MONTREAL (AP) – A veiled, expressionless Céline Dion sat in silence at Montreal’s Notre-Dame Basilica on Friday as she, along with hundreds of her friends, family members and fans mourned the loss of her husband and longtime manager, René Angélil.
Angélil died Jan. 14, two days before his 74th birthday, after living with throat cancer for years.
She did not speak publicly at the funeral, instead leaving her and Angélil’s eldest son, René-Charles, to deliver a touching eulogy.
“Fifteen years is not a long time for a son to get to know his father. You had a busy life, but we were communicating through golf, hockey, poker and smoked meat,” René-Charles Angélil said, sharing a quick laugh with his mother who looked on from the front pew.
“You left me now with enough good memories to share with my younger brothers (Eddy and Nelson)… I’ll make sure to pass on what I learned from you,” he continued. “I love you, Dad.”