A guide for families at the Jewish General Hospital
If someone you love has passed away here at the Jewish General Hospital, this short guide will help you think through your options, one step at a time. There are no wrong answers.
3755 Ch. de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2
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Questions families ask at the Jewish General Hospital
3755 Ch. de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2 · CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal
What happens when someone dies at the Jewish General Hospital?
The first hours are disorienting, and nothing has to be decided at once. A physician or nurse completes the attestation of death. Your loved one stays in the hospital's care until you choose a funeral services business, which then files the declaration of death with the Directeur de l'état civil together with a family member. Nothing else is urgent.
What to do when someone dies in Quebec →Does Jewish law allow cremation?
This question is asked often here, and the answer depends on the family. Orthodox and Conservative Judaism prohibit cremation and require burial. Reform Judaism permits cremation but encourages traditional burial. If your family observes any of these traditions, speak with your rabbi before deciding. Paperman & Sons coordinates Jewish burial, taharah and the chevra kadisha in Montreal.
Is cremation allowed in Judaism? →Do I have to use a funeral home?
You have a real choice here. In Quebec, only a licensed funeral services business may carry out a cremation or a burial, but that business does not have to be a traditional funeral home. Direct cremation, with no viewing and no ceremony at a funeral home, is legal and common. Embalming is not required by law, and no casket is required for cremation.
How direct cremation works →How much does a funeral or cremation cost in Montreal?
Cost is a fair thing to ask about, and asking early protects you. A traditional funeral service in Quebec typically runs several thousand dollars once a casket, facilities and ceremony are included. Direct cremation costs a fraction of that. Ask any provider for an itemized price list, which is required by law in Quebec, and compare before you commit.
How much cremation costs in Montreal →How soon do I have to decide?
Slower than anyone tells you. Jewish burial is traditionally held within 24 hours, so if your family observes that, call a funeral home now. Otherwise there is no deadline: the hospital can keep your loved one in its care while you decide, and memorial gatherings can happen weeks or months later. Anyone pressuring you to decide immediately is a warning sign.
Direct cremation in Côte-Saint-Luc →Is there financial help with funeral costs?
Money is a hard thing to think about right now, and it is worth knowing. Retraite Québec pays a death benefit of up to $2,500 to whoever paid the funeral expenses. Apply within 60 days with proof of payment and you have priority; after that it passes to the heirs. It is not automatic; someone has to apply.
Where can I find grief support near the hospital?
Grief has no timeline, and you do not have to carry it alone. Hope & Cope, the Jewish General's own program, runs bereavement support, though that service is for families grieving a death from cancer. For any other loss, the psychosocial team at the CIUSSS can connect you with a social worker.
Official Quebec resources
Written by Francois Le Nguyen, Content Lead, Cleo Cremation
Last updated July 10, 2026