Lyricist Stéphane Venne received medical assistance in dying on Friday – “He died in peace and serenity,” his wife confided to the “Journal”

One of the most important Quebec songwriters, Stéphane Venne died peacefully on Friday, surrounded by his loved ones, at the age of 83. Suffering from an incurable illness, he chose to die with dignity by opting for medical assistance in dying.

“I have had an extraordinary life. It’s better that it ends like this,” he confided to his wife of 44 years, Marie Dumais, a few days before his big departure.

Very ill since November and hospitalized in Saint-Hyacinthe for two weeks, Stéphane Venne underwent a series of examinations. Doctors identified a gastrointestinal problem so serious that it was incurable. They therefore offered him medical assistance in dying, for which he was eligible due to the seriousness of his condition.

“Continuing would have been therapeutic relentlessness. Everything happened quickly. We are lucky to live in Quebec where it can be done this way,” confided Marie Dumais, 74, to Journal Wednesday evening.

“He was in a state of constant malnutrition, the vital organs were sluggish and it was the heart that was becoming sick. He was not in pain, but his whole person was overcome by great suffering. He knew that there is[vait] no remission possible,” she explained.

After receiving a second medical opinion, it only took a few hours before the papers were signed and he chose the date of his death: Friday January 17.

The songwriter from Verdun, Montreal, who wrote for several well-known artists, including Renée Claude, Pierre Lalonde, Isabelle Pierre, Emmanuëlle and Marie-Élaine Thibert, was lucid until the end.

“He wanted to leave with great peace of mind. On this subject, we sing the same song. The decline of the body and the mind, we did not want that,” added Marie Dumais.

The intervention took place as planned this Friday afternoon. The lyricist was surrounded by his wife and their two children, Béatrice and Laurent.

“Now is the end of me.”

Marie Dumais admits that it was she who “convinced” her husband (a rather reserved man) of the importance of giving their testimony. “So that there remains something of this man who has been an important artistic, political and social personality in the culture of Quebec since the 1960s.”

“Quebec loses a great composer whose work is still very current,” she stressed.

Stéphane Venne wrote and composed more than 400 songs over the course of his rich career, including numerous hits that have now become part of Quebec’s musical heritage. We only have to think about Once upon a time there were happy people, And it’s not over, the time is good or The world turned upside down.

We also owe him One day one daythe theme song of Expo 67, that of the Superfrancofête in 1974 and Tomorrow belongs to us, the song used by the Parti Québécois during its victorious electoral campaign in the 1976 general election.

He was inducted into the Canadian Authors and Composers Hall of Fame in 1997. He was also employed by the Water Department of the City of Montreal from 1998 to 2024.

“My life is no more, I am not well, I am suffering, it is now my end,” Stéphane Venne said this week, in a serene and philosophical manner to his partner.

“He was very wise in that, as he has been all his life,” adds his wife, who wishes to emphasize the dedication, politeness and respect of the staff members met at the Honoré-Mercier hospital, in Saint-Hyacinthe.

For the record, when an attendant asked him the title of the song of which he was most proud of his career, Stéphane Venne replied: Once upon a time there were happy people, the theme song of the film The Plouffes.

A lover of nature and animals, Stéphane Venne spent his last moments at home clinging to his dog Marlo, whom he adored. “This dog does my soul good,” he confided to his wife shortly before his death.

“We are going to plant a tree in our yard. He loved trees,” concluded Marie Dumais in one breath.

L’work of Stéphane Venne

Stéphane Venne has received numerous awards and distinctions during his career.

· In 1982: the Canadian Film Award for best film music and song, the Genie Award for best film music The Plouffes and the Genie Award for Best Song for Once upon a time there were happy peopleperformed by Nicole Martin.

· In 2011: the Excellence Award at the SOCAN Gala.

· In 2016: the Cultural Footprint prize for The beginning of a new time they have the SOCAN Gala

· In 2017: the François Cousineau prize from the SPACQ Foundation-

Stéphane Venne in some notable songs

1969: It’s our party today – Renée Claude

1970: It’s the beginning of a new time – Renée Claude

1971: You will find peace – Renée Claude

1972: The weather is good – Isabelle Pierre

1972: Allo la vie – Isabelle Pierre

1973: The world upside down – Emmanuelle

1981: Once upon a time there were happy people – Nicole Martin

1994: Be careful, life is short – Pierre Lalonde

2004: The sky is mine – Marie-Élaine Thibert

He holds nine “classic SOCAN” songs (having played at least 25,000 times on the radio): The beginning of a new time, The time is good, Be careful life is short, The world turned upside down, The turn of the earth, And it’s not over, You will find peace, The children of the future et Today is our celebration.