Glossary of Funeral Terms

In order to make it as easy and clear as possible for you to understand the terms used during the funeral process, the consultants at Vilniaus Laidojimo Namai have compiled a glossary of key concepts. We hope that knowing these definitions will help you avoid confusion during this emotionally difficult period and enable you to smoothly organize the process of honoring the deceased.

Funeral – a ceremony dedicated to the final farewell and honoring of the deceased. Depending on cultural, religious, or family traditions, it may be a religious or a civil ceremony.

Funeral services – all services professionally provided by a funeral home or specialists organizing a funeral in order to help arrange a respectful farewell for the deceased. These services cover a wide range of activities, from transportation, storage, and preparation of the body, handling funeral documentation, providing ritual items, to offering emotional support to the bereaved.

Funeral home – an establishment that provides all necessary services related to the preparation and organization of funerals. These institutions offer professional assistance from advance funeral planning to organizing the burial ceremony.

Funeral documentation handling. Vilniaus Laidojimo Namai takes care of all formalities related to death registration and other legal aspects.

Pre-arranged funeral plan – a process during which professional funeral planners, in cooperation with the family or other responsible persons, help plan the funeral, estimate a preliminary budget, assist in selecting a coffin, urn, viewing hall, flowers, and carry out other necessary arrangements. A pre-arranged funeral plan can also be made by a living person who responsibly wishes to plan their own funeral in advance.

Cremation – a process in which the body of the deceased is reduced to ashes through intense heat. It is an alternative to traditional burial in the ground. After cremation, the ashes are usually placed in a special container called an urn and given to the family or kept at the crematorium until the family decides how to proceed. Cremation is a common practice in many countries and cultures around the world.

Cremation urn – a special container designed to hold ashes after cremation. Urns come in various sizes, shapes, and materials. They may be made of metal, wood, glass, or stone. Those who value sustainability and environmental friendliness often choose bio-urns, which naturally decompose in the ground over time. The urn’s design is chosen by the family according to personal wishes, cultural customs, or other considerations. The ashes may be kept in columbariums, buried in a family grave, or placed in another chosen location.

Columbarium – a building or structure designed to store urns containing ashes after cremation. It may have individual niches or compartments for urns. A columbarium can serve as an alternative to traditional burial in cemeteries. They are often located in cemeteries but may also be established elsewhere.

Cemetery – a place where the deceased are buried. Burial plots may vary in size, and graves are typically marked with monuments, crosses, or other memorial symbols of various designs.

Coffin – the container in which the body of the deceased is placed during the farewell ceremony. Funeral coffins come in various types, designs, and materials.

Hearse – a special vehicle used to transport the body in a coffin or the ashes in an urn to the burial site.

Viewing (Wake) – the sanitary preparation and dressing of the deceased for the funeral. The body is placed in a coffin and laid in a designated viewing hall.

Viewing hall – a special room with chairs or benches where relatives and friends can respectfully say goodbye to the deceased. Viewing halls vary in size, from small and intimate rooms to larger spaces accommodating many mourners.

Obituary – a short text announcing a person’s death, briefly describing the most important achievements and characteristics of the deceased.

Eulogy – a speech about the deceased that highlights their character traits, core values, interests, and the most significant moments and achievements of their life.

Embalming – a special method used to preserve and prepare the body for the funeral.

Funeral procession – a line of vehicles that slowly follows the hearse transporting the coffin or urn to the burial site.

Grave goods – personal belongings buried together with the deceased.

Remains – the body of a deceased person.

Headstone (monument) – a memorial marker, most often made of granite, used to mark a grave. It is engraved with the deceased’s name, surname, dates of birth and death, and, at the family’s request, meaningful inscriptions or quotations.

Funeral reception (repast) – a tradition common in various cultures where family members, friends, and others close to the deceased gather for a shared meal after the funeral.

Mourning (Grief) – an emotional response to loss, most commonly associated with the death of a loved one. The grieving process is highly individual and may involve various emotions (pain, sadness, denial, sorrow, depression, and even smiles when remembering shared moments). It is important to understand that everyone grieves differently, and the expression and duration of grief vary from person to person. It is natural to seek comfort and support from relatives, friends, colleagues, or professional emotional and psychological support specialists.

These terms may vary depending on religious, cultural, and regional differences. Funeral terminology is often closely connected to traditions and rituals, which may differ across communities.

The consultants at Vilniaus Laidojimo Namai are ready to assist you with all matters related to funerals and their organization. We will strive to ensure that your thoughts are focused not on resolving funeral arrangements, but on allowing you, during this emotionally difficult time, to concentrate on your grief and a respectful final farewell to your loved one.