A key venue in the story of Rene Angelil and Celine Dion will host Angelil’s funeral next week.
A visitation for Angelil will take place Thursday and his funeral will occur Friday afternoon at Montreal’s Notre Dame Basilica, where he and Dion were married 21 years ago.
The premier’s office confirmed Friday evening that Angelil would receive a national funeral. The Quebec flag that flies atop the National Assembly’s central tower will be lowered to half-mast during the ceremony.
Members of the public will be allowed to pay tribute to the late Quebecois star on January 21 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. A private religious service will follow on January 22 at 3 p.m.
As previously reported, a “celebration of life” will also take place in Las Vegas on February 3 at the Caesars Palace Colosseum from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
An obituary released on Friday highlighted Angelil’s tremendous contributions to the Canadian and international music scene. “René and Céline’s actions made a strong and permanent statement shedding light on Québec’s many talents and carrying it all over the world,” the obituary stated. “For this reason and for many others that bind him to the core values of this country, he has touched people’s hearts.
“They realize that they have lost a conqueror and a man of great substance and influence. He is now a part of the collective memory of the music industry, be it in Canada or elsewhere in the world.”
The family has invited all who would like to make a contribution to make a donation to the Azar-Angelil Research Chair for ORL Cancer.
Agencies/Canadajournal