Bereavement - A term from Old English that means to be deprived of a loved one due to their prolonged absence or death. In modern usage, it refers to the total process of grieving, which includes healing and recovery.

Burial liner or vault - an enclosure that protects a burial casket as the earth above it settles. Whereas a burial liner covers only the top and sides of the casket, a vault completely encloses it. Both burial liners and vaults are made of either concrete, plastic, or metal.

Cemetery - a formal location for final disposition of a body. Cemeteries can include areas for earth burial and above-ground entombment. A burial plot, columbarium niche or mausoleum space must be purchased from the cemetery.

Casket - a container used for the display and burial or cremation of a body. Caskets are generally made of wood, metal, or plastic and may be ornamented and lined with fabric. A pressboard or fiberboard container the size of a casket is usually used for cremations.

Columbarium - a term derived from the Latin columba, or dovecote. The dove being a symbol of God's spirit and peace, a columbarium is a place for the respectful and usually public above-ground entombment of urns holding cremated remains. Although the Roman Catholic Church prefers traditional burials, it officially permits cremation if the remains are buried or entombed; hence, columbaria are often placed within Catholic cemeteries.

Cremation - the act of reducing a body to its basic elements through exposure to intense heat -- usually 1800-2000 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours or more. Cremated remains resemble coarse sand and are whitish to light gray in color.

Disposition - the method of handling the deceased's remains, including earth burial, above-ground entombment, and scattering of ashes. These practices seek to demonstrate respect for the dead and often reflect wishes that the person expressed while alive.

Earth burial - the interment of a person's body in a burial plot, within either a casket or urn. Earth burial is the most common method of disposition. A grave for a casket must typically be six feet deep and dug by a licensed professional.

Estate record - the complete and formal documentation of a person's assets and preferences regarding his or her estate. This includes a legal will and may also encompass lists of property and designated recipients, legal letters of instruction, and related documents.

Executor - a person or institution appointed to carry out the terms of a will.

Funeral or memorial service - a formal opportunity to honor the memory of the deceased person, with or without the body present. This may be done in a wide variety of traditional or creative ways. In most cultural groups and regions in North America, the traditional ritual is often divided into three parts: 1) a viewing (also called "visitation") of the deceased's remains; 2) a funeral or memorial service to remember and honor the deceased; and 3) a burial service held beside the grave, tomb, columbarium, or mausoleum.

Funeral home (mortuary) - A professional establishment where bodies are prepared for burial or cremation. A licensed funeral director meets with surviving family members to arrange appropriate services and select funeral merchandise such as a casket, vault, urn, clothing and memorial items. A funeral home often is the place where family and friends gather for funeral and/or memorial services prior to burial or interment.

Funeral planning -- the activity of planning and purchasing all goods and services associated with laying a person to rest, which may include: casket; cremation; funeral home or mortuary services; burial plot; headstone or marker; and so forth. Comparison shopping before a person's death can yield cost savings when the goods and services are finally required.

Green funeral- a funeral in which the deceased is buried in a wooded area or meadow as opposed to a graveyard. The body is not embalmed, and the casket used is fully biodegradable.

Letter of instruction - most often an informal list of commands and instructions prepared by an individual for people to follow after his or her death. Such a letter may describe the location of the will and other important papers, identify the personal representative and/or executor named in the will, and list funeral and burial preferences. It should be kept in an accessible location and dated so that people can determine the most current version (if several are found). Some people leave such instructions on tape (video or audio) or in a computer file. Others ask their estate lawyer to prepare a more formal set of instructions and make them legally binding.

Mausoleum - a building which houses one or more above-ground tombs.

Monument or marker - typically a headstone or plaque inscribed with the deceased's name and dates of birth and death that is placed at a gravesite as a memorial. Headstones are generally cut from granite, and metal plaques are often made of bronze. More ornate versions may include decorative artwork and a portrait of the deceased.

Niche - a recessed compartment for placing a cremation urn in a columbarium. Niches come in many sizes, with a selection of fronts such as glass, marble, bronze, granite, or mosaic. Some are designed for urns of a specific size; others may accommodate two or more urns of different sizes, with space for meaningful memorabilia to be placed alongside the urn.

Obit - online obituary listing.

Pre-need insurance - a commercial product that people can purchase in advance of a death to cover after-death expenses such as a funeral, casket, obituary listing, and so forth. Many professionals advise against such a purchase, as the money may be needed for expenses during illness, and the dying person's desires may change.

Probate - the legal process of settling an estate. The probate process determines the validity of a will, provides protection for children, ensures payment to legitimate creditors, and distributes remaining estate to rightful heirs. The estate's executor is responsible for marshalling the deceased's assets through the probate process, often with the aid of a lawyer.

Spray - standing flower arrangement common to most funeral precessions.

Urn - a container for cremated remains, most commonly made from hardwood (cherry, mahogany, oak) metal (brass, bronze, copper, pewter), or stone (granite, marble). Designed for the remains of a single body, an urn normally has a capacity of 200 cubic inches.

Will - a legal document containing instructions about the disposition of one's money and property after death. As the laws and regulations surrounding estates are complex and differ from state to state, it is wise to seek help from a lawyer in drawing up a will.