mortuary

n. (pl. -ies) room or building in which dead bodies are kept until burial or cremation. attrib. Adj. Of death or burial. [medieval latin mortuus dead]

a. A sort of ecclesiastical heriot, a customary gift claimed by, and due to, the minister of a parish on the death of a parishioner. It seems to have been originally a voluntary bequest or donation, intended to make amends for any failure in the payment of tithes of which the deceased had been guilty.