A guide for families at the Royal Victoria Hospital
If someone you love has passed away here at the Royal Victoria Hospital, this short guide will help you think through your options, one step at a time. There are no wrong answers.
1001 Boul. Décarie, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1
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For families here
Questions families ask at the Royal Victoria Hospital
1001 Boul. Décarie, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1 · McGill University Health Centre (MUHC)
What happens when someone dies at the Royal Victoria 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 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. If your family observes a tradition of prompt burial, such as Islam or observant Judaism, which bury within about 24 hours, 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 Westmount →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. The MUHC's spiritual care team supports families of every belief, and the social workers at the Glen site offer bereavement support after a death. For ongoing help, MyGrief.ca offers free online grief support you can use from home.
Official Quebec resources
Written by Francois Le Nguyen, Content Lead, Cleo Cremation
Last updated July 10, 2026