obsequies

[gailr]

American Heritage Dictionary:

ob·se·quy (ŏb'sĭ-kwē)
n. pl. ob·se·quies
A funeral rite or ceremony. Often used in the plural.

[Middle English obsequi, from Old French obseque, from Medieval Latin obsequiae, alteration (influenced by Latin exsequiae, funeral rites) of Latin obsequia, pl. of obsequium, compliance, dutiful service; see obsequious.]

obsequious:

ADJECTIVE: Full of or exhibiting servile compliance; fawning

ETYMOLOGY: Middle English, from Latin obsequiOsus, from obsequium, compliance, from obsequI, to comply : ob-, to; see ob– + sequI, to follow; see sekw-1 in Appendix I.

hmmm: related to pursue, sequester, and execute.

[Perry]

Now we know why so many funeral directors are obsequious.