Robert Bush, a former funeral director, pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court to 30 counts of preventing lawful and decent burial, part of a total of 67 offences.
The charges arise from allegations that Bush failed to properly handle the remains of deceased individuals, including a stillborn infant whose body was discovered in a cold storage area at his former premises.
Families who had believed their loved ones had been respectfully buried or cremated were later informed that the remains had been stored on the floor of the funeral director's facility, often in an envelope resembling an evidence bag.
One mother recounted the shock of learning that her son, who had died at 18 weeks, had been found in a cold store envelope, contradicting the earlier claim of a proper funeral.
She described Bush as courteous and professional, yet said he had deceived many families, and urged that industry best practices be codified into law.
The sentencing hearing is set for a week later, and the case has spurred demands for tighter regulation of funeral services.
The proceedings underscore the necessity of clear protocols for handling human remains and the role of oversight to protect grieving families.
