Welcome to the two-hundred-and-twenty-fifth edition of Morticians’ Monday Morning Mashup, 4M #225, where we’ll serve up bite-sized, easily-digestible nuggets of the deathcare news you need to crush conversations in the week ahead. Bon appetit!
New Jersey bill now law
Last week, New Jersey governor Phil Murphy signed legislation that will facilitate timely disposition for the unclaimed remains of veterans. The state’s Electronic Death Registration System will now notify Veterans Affairs automatically when a veteran or eligible family member is cremated. The VA will then use those notices to follow up with the funeral home after one year to find out if the remains have been claimed. If not, they will help the funeral home to coordinate burial with the help of a qualified veterans’ organization.
From Coast to Coast, Funeral Homes Trust TMCFunding
Trusted by funeral homes and communities across the U.S., Treasured Memories® Community Funding is the leading crowdfunding platform designed specifically for our profession. With over $1 million raised and zero platform fees, it allows families to create meaningful memorial and support funds without added financial burden. Funeral directors stay at the center of the process — offering help, dignity, and guidance when it matters most.
We do need another hero
You’ve probably seen this story by now, because positive news items of heroics are rare these days — especially in deathcare. But it’s a story worth sharing again. When a fire started at Cook Brothers Funeral Directors and Cremations in Georgia last Sunday, a family member of the owner had only one thing on his mind: Save the remains from the encroaching flames. Blake Cook, a cousin of funeral home owner Tamarkus Cook, ran into the burning 100-plus-year-old building to locate the bodies and cremated remains. He was joined by firefighters, and together they recovered five bodies and 12 sets of cremains. Blake was treated for minor injuries and smoke inhalation, but will recover. Blake isn’t the only hero; about 50 more members of the Cook family showed up to help, moving cars and belongings away from the building.
Davis goes to court
Even though authorities have (still) not charged former Pueblo, Colorado coroner Brian Cotter and his brother with criminal offenses related to the August discovery of 24 bodies in a hidden room of their mortuary, the pair were, nevertheless, in court last week to answer for a different reason. Deborah Paraday filed a small claims case against the former owners of Davis Mortuary to be reimbursed for a preneed she paid for years ago. The Cotters will be back in the courtroom on this case in March. In the meantime, three other families have filed civil suits, and the investigation into the secret room continues.
An accidental restoration
A serious automobile accident literally landed Andrew, a young Kentucky man — and his crashed car — in a historic cemetery, destroying several grave markers in the process. After his recovery, Andrew returned to the cemetery to repair the graves he had inadvertently destroyed. He was soon joined by others from the community, and eventually, the group had not only repaired the damage from the wreck, but had also repaired other markers, replaced flagpoles, and added signage. Now they’re working to identify and mark the cemetery’s unmarked graves.
