Your questions
What must be done when someone close to you dies? To help you through the process, here are some answers to questions that we are often asked over the telephone, or at the time the arrangements are being made.
After a death
Is an appointment necessary to make funeral arrangements or can we go directly to one of your offices?
It is better to call us as soon as you have decided to use our services, in order to ensure that someone is available to see you. We can then set up an appointment and where to meet, at your convenience.
What should we bring to the funeral home for the arrangements?
We will need some information about the deceased: where and when he or she was born, and the names of her or his parents. If the deceased was married, we will also ask you for the same information about his or her spouse, in addition to where and when the marriage took place.
If you have the deceased’s health insurance card, you should bring it with you so that we can return it to the government. We will also need his or her social insurance number.
If you choose an open casket, you may also bring the some of the deceased’s personal effects, such as glasses, dentures, perfume and lipstick. You should bring a photo of the person, which will be used for the embalmment, the newspaper obituary notice, bookmarks or thank you cards.
What clothing should we bring if there will be a viewing?
It is at your own discretion. Generally, we suggest that you choose clothing that the deceased would have chosen. For example, if a man never wore a suit jacket, perhaps he would not want to be wearing one for the viewing.
For women, a blouse and skirt or a dress is customary, and for men, a shirt, tie and dress pants. In all cases, you must bring underwear. Shoes are not necessary, but may be worn if the family so desires. You may also bring the deceased’s favourite jewellery and rosary, which will be returned after the services.
Will the clothing be returned to us after the cremation?
Clothing cannot be given back to the family because of hygiene concerns, in conformance with Health Canada recommendations. It is, however, possible to have jewellery returned to you. You must tell your funeral counsellor which pieces of jewellery you wish to keep when you provide the deceased's clothing. The funeral counsellor will then draw up a list of objects to be returned to the family.
Will MEMORIA take care of arrangements with the church and the cemetery?
MEMORIA will reserve the date and time for the funeral with the church and the burial with the cemetery. MEMORIA will fax them the information contained in the Declaration of Death, for their records, so that the family does not have to repeat everything. It is important to note that the church’s and cemetery’s costs are not covered in the contract you will draw up with your funeral counsellor. You will receive invoices from the church and the cemetery for their services.
Is it possible to rent a casket, even if the deceased will be cremated?
Yes. In this case, the deceased will not be cremated with the casket used for the viewing, but in a casket for cremation. The rental price varies according to the models offered.
What is a concession?
A concession gives one the right to use part of the cemetery, a mausoleum or a columbarium for interment. Thus, the right to use the niches (which contain one or more urns) and the crypts (which hold one or two coffins) is granted upon signing of a burial contract.
Funeral expenses
How much does a funeral cost?
Given the wide range of services that we offer, our prices are specially adapted to your needs. To obtain a submission or simply to for more information, please contact us at 514 277-7778 or at 1 866 277-7778. We will be pleased to provide you with the information over the phone or in person.
What are the terms of payment for a contract regarding funeral arrangements? For pre-arrangements? For a concession?
You may pay by personal cheque, cash, credit card or debit card. Following a decease, MEMORIA will request a deposit and the balance will be payable within 30 days following the signing of the contract. However, it is possible to reach an agreement regarding terms of payment, such as in cases in which the pay-out for an insurance policy or settlement with the Régie des rentes du Québec has not yet been received or made.
May I pay by credit card?
Certainly. You may pay by telephone or in person at one of our offices. If you pay in person, you will immediately receive a receipt; if not, it will be sent to you by mail in the following days.
Obtaining documents
How do we obtain the various proofs of death and which ones do we need?
Following a death, certain family members will require proof of death for their employer, notary, the liquidator of the estate, the bank or any other private or governmental institution.
The following explains the several proofs of death that exist:
- Return of Death : this document, also referred to as the SP-3 form, is signed and issued by the physician who confirms the death. It must always accompany the body. MEMORIA then sends it by mail with the Declaration of Death and the health insurance card.
- Declaration of Death : this document, which is also referred to as the DEC100 form, is filled out by the MEMORIA funeral counsellor during the first meeting with the deceased's family. The family receives a copy for its records, and the original is sent to the Directeur de l’état civil, with the Return of Death SP-3 form and the deceased’s health insurance card.
- Attestation of Death :this document, issued by MEMORIA in several copies, is given to the family the day of the viewing of the deceased or sent by mail to the person who signed the contract. It carries MEMORIA’s official seal, which attests to it being the original, and may be used as proof of death until the official document issued by the Directeur de l’état civil is received. With this document, the notary may then begin the will search with the Chambre des notaires. Insurance companies and banks may sometimes accept it, but they will usually require the Certificate of Death or a Copy of an Act of Death.
- The Death Certificate and Copy of an Act of Death : These documents are issued by the Directeur de l’état civil, upon request, by either mailing in the form provided by the MEMORIA funeral counsellor, or by completing it online at www.etatcivil.gouv.qc.ca. The Copy of an Act of Death, despite its name, is an original document. It is more complete than the certificate because it includes information about the death, in addition to information about the birth and marital status of the deceased. It costs $20.00, while the Death Certificate costs $15.00. If a member of the family wishes to search for the will, the Chambre des notaires requires the Copy of an Act of Death. It takes about three weeks to obtain these documents through normal processing and six working days through accelerated processing (which costs $35). These two documents will only be delivered to the people listed in the Copy of an Act of Death, i.e., a person close to the deceased or the declarant of the death.
Legal information
How do we find out if a will or pre-arrangements exist?
To find out whether the deceased had a will, the first step is to look through the deceased’s personal belongings (safety deposit box or any other place where he or she may have stored important documents). In addition, a will search should also be done with the Registre des dispositions testamentaires et des mandates of the Chambre des notaires du Québec, which will verify the existence of the deceased’s last will. You may contact the notary or lawyer of your choice, or carry out the search on your own with the Registre, by mailing the completed and signed form.
There is, unfortunately, no general register for pre-arrangements. You must therefore check with every funeral home to find out if the deceased made pre-arrangements.
What is the Québec Pension Plan (Régie des rentes du Québec (RRQ)?
The RRQ is the government body that pays benefits after the death of a person who contributed to the plan. The benefits or pension, in the form of a pension to a surviving spouse, an orphan’s pension or a death benefit, are paid out upon request under certain conditions. For more details, go to the RRQ Internet site at www.rrq.gouv.qc.ca or call (514) 873-2433.
Is everybody eligible for the RRQ death benefit?
The RRQ death benefit will be paid out if the deceased person contributed enough, for minimum number of years, varying from 3 to 10 years, depending on the length of the contributory period, since the Québec Pension Plan entered into force in 1966.
What is a liquidator?
The liquidator, formerly known as the testamentary executor, is the person responsible for settling a succession. The liquidator executes the wishes of the deceased and must perform many tasks.
The liquidator may be designated in the will. In the case of a legal succession (no will), the heirs play this role. They may either divide the tasks among themselves or appoint one among them to act as a liquidator.
How much time do we have to renounce a succession?
Those who are entitled to inherit (successors) have a six-month time limit after the opening of the succession. The renunciation must be made before a notary.
Is Power of Attorney useful after a death?
Power of attorney is a document in which a person authorizes another to represent her or him for certain tasks, such as banking. At the time of death, the power of attorney becomes null and void.
