Concealing a Death from an Only Daughter

An only daughter is ill, and her father has passed away, with no brothers. Is it permissible to conceal the death from her, or is it preferable to inform her so she can hire someone to recite Kaddish for her father's soul?

There is no need to inform her of the death, even though she is an only daughter. It is possible to transfer money through another person and hire someone to recite Kaddish.

Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah, Siman 374, Paragraph 12: "One who has lost a relative and is unaware of it is not obligated to be informed; even if it is his father or mother; and about this it is said: 'He who spreads gossip is a fool' (Proverbs 10:18). It is permissible to invite him to an engagement, wedding, and any celebration, as he is unaware. However, if he inquires about them, one should not lie and say: he is alive, as it is said: 'Keep far from a false matter' (Exodus 23:7). The Rema writes: "Nevertheless, it is customary to inform sons so they can recite Kaddish; but for daughters, there is no custom to inform them (Mahariv, Siman 13)." Magen Avraham, Siman 132: "From the Beit Yosef's commentary, Siman 241, it is implied that it is better for a son to hire someone to recite Kaddish than for someone to recite it for free," and this is cited in Noda BiYehuda, Part 2, Orach Chaim, Siman 8, and in Shut Chatam Sofer, Yoreh De'ah, Siman 345. And it seems that this is not similar to a son who must recite Kaddish, as by transferring the money through another, it is considered her own, and her father's soul will be elevated through this.