Accompanying a loved one in his or her last days of life is a big step filled with emotions. When death is imminent, it is possible to plan ahead and get information from funeral homes or complexes such as the Aeterna Complex. Our team of advisors will be able to answer your questions and guide you without any obligation on your part. Please don't stay in the dark!

When is death considered imminent?

In a hospital or palliative care setting, death is said to be imminent when there is very little time left to live. The doctors or specialists in charge are trained to observe and recognize certain signs in the body that don't lie. They can then inform the family, so that they can come to the bedside of their loved one. It is also at this time that the specialists usually suggest that the family start making inquiries to funeral homes in order to begin the process: who will take care of the body, what should be done to prepare for this, what documents should be filled out, etc. Being informed and planning ahead will reduce the mental burden, avoid family disputes and enable you to go through the final moments and your grief more serenely.

Our role at the Aeterna Complex

"When you begin making your inquiries or taking steps, our role is first and foremost to inform you and help you—in short, to lighten your load and enable you to see things a little more clearly," emphasizes Lucie Marsolais, General Manager of the Aeterna Funeral Complex.

"We can set up an appointment on site or by phone for this purpose. We can then meet with you at the Complex and plan the preliminary contract that will be transformed into a death contract when the time comes. This helps you to be prepared, to feel more informed and confident, and even to talk about it with the dying person."

On the other hand, for the advisors of the Aeterna Complex, it is easier to know the assets and needs of the client, in addition to the important elements that will be needed at the time of death (urn, coffin, etc.). This also helps us plan the dates for reserving the viewing rooms as well as the big and little details in order to give a final tribute that meets your expectations.

There are two types of people--those who plan quickly, as soon as they learn that their loved one is going to die, and those who take charge in the present moment, when their loved one passes away. Our strength at the Aeterna Complex is to be ready to respond to both types of people, always with the same professionalism. We are always ready. When the impending contract is already in our hands, we already know what the family wants, so it's easy to act quickly and efficiently. We also suggest to our clients that they notify the hospital that they are dealing with the Aeterna Funeral Complex, so that we can take care of the deceased's body on the same day that we are appointed by the family. Once again, our goal is to relieve the family and enable them to grieve with fewer administrative hassles.

In short, this way of planning is used by more and more people in Québec. If you have any questions about "aftercare", procedures, documentation, etc., don't hesitate to contact us. There is no need to wait until the last moment or to remain uncertain. Our professional, caring team will look after you, keeping your wishes, values and traditions in mind.