Celine Dion has been joined by thousands of fans, friends, family members, politicians and entertainers in Montreal to say farewell to her husband and manager, Rene Angelil.
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He said Friday marked the third occasion he had been to the Notre-Dame Basilica for a Dion-Anglil event: their 1994 wedding, the baptism of their eldest son Ren-Charles and finally, Anglil’s funeral.
Dressed in a black veil, dress, fur coat and stilettos, Dion greeted well-wishers with her oldest son, René-Charles, 14, and 5-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy. Her 15-year old son, Rene Charles, took the arm of her mother, Therese Dion.
The national funeral – the closest a Canadian citizen can get to a state funeral saw the area surrounding the cathedral packed with hundreds of well-wishers.
Around 2,000 guests, including former prime minister Brian Mulroney and Sophie Gregoire, the wife of current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, were present at Montreal’s Notre Dame Basilica – the same church where 21 years earlier the couple were married.
Celine Dion thanks fans at her husband’s massive visitation service.
“And a lot of other wonderful food, bonding more and more as time went by”, he added.
“You left me now with enough good memories to share with my younger brothers…”
“As I grow older, without you being around, I’ll make sure to pass on what I’ve learned from you”, he said.
“You’re a tough act to follow, but with your help, everything is going to be fine”, Rene said, addressing his late father. “I love you, Dad”. She will be cancelling many of her upcoming shows and will continue with her work some time in February.
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The singer’s family accepted Premier Philippe Couillard’s offer for the government to play a role in the organization of the funeral.
