is the term given to permanently placing a casket into the ground.

Intestate

This is the terminology used when someone dies without a will.

Inurnment

This is the term given to permanently placing an urn into the ground.

Sorry! 

Our glossary has not any funeral terms beginning with J yet. Please call us on 1-877-426-0050 for an instant response.

Keepsake Pieces

This term is given to any pieces that are created or purchased in memory of a loved one. Park Memorial offers keepsake jewellery, keepsake amulets, keepsake teddy bears with a small pocket to hold a small urn of cremated remains, and we can even have a diamond created from your loved one's cremated remains.

Licensed Funeral Director

An individual licensed by the Alberta Funeral Services Regulatory Board after completing the required schooling, practicum, and examinations. These individuals meet with bereaved families to help them plan their loved one's funeral ceremony, to help them complete the many documents that are required when someone dies, lead funeral ceremonies, and carry out the many behind-the-scenes details necessary for the funeral ceremony and final disposition. We are proud to have a team of licensed funeral directors who serve with the highest level of integrity, professionalism, and compassion.

Mausoleum

A mausoleum is a free-standing building that houses niches and crypts where caskets and urns can be entombed. 

Medical Examiners Statement of Death

This is a legal document issued by the Medical Examiners Office showing the deceased's name, place of death, and all other pertinent information regarding the death.  It is used to file the death with Vital Statistics.

Memorial Service

This term can be used for any ceremony of remembrance, but is most often used to describe a ceremony held following the crenation of a loved one. The urn may or may not be present, according to the family's wishes. These can range from traditional to unique, and can be personalized to include hobbies and interests of the person being honoured.

Next of Kin

This is the term used to describe the next closest relative(s) to the deceased.

Niche

This term refers to a small memorial space where an urn can be entombed, sometimes behind glass as a memorial display with some of the deceased's personal effects, and sometimes behind inscribed marble.

Obituary

This is a term that is used for the notice letting the community know that someone has died. It generally is posted in the newspaper, and also on our website in the deceased's virtual Book of Memories, complimentary for all of the families that we serve. There is a general structure that outlines dates of birth and death, place of birth, and names the surviving family members and their relationship with the deceased. Many families opt to further personalize their loved one's obituary with a photograph and some details about their life and accomplishments. For guidance on writing an obituary, please see our blog post.

Officiant

The person who officiates or leads the funeral service. This might be a clergy member, a funeral celebrant, or an MC.

Opened Casket

When there is a casket present for a funeral service, the family has the option to choose opened casket or closed casket. If they choose opened casket, many families choose to have the casket closed for the actual service, but may have it opened prior to the service for those who wish to have some time with the deceased, and / or may choose to have it opened after the funeral for friends and family to pay their last respects as they exit the service.

Order of Service

This is an outline of the flow of the ceremony.

Pallbearers

Also known as "Casket Bearers" or "Urn Bearers", The term pallbearer refers to the people responsible to carry the casket or urn of the deceased, but there is much more tribute in this role than this clinical definition allows. While carrying the casket of a loved one can be emotionally and physically challenging, being asked to do so is an honour, as pallbearers are responsible to carry the deceased to their final resting place. Pallbearers generally carry the casket from the hearse to the church or hall, and return to the hearse following the service. Upon arriving at the cemetery, pallbearers again carry the casket from the hearse to the gravesite and place it on the lowering device. Pallbearers are provided instruction and support from funeral home staff for all aspects of their role. They learn where and when to meet, sit, walk or stand, safe lifting and handling of the casket, and may also be asked to assist with special requests if the need arises.

Preneed / Preplan Arrangements

One of the greatest gifts that you can give your family is to preplan your funeral. Not only does this alleviate the guilt and guesswork that often accompany making funeral arrangements for a loved one, it also protects many aspects of your funeral investment against inflation. When you preplan your funeral, everyone benefits. You know that your wishes will be carried out and your loved ones know exactly how to honour you.

Preparation Room

A room within the funeral home specially designed to care for the bodies of the deceased. This is where the embalming process occurs.

Preplanning

The act of making arrangements for a funeral, memorial, ceremony or other service/plans prior to death. Preplanning can involve simply recording one's wishes or making financial arrangements (pre-paying). Also known as "Preneed."

Sorry! 

Our glossary has not any funeral terms beginning with Q yet. Please call us on 1-877-426-0050 for an instant response.

Registration of Death

Vital Statistics requires that all deaths be registered. Until this is completed, the deceased cannot be buried nor cremated, and statements of death cannot be completed.

Repatriation

When someone dies while outside of their home country, the process of delivering their body back to their home country is called repatriation. Our Park Memorial team of funeral professionals has experience in returning loved ones to their families in many countries across the globe. This can be an expensive feat. Park Memorial offers a cost-effective insurance policy that covers the cost of bringing a loved one home, even from within the same province but outside of a radial distance away.

Scattering

This refers to the process of scattering cremated remains.

Scattering Tube

A scattering tube is a cylinder specially designed to hold cremated remains until they can be scattered; its design allows for the process to be mindful of the lightness of the cremated remains and to make scattering a smooth process.

Selection Room

This is the room that families visit while making funeral arrangements (and sometimes while making pre-need arrangements) to choose a casket / urn, burial vault, and any memorial keepsakes that are desired. Park Memorial's selection room is bright and thoughfully laid out to make the process of selection as smooth as possible. We feature a varied line of products to suit all budgets and decicions.

Sorry! 

Our glossary has not any funeral terms beginning with T yet. Please call us on 1-877-426-0050 for an instant response.

Urn

This is the term used for the container where cremated remains are placed.

Viewing

Some families will choose to hold a viewing where friends and family can come and pay their respects to the person who has died, as well as deliver their condolences to the family. Sometimes these are public, and other times they are private, for invited family and friends only.

Will

This is the legal document that defines how the deceased's assets and liabilities are to be cared for. It also defines who the executor / executrix is. This is a critical document worthy of time and consideration. If someone dies in Alberta without a will (referred to as intestate), the Wills and Succession Act determines what will happen to your property. For more information regarding wills and codicils, please visit our blog.

Sorry! 

Our glossary has not any funeral terms beginning with X yet. Please call us on 1-877-426-0050 for an instant response.

Sorry! 

Our glossary has not any funeral terms beginning with Y yet. Please call us on 1-877-426-0050 for an instant response.

Sorry! 

Our glossary has not any funeral terms beginning with Z yet. Please call us on 1-877-426-0050 for an instant response.