In the context of funeral service, what is the term for a person lovingly referred to as the deceased?

The term for a person who has passed away and is often referred to as the deceased is "decedent." In funeral service, this terminology is significant because it specifically denotes an individual who is no longer living and is at the center of the funeral process. This term is widely used in legal and medical contexts to refer to someone whose estate or remains are being handled following their death.

The other terms have different meanings in the context of funeral service. An executor is an individual who is appointed to carry out the directives of a deceased person's will. The administrator is similar but typically refers to someone who manages the estate of a decedent when there is no will. A beneficiary is someone who receives assets or benefits from the estate of the deceased. Thus, while these terms are relevant in the discussions surrounding a decedent’s estate, they do not define the person themselves who has passed away.