Common terms and phrases that you may come across:
Alkaline hydrolysis
Alkaline hydrolysis is where your body is cremated using water-based liquids, rather than heat.
Alternative funeral
An alternative funeral is any funeral that isn’t a traditional funeral. For example, a natural burial.
Ashes
Ashes are the cremated remains of someone who has died.
Burial
A burial is the act of placing a coffin containing the body of someone who has died, or an urn containing the ashes of someone who has been cremated, into a grave. Also known as interment.
Burial ground
A burial ground is an area of land where the body or ashes of people who have died are buried.
Burial plot
A burial plot is an area reserved by a person or family for when they died. It is often reserved for multiple burials.
Casket
A casket is a type of coffin that has a rectangular shape and a hinged lid.
Celebrant
A celebrant is a person who leads a funeral service. They can be religious or non-religious.
Cemetery
A cemetery is an area for traditional burials, usually owned by a Christian Church, Jewish Synagogue or local authority.
Chapel of rest
A chapel of rest is an area in a funeral home when you can view the body of someone who has died.
Coffin
A coffin is a box that holds someone who has died. It is tapered at the top and has a removable lid.
Columbarium
A columbarium is a building that stores cremated ashes, usually in niches.
Committal service
A committal service takes place at the graveside following a funeral, where the coffin or urn is buried.
Cremation
A cremation is a method of turning a body into ashes, which are then stored, scattered or buried as wished.
Crematorium
A crematorium is a building where cremations take place.
Embalming
Embalming is the process of preserving the body before the funeral.
Funeral
A funeral is a ceremony held after a person’s death before they are buried or cremated.
Funeral director
A funeral director arranges the funeral on behalf of a bereaved family.
Funeral plan
A funeral plan is a way to pay for a funeral in advance of death so the family doesn’t have to.
Grave
A grave is the place in a burial ground where someone is buried.
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is a building for above-ground tombs.
Memorial
A memorial is an object dedicated to someone who has died. It could be a piece of jewellery, a bench or a tree, for example.
Memorial service
A memorial service is a ceremony for remembering someone who has died after their body has been buried or cremated.
Natural burial
A natural burial is a burial that doesn’t inhibit decomposition or negatively impact the environment. Also known as a woodland burial, green burial and woodland green burial.
Urn
An urn is a container for keeping the ashes of someone who has died.
Wake
A wake is a gathering after a funeral, where family and friends remember the person who has died.
Water cremation
Water cremation is where your body is cremated using water-based liquids, rather than heat.