Glossary S
Sacramental Services
Religious services performed by a priest or other spiritual leader.
Sacraments
Religious rites or ceremonies performed by a priest or minister during the funeral service.
Sacraments of Initiation
Catholic sacraments that mark the beginning of a person’s spiritual journey.
Safety precautions for embalmers
Safety precautions for embalmers – Precautions taken to protect embalmers from exposure to hazardous chemicals and infectious diseases.
Safety protocols
Safety protocols – Procedures and guidelines for ensuring the safety of morticians and funeral home staff.
Sample collection protocols
Sample collection protocols – Procedures for collecting and handling samples for testing and analysis.
Sanitation – Cleaning measures taken to prevent spread of infectious diseases
Sanitation – Cleaning measures taken to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Sanitation/disinfection procedures
Sanitation/disinfection procedures – Procedures used to prevent the spread of infectious diseases during the embalming process.
Scattering
Scattering – The act of spreading cremated remains in a designated area or location.
Scattering Ashes
Scattering Ashes – The act of spreading cremated remains in a designated area or location.
Scattering ashes at a meaningful location
Scattering ashes at a meaningful location – The act of scattering cremated remains in a location that holds significance to the deceased or their loved ones.
Scattering ashes/cremains at sea/air/special location
Scattering ashes/cremains at sea/air/special location – The act of scattering cremated remains in a specific location, such as at sea or in the air.
Scattering Ceremony
Scattering Ceremony – A ceremony held to scatter cremated remains in a meaningful location.
Scattering garden/area
Scattering garden/area – A designated area within a cemetery or memorial park for scattering cremated remains.
Scattering gardens
Scattering gardens – A designated area within a cemetery or memorial park for scattering cremated remains.
Scattering laws
Regulations governing the scattering of cremated remains in public or private spaces.
Scattering of ashes
Scattering of ashes – The act of spreading cremated remains in a designated area or location.
Sealing Mechanism Design
The design of a mechanism used to seal a casket or burial vault to prevent the entry of air, water, or other elements.
Sealing techniques
Techniques used to seal burial containers to prevent water and air from entering.
Security
Measures taken to ensure the safety of the funeral home, staff, and attendees.
Security measures
Precautions taken to ensure the safety of the deceased and funeral attendees.
Selective attention
The ability to focus on specific stimuli while filtering out irrelevant information.
Self-awareness
The ability to recognize and understand one’s own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Self-care
The practice of taking care of oneself to maintain physical, emotional, and mental health.
Self-care for caregivers
Practices and activities that help caregivers maintain their own physical and emotional well-being.
Self-care practices
Activities and behaviors that promote physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
Self-care techniques
Strategies for maintaining physical and emotional well-being while working in the funeral industry.
Sensations
Physical experiences that are perceived through the senses, such as pain, pleasure, and temperature.
Sensory experience
The overall sensory impression created by a funeral service, including sights, sounds, smells, and tactile sensations.
Sensory experience contrast
The use of contrasting sensory experiences to create a more meaningful and memorable funeral service.
Sensory input
Information received through the senses, such as sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell.
Sensory integration
The ability to process and interpret sensory information from the environment.
Separate property states
States where property acquired during a marriage is considered separate rather than marital property.
Sepulchre
A small room or monument used for burial or entombment.
Serology
The study of blood serum and other bodily fluids for diagnostic and forensic purposes.
Service Options
The various options available for funeral and memorial services.
Shape
The physical shape and design of a casket or urn.
Sharing memories and stories
Reminiscing about the deceased’s life and personality during the funeral service or reception.
Shipping or transporting ashes with an urn or cremation jewelry
Moving cremated remains to a different location using a container or jewelry designed for this purpose.
Shiva observances
Jewish mourning rituals observed for seven days after the funeral.
Shrinkage prevention techniques
Techniques used to prevent the shrinkage of funeral fabrics.
Shroud vs Pall
The difference between a shroud and a pall used in funerals.
Six-sided coffins
Coffins designed in a hexagonal shape to accommodate the natural shape of the human body.
Six-sided shape
A coffin shape that is wider at the shoulders and tapers towards the feet.
Skeletonization
The process of removing flesh and tissue from bones for forensic or educational purposes.
Social isolation and withdrawal
A common response to grief that involves withdrawing from social interactions and activities.
Social norms
Accepted behaviors and customs surrounding funeral practices.
Social status and death portraits
The influence of social status on the style and composition of death portraits.
Soil erosion prevention measures
Techniques used to prevent soil erosion at burial sites.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
A type of therapy that focuses on finding solutions to problems rather than dwelling on the problem itself.
Somatic experiencing
A type of therapy that focuses on physical sensations and helps individuals release trauma stored in the body.
Spiritual beliefs
Personal convictions or faith that guide funeral arrangements and services.
Spiritual beliefs about the soul’s journey beyond life
Beliefs about what happens to the soul after death, including reincarnation and an afterlife.
Spiritual Care
Support and guidance provided to individuals and families during times of grief and loss.
Spiritual Comfort
Providing emotional support and guidance to the bereaved based on their spiritual beliefs.
Spiritual Guidance
Counseling and support provided by a spiritual leader.
Spiritual Healing
The process of finding comfort and peace through spiritual practices.
Spiritual practices
Religious or personal rituals and beliefs related to death and the afterlife.
Spiritual support
Assistance and guidance from religious or spiritual leaders to help individuals cope with grief and loss.
Stages-of-grief model
A psychological framework that outlines the common emotional stages experienced after a loss.
Stainless steel
A type of steel that is resistant to corrosion and often used in the construction of caskets and other funeral products.
Stain removal techniques
Techniques used to remove stains from funeral fabrics.
Standing sprays
Floral arrangements designed to stand upright and typically displayed at the funeral service.
State and federal laws
Laws and regulations that govern the funeral industry at the state and federal level.
State laws on burial containers
Laws regulating the type of burial containers allowed in each state.
State registrar
An official responsible for maintaining records of births, deaths, and other vital statistics within a state.
State-specific regulations
Laws and guidelines that vary by state and govern the funeral industry and mortician practices.
Steel
A strong and durable metal commonly used in the construction of caskets and other funeral products.
Steel casket
A coffin made of steel, often used in modern funerals.
Step-up in basis
The adjustment of the value of an asset for tax purposes upon the death of the owner.
Stiffness of the body after death
The rigidity that occurs in the body after death due to the cessation of muscle activity.
Stimuli
Any external factors that can elicit a response or reaction from an individual.
Stone
A material commonly used for headstones and grave markers.
Storage capacity
The amount of space available for storing cremated remains.
Storage of remains before cremation or embalming
The temporary holding of a deceased person’s body before final disposition.
Storage options for ashes
Options for storing cremated remains, including urns and scattering.
Storage options for unused portions of ashes after filling an urn or making a piece of cremation jewelry
Options for storing remaining ashes after using a portion for an urn or jewelry.
Storage requirements
The specific conditions and regulations for storing human remains.
Subjective experience
An individual’s personal and unique perception of an event or situation.
Successor trustee
A person designated to take over as trustee of a trust after the original trustee’s death or incapacity.
Superstitions related to death and funerals
Beliefs or practices that are considered to bring good or bad luck in relation to death and funerals.
Support groups
Groups of individuals who come together to provide mutual support and encouragement.
Support system
A network of people who provide emotional, physical, and/or financial support to an individual.
Surface embalming
The application of embalming fluid to the surface of the body to preserve it for viewing.
Surviving family members
The family members who are left behind after the death of a loved one.
Sustainable materials
Materials that are environmentally friendly and have a minimal impact on the planet.
Sustained attention
The ability to maintain focus on a task or activity for an extended period of time.
Symbolic gesture
An action or object that represents a deeper meaning or sentiment.
Symbolic imagery or text
Images or words used to represent the deceased or their life.
Symbolism in death portraits
The use of symbols and imagery in portraits of deceased individuals.
Symbolism in fabrics
The symbolic meaning behind certain fabrics used in general.
Symbolism in funeral fabrics
The symbolic meaning behind certain fabrics used in funerals.
Sympathy Cards
Cards sent to express condolences to the family of the deceased.
Sympathy tokens
Small gifts or gestures of sympathy given to the family of a deceased individual.
Synthetic fibers
Man-made fibers used in funeral fabrics.