Make planning the cremation service for your lost loved one a little easier by learning the following common cremation terms:  

• Exhume: Digging up the remains of a previously buried body.   

• Funeral Director: The funeral professional that man or woman who works with lost one’s family to plan and execute a funeral or cremation service. These people can also run or own a funeral home.  

• Bereaved: The lost person’s immediate family.  

• Death Certificate: An official document stating the cause of death. Most commonly given out by the deceased’s doctor.  

• Embalm: Preserving a dead body by running preservative fluids through the arteries and veins.  

• Grave Liner: A wooden, metal or concrete casing that holds the casket in the ground. Grave liners are important as they serve as a protection against the ground above the grave from sinking, which keeps the cemetery safe and the grass level.  

• Funeral Spray: A floral tribute traditionally given to the bereaved at a funeral.  

• Pallbearers: Family, friends, or religious members that help carry the casket.  

• Memorial Service: A service held to honor the deceased when the body is not present. 

• Reposing Room: The room in which the body is held before the funeral or burial in a funeral home.  

• Columbarium: A wall with niches or holes in which cremation urns are housed. 

• Vault: A more expensive version of a grave liner, as they are commonly made of wood, metal or concrete. 

• Flower Car: The car or vehicle used to transport the flowers from the church and/or cemetery to the funeral home. 

• Mortuary: Another word for a funeral home.  

• Eulogy: A speech praising, remembering and celebrating the deceased’s life.  

• Obituary: A notice in a newspaper or on a website that announces someone’s death and also commonly provides a small biography of the deceased. Sometimes includes a photo.  

• Death Notice: An article or newspaper section that gives information about someone’s death. Commonly offers funeral or memorial details.  

• Committal Service: A service in which the deceased is interred or buried.  

• Crematory: The furnace where bodies are cremated, or in some cases the building in which the furnace is located.  

• Plot: A piece of land, usually owned by an individual or a family, that’s reserved for two or more graves.  

• Cremains: Another word for cremated remains.  

• Burial Certificate: A legal document that is given out by the local government that authorizes burial of a deceased person.

• Viewing: The time at which friends, family or funeral goers can view the casket.   

If you want to learn more about cremation service terminology or have additional questions about your options for Dolton, IL cremation services, Cage Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc. is here to help. We offer a wide range of cremation services designed to help you during a loss. Please stop by and visit us or give us a call to learn more about what we can do for you.