Céline Dion Bids Farewell to Husband René Angélil at Montreal Funeral

 Céline Dion is coping with the loss of her beloved husband René Angélil, followed by the death of her brother just two days later.

Céline Dion said her final goodbyes to husband René Angélil Friday.

Along with thousands of family, friends and fans, the singer honored her longtime manager and husband of 21 years at his 3 p.m. funeral in Montreal's Notre-Dame Basilica, the same parish in which they got married in 1994.

Dion and Angélil's three sons – René-Charles, 14, and 5-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy – walked alongside their widowed mother as she gripped their hands walking into the church.

Dion covered her face with a black veil as she marched toward her husband's casket with her children, looking solemn as she also held on to lilies of the valley, which were also fastened to the ends of every pew.

As she reached her husband's casket, Dion placed the flowers on top of the casket as she made the sign of the cross. René-Charles also placed a pillow on the casket.

Angélil's grown son Patrick spoke first in French, followed by Rene-Charles' brief remarks in English.

The full Catholic funeral included Communion and Dion and Rene-Charles received first. After they sat down, she gave her firstborn a tender rub on the back as the choir finished their French hymn. Later, attendees listened to a recording of Dion singing "Love Still Exists."

Just before the funeral Mass concluded, Dion and Rene-Charles held tight to one another as they went up to sign the register. Once back in her pew, Dion then received a small pillow with rings on it, which she removed and placed on her fingers.

Tears filled her eyes as she processed out, a French version of her singing "For You to Love Me Again" filling the basilica. Walking alongside the casket with other family members, she offered small smiles and nods to the mourners who clapped as the service ended, many also crying.

Tears filled her eyes as she processed out, a French version of her singing "For You to Love Me Again" filling the basilica. Walking alongside the casket with other family members, she offered small smiles and nods to the mourners who clapped as the service ended, many also crying.

Once outside, the family stood on the church steps as darkness fell, a bell ringing as the casket was placed inside an awaiting hearse.

Before the service, fans and mourners flocked to the area in a crowd that one veteran local reporter said surpassed the throngs who gathered for a glimpse of the couple's 1994 wedding.

The basilica's doors opened at 2 p.m. as mourners began filing in, while fans and locals lined nearby streets in 27-degree weather, standing behind barricades to watch arrivals down the block and across the street, which was closed to regular traffic.

Inside, every seat was topped with a mini-pack of tissues and a program written primarily in French.

It reads in part: ""According to his wishes, all of Céline's songs were chosen by René. Those include: "Trois Heures 20," "L'Amour Existe Encore" and "All the Way."

The back of the program featured a candid throwback shot of Dion and Angélil looking happy together.

It also included a heartfelt letter from Stéphane Laporte, the director of Dion's Las Vegas show.

"René doesn't demand respect. He does better than that, he offers it," he wrote. "Because the most respected man of show business is the one who respects others the most. His genius is to think of everything, to never forget anyone."

Laporte also spoke about the incredible bond Angélil shared with Dion.

"Never did one single love matter more in the world than that of René's for Céline," Laporte wrote. "And Céline’s for René. The lover is no longer. But the love is always there. In her. In his kids. In everything this man loved. His love is everywhere."

Source:www.people.com