Suggested Reading to Help You Through the Grieving Process
Grieving is an ordeal that’s never easy to get through. Every bereavement is different, from one person to another, and even our own grief following the death of a loved one or another.
It’s perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed after losing someone dear to us. Nevertheless, there are resources, such as books, to guide us on our journey.
Here are 6 books designed to help you through the grieving process.
Le Deuil, une odyssée : vivre après la mort d’un proche
Axelle Huber
Le Deuil, une odyssée : vivre après la mort d’un proche is a book full of imagery and poetry that describes how, over time, we can begin to live again after a bereavement, no matter how brutal it may be.
Axelle Huber is a professional and family coach with expertise in bereavement support. In fact, the author herself lost her husband before their 4 children reached the age of 10.
In this book, she shares her thoughts, along with information, tools, anecdotes and testimonials drawn from her professional experience.
Quand la mort éclaire la vie
Matthieu Ricard, Christophe André, Christophe Fauré & Steven Laureys
Quand la mort éclaire la vie is edited by Ilios Kotsou and Caroline Lesire. In its pages, we find the reflections of a psychiatrist, a Buddhist monk, a palliative care worker, a philosopher and a neuroscientist. They share their knowledge and wisdom to lift the veil on grief, the universal experience shared by all humanity.
A luminous book that opens horizons and helps us learn to live better.
Comment revivre après le deuil d’un enfant
Laurence Guillot-Noël
In her book Comment revivre après le deuil d’un enfant, Laurence Guillot-Noël tackles one of the greatest sufferings a person can go through: the loss of a child. Having experienced this loss herself, she shares a message of resilience and hope with her readers.
In this book, the author attempts to answer some of the questions associated with death and bereavement, and offers tools for recovering from this painful ordeal through 7 stages of reconstruction.
The book is accompanied by a CD featuring relaxation texts read by the author, and a booklet explaining death to children age 4 to 12.
Le deuil du conjoint : de l’ombre à la lumière
Anne Liu
Le deuil du conjoint : de l’ombre à la lumière is a touching book about death and grief, but also about love and hope.
It begins with a look at the nature of grief under the microscope of professionals. This is followed by touching testimonials from widows and widowers whose lives were turned upside down when they lost their life partner.
This enlightening book also includes poems, literary texts and prayers to help us along the road of the grieving process.
Sortir du deuil : Surmonter son chagrin et réapprendre à vivre
Evelyne Bissone Jeufroy & Anne Ancelin Schützenberger
Lyne Bissone Jeufroy and Anne Ancelin Schützenberger are both psychologists specializing in psychogenealogy.
Their book, Sortir du deuil : Surmonter son chagrin et réapprendre à vivre, addresses the fact that every loss or bereavement experienced represents destabilizing stress that requires us to adapt and regain our equilibrium.
According to the authors, it’s essential to recharge our batteries and regain our strength in order to emerge from grief. To achieve this, they propose a path along which we take care to enjoy ourselves and surround ourselves with loving people.
This book is a guide to getting through grief and regaining serenity.
Vivre le deuil au jour le jour
Christophe Fauré
In his book Vivre le deuil au jour le jour, Christophe Fauré sets out to break down the taboos surrounding death and bereavement. The author explains the day-to-day process of mourning, which will differ according to the identity of the deceased and each person’s history.
He also answers the many questions that the bereaved may have. This psychological guide offers support and comfort to those who find it difficult to move forward in the face of grief.
READ MORECremation: How to Discuss Your Choice With Your Loved Ones
You’ve made your choice: After your final farewell, you’d like your ashes to be placed in an urn. Now it’s time to broach the subject with your loved ones.
How do you explain to your loved ones the reasons that led you to choose cremation as a means of disposing of your body? That’s the subject of this article…
Cremation or burial: the choice is yours
First of all, congratulations on your decision to make your own funeral arrangements. By doing so, you are relieving your family of an additional burden at the time of your death. But more importantly, it ensures that your wishes will be understood and respected.
When you plan your prearrangements with your funeral services advisor, one of the topics you’ll discuss together will be how to dispose of your body. As with all other decisions you make when planning your funeral prearrangements, it’s a good idea to discuss them not only with the executor of your will, but also with your loved ones.
Commemoration after cremation
Although this is your own personal decision, opening the discussion with those who will mourn you after you’re gone gives you the opportunity to better understand their needs in terms of commemoration.
If you wish, you can therefore adapt your arrangements so that your loved ones can honour your memory in a way that brings them peace and comfort. For example, would you like to be on view at the funeral ceremony, which takes place before the cremation?
It’s also important to decide what will happen to your ashes after cremation:
- Do you want your ashes to be buried in a cemetery or scattered in nature?
- Would you prefer your urn to be displayed in a columbarium or kept at a loved one’s home?
Like the cemetery, the columbarium provides a peaceful place of remembrance for your loved ones. If one of your loved ones prefers to keep the ashes at home, this is another possibility. Whichever option you choose, it’s essential that you and your family are well informed about them.
Cremation: a question of values
For some, the choice of cremation as a means of disposing of the body is based on their values.
For example, many people are looking for an environmentally-friendly option to dispose of their body. For others, the idea of returning to the earth to perpetuate the cycle of life gives a certain meaning to death.
Cremation may be in line with some people’s beliefs, but it can also upset others. Here’s how cremation is perceived by various religions:
- The Muslim religion prohibits cremation.
- Cremation is also prohibited within Judaism, although more “liberal” Jews do opt for it.
- The Catholic Church has accepted cremation since 1963, but still favours burial.
- The Orthodox religion tolerates cremation, but doesn’t encourage it.
- Protestantism, Buddhism and Hinduism accept cremation without any problem.
- Lastly, in Sikhism and Jainism, cremation of the deceased is considered a must.
When your faith differs from that of your parents or other loved ones, it can be more difficult to discuss your choice of how to dispose of your body, especially if it goes against their beliefs.
Remember: if cremation is important to you, the decision is yours, and it must be respected by your loved ones.
Why choose Crématorium Montréal?
At Crématorium Montréal, we offer accessible funeral services so that everyone can be laid to rest with dignity.
We offer an economical cremation package. You can also plan your funeral prearrangements online.
Whatever your funeral service needs, our team is here to support you and your loved ones.
READ MOREA Guide to the Holiday Season After the Loss of a Loved One
When you have lost someone you love, the arrival of the holiday season can make you feel a little apprehensive. The large gatherings, the memories that resurface, the traditions that change… Even though they bring joy, the weight of grief often becomes heavier during the holidays.
In this article, we share some tips on how to ease this emotionally-charged period.
Give yourself the freedom to say yes (or no)
Grief is as difficult physically as it is psychologically. That’s why it’s essential to listen to your needs and respect your limits.
Not in the mood to have everyone at your home this year? Don’t. Exhausted seeing your holiday schedule fill up? Turn down invitations. You don’t have to say yes to everything or everyone.
If there are aspects of the celebration that you feel would be good for you, you don’t have to do without them entirely. You may well choose to attend a party, but to leave early. Similarly, you may decide to host your loved ones at home, but to delegate tasks to lighten your responsibilities.
By expressing your needs and setting clear limits, you can make sure that your approach is understood and respected by your loved ones.
Create your own ritual of commemoration
Moments like the holidays serve as anchors in our lives. That’s why the absence of a loved one is particularly painful. Commemoration can help you fill the void, but also to develop new points of reference for the years to come.
Alone or with your loved ones, find the best way to honour the memory of your loved one. You will be able to repeat this moment every year in his or her memory.
Here are a few examples of memorial rituals:
- Take a moment, alone or with others, to recall a happy memory you shared with the deceased.
- Pay your respects at the cemetery, columbarium or other meaningful place before the festivities.
- Install a photo of your loved one in a place that suits you, such as near the table or the Christmas tree.
- Light a candle and offer holiday greetings to your loved one, in thought.
It’s up to you to determine the best way to keep the memory of your loved one alive through a ritual that reflects his or her image.
Perpetuate traditions in your loved one’s memory
For some, traditions directly associated with the deceased are a source of sadness, and it’s best to erase them from the holiday routine. For others, continuing these traditions is rather a way of honouring the loved one. If it makes you feel good to continue your loved one’s contributions to your family celebrations, don’t deprive yourself, above all!
For example, you could:
- Cook the recipe your loved one used to make every year. Even if you’re not as good at it as your loved one was, it’s no big deal!
- Play a game your loved one particularly liked. When the giggles come, it feels good!
- Sing his or her favourite Christmas songs as a family. A sing-along brings comfort to the heart.
Surround yourself with peace and kindness
Grieving people sometimes feel guilty for enjoying themselves. Don’t deprive yourself in any way! You have the right to laugh and, even if only for a few moments, to forget your grief. It’s certainly what your loved one would have wanted for your holiday season.
If you don’t want to be alone, seek out the company of kind-hearted people who make you feel good. If, on the other hand, you crave solitude, embrace it without restraint. Nature can also be a place to recharge your batteries. If you have the strength, taking a walk among the snow-covered trees can provide you with a sense of well-being.
By establishing rituals that are meaningful to you and by creating new traditions, you will make each holiday season a little less difficult. Remember: all these gestures are not intended to forget the deceased, but rather to keep his or her memory alive, year after year.
READ MORECremation: an Ecological Option?
Funeral rites are designed to celebrate the life of a deceased person by honouring that individual’s memory and the person they were. So, from the ceremony to the deceased’s final resting place, it’s important that the person’s essence be respected, in his or her beliefs and convictions.
In today’s world, the environmental aspect is an important part of many people’s values. Many are concerned about their post-mortem ecological footprint.
Is cremation a good disposal option from an ecological point of view? That’s what we’ll be looking at in this article…
Disposal options
First, let’s take a look at the various methods of disposing of a body, i.e. the legal means of handling the corpse of a deceased person.
The two most common methods are:
- Burial, the act of placing a deceased person in the ground in a cemetery. Most often, a body is buried in a coffin, but the person’s ashes may also be buried in an urn.
- Cremation, the process of burning (incinerating) the body of a deceased person at a very high temperature
These 2 lesser-known methods are also available in Quebec:
- Aquamation, a technique called alkaline hydrolysis that uses water to rapidly dissolve the tissues, leaving only the bones, which will be reduced to dust to form the “ashes” as found during cremation
- Cryonics, which involves immersing the body in liquid nitrogen to preserve it. This technique is legal, but rarely used.
Finally, there are 2 other methods of disposal that are not yet legal in Quebec:
- Promession, or freeze-drying the body, i.e. removing all the water it contains. The remains are then reduced to powder.
- Humusation, or human composting, which involves covering the body with natural materials so that it decomposes in a specific area
Cremation and the environment
Of the 2 most common options, burial and cremation, the latter is the least harmful to the environment. The use of concrete in the construction of graves, for example, adds to the environmental impact of burial.
Cremation also generates fewer carbon emissions. Crématorium Montréal is one of the companies that takes care to comply with the Clean Air Regulation, as described by the Ministère de l’Environnement du Québec.
Ecological urns
A number of the urns available at our shop are sure to meet your environmental concerns.
Of course, there’s the biodegradable urn. Often made of cardboard, sand or wood, it is designed to disintegrate in the soil without harming the existing ecosystem.
Some biodegradable urns can even generate tree growth. This is a wonderful way to bring life from the ashes of a deceased person.
You can also prioritize urns made in Quebec. This will reduce the environmental impact of transporting them.
Contact us to learn more about the ecological urn options available at our shop.
Support from Crématorium Montréal
At Crématorium Montréal, we offer accessible funeral services so that everyone can reach their final resting place with dignity.
Whatever your funeral service needs, our team can help you plan your farewell in keeping with your values.
READ MOREAll You Need to Know About the Use of Coffins in Cremation
Since ancient times, coffins and cremation have gone hand in hand in the funeral rites of mankind. In fact, even today, for many people, the choice of coffin is an important part of funeral prearrangement planning.
But what is the role of the casket when cremation is chosen over burial? What are the laws and options regarding the use of caskets for cremation in Quebec?
Find out more by reading this article…
Casket and cremation: what does the law say?
Quebec laws include a number of guidelines for the disposal of bodies on its territory, to ensure that everyone who dies is treated with dignity until their final resting place.
In the case of flame cremation, the Quebec government’s Regulation respecting the application of the Funeral Operations Act stipulates that “the body must be placed in a cremation container made of the appropriate combustible materials designed to support the weight of the body”.
So even if there is no viewing of the deceased, the body must still be placed in a rigid cardboard or wooden coffin until cremation. Of course, these coffins are often more modest in appearance than those used to display the deceased at a viewing.
Cremation: with or without a viewing?
When the time comes to decide whether or not to display the body, the choice rests with the deceased’s family (or with the deceased himself, if he has made his last wishes known).
Cremation without a viewing is called “simple cremation”. In this case, the body is transported to the cremation site in a thin cardboard or wooden container.
If viewing is part of the funeral rites surrounding the person’s death, then the body will be displayed in a casket. This can be made of plywood or natural wood, such as oak, mahogany or pine. A viewing casket can also be made of copper, bronze or steel.
Buy or rent the viewing casket?
Since the purchase of a casket often represents close to half of the total cost of funeral arrangements, many people opt for rental instead.
In fact, it’s possible to rent a casket shell to display the body of the deceased during the funeral rites, and then use a more sober (and less expensive) container for cremation or burial.
There’s no right or wrong answer to the question of whether to buy or rent a casket. The decision is yours!
Crématorium Montréal’s services
At Crématorium Montréal, our goal is to offer affordable funeral services so that everyone can rest in dignity.
Among other things, we offer a low-cost, contactless cremation package. This online service is designed to make the cremation process as simple as possible for those who have just lost a loved one.
You can also plan your funeral prearrangements online to ensure a respectful and professional cremation service when the time comes.
Whatever your funeral service needs, our team is here to help and guide you.
Source:
https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/document/cr/A-5.02,%20r.%201
READ MOREThe Origins of Cremation in Quebec
Cremation has been part of funeral rites in many cultures for thousands of years. However, Canada’s first crematorium opened in 1901, in Montreal.
Cremation is a funeral technique designed to reduce the body of a deceased person to ashes. Along with burial, it is one of the most common techniques used by human beings worldwide to dispose of the bodies of the deceased.
“Cremation” is often confused with “incineration”. Although both terms refer to the act of burning to ashes, the word “incineration” is more commonly used when referring to objects. The word “cremation” is preferred when referring to a funeral rite.
Read this article to find out more about the origins of cremation and its place at the heart of funeral rites in Quebec.
Cremation, past and present
The first traces of cremation in funeral rites date back to the Neolithic period. At a number of archaeological sites in Europe, pottery containing the ashes of several individuals has been found, proving the use of cremation as a funeral technique as early as 2500 BC.
Then, during Antiquity, cremation was commonly used for the deaths of Roman aristocrats, including Caesar and his family. This funeral technique continued to evolve until what is known as “modern cremation”, i.e. cremation as we know it today. It came into being towards the end of the 19th century, thanks to advances in modern science.
Cremation and religion
Buddhism has always permitted cremation as a means of disposing of the body.
In Hinduism, the practice is mandatory. In India, cremation takes place on a pyre on the banks of a sacred river. The ashes are then scattered in the river.
Cremation has been authorized by the Catholic Church since 1963. However, ashes cannot be kept at home or scattered in nature. They must be preserved in cemeteries.
In the Protestant religion, cremation has been accepted since 1898.
As for the Orthodox, Muslim and Judaic religions, they do not allow cremation.
Cremation in Quebec culture
In Quebec, cremation became part of our funeral rites in 1901, with the opening of the first Canadian crematorium. It was built in Montreal’s Mount Royal Cemetery.
At the time, the debate surrounding cremation was divisive. As the Catholic Church did not approve of cremation, not everyone agreed with the construction of the crematorium. Certain amendments were therefore made to the cremation bill:
- Only individuals who own a plot in the Mount Royal Cemetery will have access to cremation services.
- A person wishing to have his or her body cremated must make a request in his or her will (excluding cremation of the body of a minor, for example).
In 1903, the committee in charge of the crematorium succeeded in making cremation available to anyone who expressed the wish in writing, for themselves or for another person in their care, be it a child, patient or other.
What the law says
Here’s some relevant information about the laws pertaining to cremation in Quebec:
- Cremation must be carried out in a crematorium operated by a funeral service company.
- Human ashes may be delivered by the funeral service company to only one person and must be placed in one or more containers, in which all the ashes must be distributed.
- No one may scatter human ashes in a place where they could constitute a nuisance or in a manner that does not respect the dignity of the deceased.
The services of Crématorium Montréal
Did you know that without any need to go anywhere, you can make arrangements for the remains of your loved one, with the help of one of our Crématorium Montréal family advisors?
We take care of everything, remotely. Check out our services to learn more.
We also offer attentive, professional cremation services following the death of a loved one.
Our team is here to help you get through this ordeal with full peace of mind.
Sources:
https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/fr/document/lc/A-5.02
https://archipel.uqam.ca/7193/1/M13747.pdf
READ MOREThe Origins of the Burning Chapel
We’re all familiar with the term “burning chapel” (often referred to in English by the French equivalent “chapelle ardente”), which is an integral part of our funeral traditions.
A burning chapel is a temporary place specially designed for the body of the deceased to lie in state until the funeral ceremony. This is where loved ones come to keep vigil and pay their respects.
But what does “burning chapel” mean? Why does it have this very special name? Find out more about the origins of the burning chapel and its place at the heart of modern funeral rites.
The burning chapel in the Middle Ages
In medieval times, the deceased were usually laid to rest at home. However, in the case of a priest or a public figure, the body of the deceased would lie in state in the chapel instead. In this way, a larger number of visitors could come to pay their respects.
In such cases, numerous candles were used to illuminate the visitation area. This gave rise to the term “burning chapel”. This practice was in fact used for the majority of royal funeral ceremonies in the late Middle Ages.
The first written notes on the subject appear in the account of the funeral of French King Louis X, in 1316. It speaks of two burning chapels built at Saint-Denis and Notre-Dame to mark the monarch’s death.
Nevertheless, it is in the account of the funeral of René d’Anjou, who died in 1480, that the expression “chapelle ardente” is first noted.
| Note: The term “chapelle ardente” must not be confused with “chambre ardente“, which refers to a 16th-century French inquisitorial court, responsible for judging crimes against the state. |
The burning chapel of modern times
Today, a visitation parlour could be considered a modern-day burning chapel. However, while the coffin in a visitation parlour is often placed close to a wall, the coffin lying in state in a burning chapel is generally placed right in the middle of the room, allowing visitors to walk around both sides of the coffin.
The casket models used for viewing the decease in a burning chapel are fitted with a lid that can be completely removed so that the deceased is not hidden on one side by the open lid. In fact, this type of coffin is often referred to as a “priest’s coffin”, most likely in reference to the traditional use of this type of viewing.
The burning chapel can be held in a place of worship, but also in other significant locations such as a city hall, a parliament building, a museum or even an amphitheatre. In all cases, the coffin is usually placed on a raised and decorated funeral platform, known as a catafalque.
A few examples of famous burning chapels:
Queen Elizabeth II: September 15-19, 2022, the Queen of England lay in state (i.e., in a burning chapel) in London’s Westminster Hall. The line to the coffin stretched for 8 kilometres, and some visitors had to wait up to 30 hours to spend a few seconds with the late sovereign.
Maurice Richard: On May 30, 2000, some 100,000 people came to pay tribute to the Rocket at the Molson Centre, which was transformed into a burning chapel to honour the deceased.
Pope Benedict XVI: January 2-4, some 65,000 faithful bid farewell to the head of the Catholic Church, who lay in state for 3 days in a burning chapel in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.
| In memory of Michel Côté, who lay in state at the Monument-National in Montreal on June 8. |
Sources :
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapelle_ardente
https://www.lagentiane.org/chroniques/est-une-chapelle-ardente-3714/
https://www.biographi.ca/fr/bio/richard_maurice_22F.html
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chambre_ardente
READ MOREFuneral Prearrangements: How to Prepare?
Pre-planning funeral arrangements is a simple way to give you and your loved ones peace of mind. With funeral pre-planning, you can make sure that your wishes are known, understood and respected following your death. As for your loved ones, this short process will relieve them of a financial and logistical burden.
Planning alone or with your loved ones?
In making your arrangements in advance, you will decide how your death will be observed by your loved ones. This includes the more technical details, such as how the body will be disposed of and where you will be commemorated. However, you can also include any ritual or spiritual requests you may have.
Since your pre-arrangements will dictate the way the final good-byes will proceed, it’s a good idea to involve your loved ones in the planning process. In doing so, you can inform them of your expectations and they can discuss with you how they would like to honour your memory.
In this way, you can make sure that your ceremony is a reflection of who you are and that your loved ones will be able to mourn in their own way.
What questions should I ask?
During your funeral pre-arrangements, our advisor will discuss three topics with you:
- Disposal of the body
- Services and other considerations
- Rituals and wishes
The questions listed below will guide your thinking and make sure you cover all the points that will be discussed when planning your pre-arrangements.
Disposal of the body
How the body will be disposed of is the first detail to be discussed. It will influence all the decisions to follow.
Here are the questions to ask yourself:
- Would you like your body to be buried or would you prefer cremation?
- Where will your final resting place be, the cemetery or the columbarium?
Services and other considerations
Your loved ones will have many details and providers to deal with when you die. However, a number of decisions can be made now to relieve them of this pressure.
Here are the questions to ask yourself:
- Would you like your body to be viewed? If so, would you prefer to rent or buy a casket?
- If you opt for burial, what type of coffin would you like?
- If you opt for cremation, what type of urn would you like?
- Would you like to reserve a parlor for visitation? If so, for how long?
- Would you like to reserve a reception room for the funeral meal?
- Do you want to budget now for expenses such as obituary notices, flowers, buffet, etc.?
Rituals and wishes
Once you have discussed the more technical aspects of the pre-arrangements, it’s time to tackle the ceremonial aspects.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Would you like the farewell ceremony to take place on site or would you prefer a religious service at the church?
- Are there any photos, music or texts you would like to include in the ceremony?
- Who will speak at the ceremony?
- Are there any special rituals or traditions you would like to see respected?
- Do your loved ones have any requests regarding the ceremony?
After the preparations comes the planning
Once you have explored these various questions, you can make an appointment with us to plan your funeral pre-arrangements.
Of course, all this is just food for thought. You don’t have to do any of this to meet with one of our advisors. We are here to guide you through the process and can discuss each of these points with you to find the option that suits you best.
Sources:
https://www.fcfq.coop/chroniques/dossier-special-les-arrangements-prealables-funeraires-2332/
READ MORETestimony: A Mother is Always There
From the moment a mother brings a child into the world, she is there for him. Day and night, whatever his needs are, she is always there.
She taught you to walk, to talk, to taste the good things in life. You were growing up so fast! She often said to herself, “I’ve lost my baby”… But deep down, she was happy to see you grow up and enjoyed discovering the person you were becoming.
On your first day of school, she dropped you off with your little lunch box and watched you disappear behind closed doors. What you didn’t know is that she spent the day in her car outside the school, hoping to catch a glimpse of you at recess. She wanted to make sure you were getting along with your classmates and making many new friends.
Over the years, your Mom teaches you to dance, to laugh, to love. She teaches you to love others and, most importantly, to love yourself. She tells you about what her life was like when she was your age. She explains to you how life was different in her day. And she tells you about those things that she didn’t get to experience and that she is happy you can do so.
As a teenager, you experience love and your Mom is there to support you. As you enter adulthood, you begin to go out and about on your own. Your Mom is always there. She waits for you in the evening, even when you come home late. You confide in her about your personal life and she listens, advises you, but never judges you.
One day, you introduce the love of your life to your Mom. When you tell her that you are going to get married, deep in her heart, your Mom knows that this is not the right person for you. But she respects you and lets you make your own way.
At the wedding, sitting in the front row, she cries, but she is there for you. All that matters is that she shares this important moment with you and supports you.
Later, you have your own children. Your Mom then becomes a grandmother. She is the best babysitter; she takes such good care of her grandchildren! Every Christmas, she is there to share the little family’s happiness. It is during these moments of celebration that you share your reality as a parent. She tells you about her life, her past Christmases. She talks about her own parents and grandparents. Through her stories and memories, you get to know your Mom. You will discover your Mom’s life all throughout your own.
One day, you tell your Mom that you have met someone new and that you will continue your life with her. From the first meeting, she knows that this time it’s the right one and that makes her happy. At your second wedding, still sitting in the front row, she laughs out loud. She beams at seeing her child so well accompanied.
Life goes on. The grandchildren grow up and in turn have their own children. This is when your mother discovers she is ill. You all have to come to terms with the fact that the holiday season will never be the same again. Then, slowly, life fades away and that’s how your Mom leaves you.
Even though she is no longer with you, you still remember her advice, her stories and her recipes. By cooking your Mom’s dishes, you keep her alive, close to you at all times.
Life goes on. Time passes slowly. Then, sickness hits you, too. In need of special care, you live in a hospital. It is there that other memories, deeper, more ingrained, come back to you. You remember her perfume. Her lipstick. Her nail polish. The sound of her heels on the floor. You remember your life with her.
As you near the end of your own life, and in your last moments, you will still be able to ask her: “Mom, come get me”. She will still be there for you.
READ MOREGuy Lafleur: 1 Year Since the Great Departure of Le Démon Blond
On April 22, we lost Guy Lafleur to lung cancer at the age of 70. Here’s a look back at this great name in hockey history—a player with extraordinary energy and a man of incomparable generosity.
A legend on the ice
Guy Lafleur made a remarkable debut in the National Hockey League, where he played for 17 seasons. He skated for the New York Rangers and the Quebec Nordiques, but he forged his career mainly with the Montreal Canadiens, the team with which he won 5 Stanley Cups.
Known for his impressive speed and his outstandingly accurate shots, he became the first NHL player to score 50 goals and 100 points during 6 consecutive seasons. In fact, he was named one of the 100 best players in the League in 2017.
In 1988, the number 10 was retired by the Habs when Guy Lafleur was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
A man who was larger than life
Guy Lafleur’s popularity extended far beyond the ice. The man nicknamed “Démon Blond” (Blond Demon) was known for his generosity and simplicity. Always close to people despite his success, he never refused to sign an autograph or take a picture with a fan.
He was involved with the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation and the CHUM Foundation. Helping children was important to him. That’s why he often visited young patients in children’s hospitals.
A national funeral for the hockey player
On April 24, 2022, as the Canadiens took on the Bruins at the Bell Centre, a pre-game ceremony paying tribute to the man who had left us two days earlier, ended with a 10-minute standing ovation among the fans in attendance.
The official commemorations took place May 1-2, 2022 at the Bell Centre. Tens of thousands of people gathered in front of his casket, transforming the place into a burning chapel.
Guy Lafleur’s national funeral was held on May 3 at the Mary Queen of the World Cathedral in Montreal. His casket was carried by his ex-team mates Pierre Bouchard, Guy Lapointe, Mario Tremblay, Yvon Lambert and his sons Mark and Martin.
The master of ceremonies was none other than Michel Lacroix, the Montreal Canadiens’ in-house announcer. A number of big names in hockey paid tribute to Guy Lafleur that day. Ginette Reno even performed her song “L’Essentiel”. Then, the religious part of the ceremony was presided over by Christian Lépine, Archbishop of Montreal.
And lastly, the casket—covered in the colours of the Montreal Canadiens—was escorted out of the cathedral to a round of applause.
A tribute that transcends time
Last May, the city of Montreal was talking about naming a street, a park or another public space after Guy Lafleur. As for the Quebec government, it said it was open to the idea of renaming Highway 50 “Autoroute Guy Lafleur”, as it runs through Thurso, the hockey player’s hometown.
However, according to the Commission de toponymie du Québec (CTQ), a place cannot be named after a person who died less than a year ago. Today, almost 12 months after the great departure of Le Démon Blond, we can hope to see his name revived in our Quebec spaces.
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