Common Funeral Terminology

For someone who's never planned a funeral, the terminology used may be perplexing. At Blair Mazzarella Funeral Home, we strive to provide all of the information necessary for our clients to make informed choices. The following is some funeral lingo that you may come across when organizing a funeral service:

1. Advance Planning 

Advance planning refers to the practice of preparing for one's demise, and a person can make arrangements for their funeral, burial, memorial, and other services. This planning may take the form of a collection of written and registered directives or the preparation of all the details for pre-paid funeral services.

2. Ashes

Ashes are the incinerated remains of a deceased person. Family members may preserve the ashes in an urn, spread them outdoors in the wind, scatter them at sea, or even bury them.

3. Burial Flag

The VA gives a burial flag to surviving relatives of a dead soldier,; this flag is displayed at the hero's burial.

4. Permit For Burial

Following a person's death, the local authorities grant the family permission to bury/cremate their loved one properly. Without permission, it is illegal to perform a cremation or burial.

5. Closed Casket

When a deceased person's remains are placed in a closed casket and are not visible during the service at a funeral home, it is called a closed casket. Families choose this approach if the individual has sustained severe injuries or the body has decayed.

6. Embalming

Embalming is the act of preserving the body temporarily through the use of chemicals and advanced techniques.

7. Columbarium

A columbarium is a facility where the ashes of the departed are preserved. Grieving family members may pay homage to their loved ones the same way they would at a cemetery by visiting this location.

For any details about our customized funeral services or for professional assistance with preplanning your funeral, contact Blair Mazzarella Funeral Home through our online form or by calling (718) 282-1164.