Humanist Celebrant
A humanist celebrant is a person that officiates non-religious rituals, including funerals. They are certified to be in charge of the ceremony. Humanist celebrants often need to be familiar with the life of the deceased in order to personalize their funeral services. See also: Living Funeral
Living Funeral
A living funeral doesn’t take place for a deceased, but for a living person. Living funerals are usually for people who don’t have a lot of time left. They often function as a way to process one’s approaching passing. At the same time, they allow for the family and close friends to reconcile with their […]
Traditional Burial
Burial is one of the most common practices of disposing of human remains. Burials, or interment or inhumation, have been a pillar of death practices since ancient times. Traditionally, burials take place in the ground although other versions exist as well. Other forms of burial include sky or water burials. See also: Cremation, Green Burial, […]
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is a building surrounding one or more tombs. It can be very grand such as the Taj Mahal in India, or more humble like the ones found in many cemeteries around the world. Additionally, sometimes people store their loved ones’ bones or urn with cremated ashes in a mausoleum. A mausoleum may also […]
Prepaid Funeral Plan
A prepaid funeral plan is a set of arrangements you usually make with a funeral home. It focuses on your preferences and wishes regarding your funeral. As the name indicates, you have to pay for the plan before you pass away. It often aims to reduce stress for your relatives, but also to ensure that […]
Right of Disposition of Remains
This refers to the right of a person to choose what will happen to their remains after they pass away. If you provide no clear instructions, then your close family members decide how they will dispose your remains.
Green Burial
Green or natural burial refers to a specific burial that takes place in the most natural way possible. That means that nobody has embalmed the body beforehand. Additionally, funeral homes do everything possible to make sure that the body can decompose in natural and eco-friendly ways. For example, instead of a traditional coffin, some people […]
Cremation
Cremation is a form of disposing of remains by burning them. It has existed since ancient times and is still the predominant form of remains disposition in many cultures. Open-air pyres are more traditional and rare, while most funeral homes offer cremation options, usually using a furnace. The grieving family eventually receives the cremation ashes […]