psychopomp: A guide for the souls of the dead on their journey to the afterworld. From the Greek psyche, meaning "soul" or "breath," and pompos, meaning "conductor." Many different cultures have many different psychopomps, including Anubis, the Valkyrie, Hermes, birds, bees, and even werewolves.
Psychopomp is more than just a good word to know; it's an awesome word. It'd be a great name for a horrible band, for an alternative magazine, or for a mythology-based novel. It's also a great 10-letter Scrabble word, if someone gives you psycho, pomp, or chop.
Psychopomp is a word that's just dripping with awesomesauce.
(Big hat tip to Kee Malesky and her book All Facts Considered for alerting me to one of my new favorite words.)