In a tough week of goodbyes Celine Dion has joined mourners as she laid her husband, René Angélil to rest on Friday and then visited Salon Charles Rajotte, outside of Montreal in Repentigny, to bid a farewell to her elder brother Daniel Dion.
The Power of One singer has suffered a heartbreaking start to the year as her brother died just two days after her husband, René Angélil, 73, in a devastating double tragedy.
Celine put on a brave face at Saturday’s memorial of her brother, who passed away at 59 from brain, tongue and throat cancer, just a day after her husband’s emotional funeral.
The Dion family’s farewell to Daniel was certainly a quieter affair in comparison to the large service held for Rene at the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal which drew hundreds of mourners.
Despite some reports, the 47-year-old singer did not perform at her husband’s funeral but the couple’s eldest child, Rene-Charles gave a stirring eulogy in French.
The 15-year-old spoke with great reserve about bonding with his father, and even managed a few laughs from the crowd and even a smile from his mother.
“Fifteen years is not a long time to get to know your father. He had a busy life but we were getting to know each other through golf, poker, smoked meat and other wonderful food.”
Celine Dion at the funeral of her husband René Angélil on Friday.
Celine Dion and her eldest son Rene-Charles.
Celine Dion walks into her husband’s funeral with her children René-Charles Angelil, 15 and five-year-old twin boys Eddy Angelil and Nelson Angelil.
Rene is said to have planned his own funeral to save his wife the heartbreak.
Fans wait outside the funeral of René Angélil to pay their respects.