White Powder & Peg Leg Problems | 4M #205

Welcome to the two-hundred-and-fifth edition of Morticians’ Monday Morning Mashup, 4M #205, 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!

Codebreaking

We’re familiar with Disney’s disdain for people scattering human cremated remains in their parks. Unfortunately, this violation occurs so often that Disney cast members have created codes to covertly summon a clean-up crew to the scene? At least that’s what’s circulating on the “Today I Learned” Reddit thread, where current and former cast members listed “Code Grandma” and “White Powder Alert” as the calls to action for cremains. Other codes, just in case you’re curious, include “Code V” for vomit, “Code U” for urine, and “82” for a guest who won’t fit on a ride — because he 8 2 much. Can’t make this stuff up.

A pirate’s life for him

A few weeks ago, the fate of Peg Leg Pete, a 12-foot-tall wooden statue that has stood in Fernandina Beach, Florida for 50 years, was being discussed by a local historical group. After discovering that human cremated remains had been interred within the Pete’s hollow interior, though, the question is no longer whether or not to restore the statue — it’s how to respectfully and lawfully deal with the deceased’s cremains. The group is working with local authorities to do just that, so for the moment, Peg Leg Pete still stands tall — ashes and all.

Not your typical removal

A team of funeral workers in Sri Lanka have been using their company’s hearse — often occupied by a deceased person — as a convenient cover for a burglary spree. The bad guys hoped the vehicle would distract townspeople while they broke into shops and helped themselves to valuables. And it worked … until it didn’t. Authorities apprehended the suspects and recovered stolen jewelry worth 3.8 million Sri Lankan rupees (about $12,500) from local pawn shops — and the funeral home’s embalming room.