A guide for families at Lakeshore General Hospital
If someone you love has passed away here at Lakeshore, this short guide will help you think through your options, one step at a time. There are no wrong answers.
160 Av. Stillview, Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 2Y2
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For families here
Questions families ask at Lakeshore
160 Av. Stillview, Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 2Y2 · CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal
What happens when someone dies at Lakeshore 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 →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 cremation cost on the West Island?
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.
Cremation in Pointe-Claire →How soon do I have to decide?
Slower than anyone tells you. There is no deadline to choose a funeral home, a cremation or a burial. The hospital can keep your loved one in its care while your family decides, and a memorial gathering can happen weeks or months later, on your own timeline. Anyone pressuring you to decide immediately is a warning sign.
How much cremation costs in Montreal →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.
Official Quebec resources
Written by Francois Le Nguyen, Content Lead, Cleo Cremation
Last updated July 10, 2026