‘Dehumanizing’: Laval mother upset after funeral complex hosts Halloween-themed fundraiser

A Laval, Que., mother says she was shocked to learn that the funeral complex where her son is interred hosted a Halloween-themed fundraiser this week.

The event, held Thursday night at the Yves Légaré Funeral Complex, featured decorations such as hearses, coffins, skeletons, and funeral wreaths.

“It’s important to us that we honour my son, right? We miss him so much. And these were the things, some of the things that he loved,” said Valerie Smyk.

In 2019, Smyk’s son, Theo, was diagnosed with stage four bone cancer. After a year-long battle, he died just weeks after his 10th birthday.

“Going through that, and I don’t know, seeing your child starting to slip away is really something I don’t think anyone needs to experience. And then, you know, since his passing, it’s you have your family and … it’s incomplete,” she said.

Smyk says her family often visits Theo at the mausoleum, which is part of the Yves Légaré complex.

“Having that place close to home, it allows us to just jump in the car for five minutes. We’re able to go and visit him. We’re able to celebrate his memory,” she said.

That’s why Smyk says she was shocked to learn about Thursday’s fundraiser. The event featured live music, a burlesque show, and a red carpet lined with funeral wreaths leading guests inside. It was also decorated with real hearses and coffins.

The theme of the event was “Hellish Night.” A promotional poster promised “a unique experience in a world as mysterious as it is captivating.”

“Promoting like a ‘hell night’ at a funeral home where you have good people who are buried there. I don’t know what they were thinking,” Smyk said.

Funeral complex president defends the event

Eric Laberge, president of the Yves Légaré Funeral Complex, says the event was a fundraiser to support young people struggling with mental health and addiction issues.

“I understand that they may I feel offended by the theme, but we didn’t want that effect,” he said.

Laberge stands by the fundraiser, saying it raised $82,000 for local organizations. He emphasized that none of the guests entered the mausoleum, which is in a separate building from the funeral home.

“It was a success, but there are some things that we’re going to revise,” said Laberge.

Smyk says she understands the importance of raising money for a good cause, but believes the theme showed a lack of judgment and respect.

“They’re capitalizing on the people who are buried there, and they’re using that as leverage to make this Halloween party extra scary, which to me, they’re just dehumanizing the people that are there,” she said.

Smyk says she doesn’t object to fundraisers being held at the complex but hopes future events will be more sensitive to Theo’s memory — and to the many other families who have entrusted their loved ones to its care.