The “If You Ask Me To” singer stood by Rene’s casket for hours as she hugged friends and family members who attended the wake and she was supported by her 14-year-old son, Rene-Charles.
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The service will be held at Notre-Dame Basilica, the same church where Dion and Angelil were married in 1994.
Rene-Charles, who turns 15 next week, delivered a eulogy during the funeral. “Je t’aime papa (I love you dad)”.
Archbishop of Montreal Christian Lepine will preside over the ceremony, which is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. eastern.
“He was larger than life, but he was also the little boy from Villeray”, Coderre said. “I have to show myself, my husband and my kids [that] I am strong and we’re OK”.
Dion is expected to be at the Basilica at the beginning of the visitation, and again near the end.
Phillippe Couillard, the Premier of Quebec has declared the service to be a national funeral.
The people of Quebec see Dion as their ambassador and Angelil was her true love, and now she has lost half of her soul, say some.
Celine Dion’s husband Rene Angelil died last week and an open casket viewing has been set up for the fans of the late musical icon.
The “My Heart Will Go On” singer and the couple’s 5-year-old twin boys Nelson and Eddy were also in mourning at today’s event.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Summit, was represented by his wife Sophie Gregoire. An insider said that Angelil has been preparing for it in the past months as he did not know when it will happen so he wanted everything to be set.
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“Just a huge loss, irreplaceable”.
