CPC Memorial & Service Options 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary difference between a 'funeral service' and a 'memorial service'?
- A funeral service is religious; a memorial service is secular
- A funeral service is held with the body present; a memorial service is held without the body (Correct answer)
- A funeral service is always held at a funeral home; a memorial service is held at a church
- A funeral service requires embalming; a memorial service does not
Correct answer: A funeral service is held with the body present; a memorial service is held without the body
A funeral service is conducted with the deceased's body present, while a memorial service is held after the body has been buried or cremated and is therefore not present.
Question 2: Which type of disposition involves placing cremated remains in a designated location at sea, which is regulated by the EPA?
- Green burial
- Aquamation
- Scattering at sea (Correct answer)
- Reef burial
Correct answer: Scattering at sea
Scattering cremated remains at sea is regulated by the EPA under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, requiring that scattering occur at least 3 nautical miles from shore.
Question 3: A 'graveside service' is best described as:
- A service held indoors before burial
- A committal service conducted at the burial site (Correct answer)
- A religious ceremony led by a member of the clergy
- A service exclusively for military veterans
Correct answer: A committal service conducted at the burial site
A graveside service, also called a committal service, is conducted at the gravesite and may be the only service held or may follow a funeral service held elsewhere.
Question 4: What is 'aquamation,' also known as alkaline hydrolysis?
- Burial in a water-saturated natural environment
- A water-based cremation alternative using heat and alkaline chemicals to dissolve the body (Correct answer)
- Scattering of ashes in a body of water
- Embalming using water-based preservatives
Correct answer: A water-based cremation alternative using heat and alkaline chemicals to dissolve the body
Aquamation (alkaline hydrolysis) uses a combination of water, heat, and potassium hydroxide to break down the body, leaving only bone fragments similar to those from flame cremation.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes a 'green burial'?
- Burial in a biodegradable container without embalming, allowing natural decomposition (Correct answer)
- Burial in a cemetery with environmentally friendly landscaping
- Cremation with the ashes used to fertilize a tree
- Any burial that offsets its carbon footprint
Correct answer: Burial in a biodegradable container without embalming, allowing natural decomposition
Green burial uses a biodegradable shroud or casket, no embalming chemicals, and a natural site to allow the body to decompose naturally and return to the earth.
Question 6: When preplanning, which factor most influences whether a client should choose direct cremation vs. a full cremation service?
- The client's religious affiliation only
- The client's desire for a formal gathering with family and friends (Correct answer)
- State laws governing cremation
- The funeral home's available equipment
Correct answer: The client's desire for a formal gathering with family and friends
A client's desire for a formal gathering for mourners is the primary personal factor distinguishing direct cremation (no service before cremation) from a full cremation service with a viewing or ceremony.
CPC Memorial & Service Options 1
What is the primary difference between a 'funeral service' and a 'memorial service'?