What is the term for the rituals associated with helping the deceased transition into the afterlife?

The term that refers specifically to the rituals associated with helping the deceased transition into the afterlife is funeral rites. These rites encompass the various customs, ceremonies, and practices that are performed during and after a person's death, often aimed at honoring the deceased and facilitating their passage to the afterlife according to religious or cultural beliefs. Funeral rites can include a range of activities such as prayers, offerings, body preparation, and burial or cremation, all designed to respect the deceased and support the grieving process for the living.

While memorial services and commemoration ceremonies may honor the deceased and provide a space for reflection and remembrance, they do not specifically focus on the transition of the deceased into the afterlife in the way that funeral rites do. Grieving rituals, on the other hand, primarily concern the emotional and psychological processes of those who are mourning and may occur in conjunction with funeral rites but do not explicitly address the transition of the deceased. Thus, funeral rites is the term that best encapsulates the specific ritualistic practices involved in this important cultural and spiritual process.