Hundreds gather to celebrate mass funeral for 'forgotten' people of Quebec City

Every six months, for the past 33 years, Gilles Kgle organizes amass funeralin Quebec City to honour people who would otherwise have died anonymously.

Friday's ceremony at the Saint-Rochchurch in the lower town was the largest one yet.

"I never thought I'd get through it," Kgle said after he'd read out thenames of 43 people who have died since October.

One name was particularly difficult for KgleJean Abranhis roommate and colleague for nearly two decades.

"We spent 18 years and 4 months together. He gave his life to the foundation so it's very difficult, but I'm also happy," Kgle said afterward, holding back tears.

"Happy," he explained,for the support he's seen pour in after going public last week about thefoundation's financial struggles.

The FondationGillesKgle's main mission is to delivermeals and checkon people "who don't have families, who don't have anybody, who have mental health problems and are completely abandoned," Kgle explained.

The foundation also pays for the cremation and funeral fees for their patients after they die, as well as for those who die in hospital, but who are estranged from theirfamilies.

But with twice as many deaths to handle, the foundation is facing an extra $100,000 in costs for 2019.

Government promises support

Just hours after his concerns were made public on Wednesday,the foundation received $20,000 in private donations. That number is expectedto climb,once all the mail is sorted next week.

Kglesaid he also received a phone call from the vice-premier, promising action from the CAQ government, after his plea was heard at the National Assembly.

"I'm happy to see the government finally understands," said Kgle, who has never received a public grant for his work.

"I don't feel alone anymore.What I hope now is thatother organizations will do the same, and take care of our forgotten people," he said on Friday, before going to meet with the large crowd of people who showed up for the ceremony.

Jacques Dumont, who works at a nearby soup kitchen, was among them.

"Ange-Aime, Alain, Honor they're all people who came to our soup kitchen," said Dumont.

"We talked to them every day, we tookcare of them, we went to the hospital with them, we fed them, we listened to them and we loved them."

He also wanted to pay his respects and support family members who were at the ceremony.

Some could not afford to pay for their loved ones' funeral arrangements themselves, and contacted Kgle for help. Otherslike Jean-Marc Poulin were estranged from their siblings.

"We haven't seen our brother for many, many years," said Poulin.

When his sister called him to announce their sibling Simon had died, Poulinwanted to take part in "a day to remember him."

"It takes me back many, many years ago. I remember many events I shared with him, and how we were living, as a family."

Kgle said the urns will be buried in June, in a lot donated by a local funeral home.

"It will be done with utmost respect. We go there with the volunteers often to pray that's also where I will be buried one day."