As 1971 began, Chanel was 87 years old, tired, and ailing, but nonetheless stuck to her usual routine of preparing the spring catalog. She had gone for a long drive the afternoon of Saturday January 9 and feeling ill went to bed early.[97] She died on Sunday, January 10, 1971 at the Hotel Ritz where she had resided for more than 30 years.[98] Her funeral was held at the eglise de la Madeleine, her fashion models occupied the first seats during the ceremony, her coffin was covered with white flowers - camellias, gardenias, orchids, azaleas and a few red roses.
Her grave is located in the Bois-de-Vaux Cemetery, Lausanne, Switzerland.[99]