Be honest in explaining death to children. Children may ask endless questions and you may not have all the answers. Tell the truth about the cause of death including illness, traumatic injury, suicide and murder. Some words that adults use may be confusing for children. Avoid words such as “sleeping,” “gone away,” “passed away,” or “taken from us.” Your child may need further discussion as to the meaning of some of these words. Carefully choose words when giving explanations about death.
This guide may be useful in helping your child understand the meaning of words they may hear at this time.
Commonly Used Words and Explanations
Bury
Placing the coffin or urn of the dead person in the ground
Cemetery
A place where people who die are buried
Coffin (Casket)
A box that contains the person who died
Grave
A hole in the ground at the cemetery where the coffin or urn is buried. The hole is then covered with dirt
Cremation
Burning a dead body to ashes. Some people choose to be cremated. Cremation is used instead of keeping the body in a coffin
Dead
The body is no longer living. The body stops working. The dead person doesn’t breathe, walk, eat or feel any pain
Embalm
Removing body fluids from the dead person and adding a liquid chemical to keep the dead body together
Funeral (Memorial Service)
A ceremony to honor and remember the person who died. These can take place in many different places including the funeral home, mortuary, church, synagogue, a mosque or at a cemetery
Headstones (Gravestone, Monument or Plaques)
The headstone lists the person’s name, date of birth, date of death and sometimes a few words in loving memory. The headstone marks where the body of the person who died is kept
Hearse
vehicle used for taking the casket or coffin to the funeral or cemetery
Mausoleum
A building in a cemetery where caskets or urns are placed
Morgue
A place where the person who died is kept until taken to the mortuary
Mortuary
A building where the person who died stays and is prepared for burial, or cremation
Urn
A container that holds the ashes of the person who died. Explain what will be done with the ashes based on your family traditions and beliefs
Viewing (Wake, Memorial Service)
A service or gathering to remember the person who died and view the body
|