Fans of René Angélil paid their final respects during a visitation on Thursday at Notre-Dame Basilica in Old Montreal.
People were seen lining up outside the church, where he wed singer Celine Dion in 1994. It is believe the 47-year-old performer will show up to for 30 minutes to receive condolences, according to The Montreal Gazette.
Angélil died of throat cancer at the age of 73 on January 14. His funeral will be held on Friday.
A last goodbye: Fans of René Angélil paid their final respects during a visitation on Thursday at Notre-Dame Basilica in Old Montreal
She may be there too: People were seen lining up outside the church, where he wed singer Celine Dion in 1994. It is believe the 47-year-old performer will show up to for 30 minutes to receive condolences, according to The Montreal Gazette
They were devoted to each other: The couple together on the red carpet at the Veronic Voices premiere at Bally's in Las Vegas in June 2013
The show biz manager will lie in state from 2 pm until 9 p.m. at the basilica.
A national funeral for Angélil will be held Friday at the same church beginning at 3 p.m. The flag at the Quebec National Assembly will fly at half-mast.
The funeral will be officiated by the Most Reverend Christian Lépine, Archbishop of Montreal, according to the Gazette.
Inside the location: Angélil died of throat cancer at the age of 73 on January 14. His funeral will be held on Friday afternoon
Outside: The exterior of the grand church in Montreal which sits on a tree-lined street
Preparations: Equipment was brought up to the steps of the church on Wednesday
Last week Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard announced a national funeral would be held to honour Angélil, who was born in Montreal. 'We were all touched by the death of René Angélil,' Couillard said. 'Quebecers will have a chance to pay tribute to a man who had an impact on the cultural landscape of our nation.'
The couple are superstars in their native Canada and the funeral will be televised on three networks, according to TMZ.
In accordance with Rene’s wishes two of Celine’s songs will play during the service. The Canadian beauty will not sing at the memorial.
The church also was the location of their happiest day: The two wed at the basilica in December 1994
Angélil planned out his funeral so that the burden wouldn't lie with the singer once he had passed. René reportedly wanted everything prepared, even though he didn't know when it would happen.
Céline's stylist and longtime friend Annie Horth told People: 'René was generous enough to prepare all of this since the last few months with Céline.'
Because of this, Céline is 'going through [this] peacefully and with control,' added Horth.
Staying strong: Dion was seen for the first time since her husband's January 14 death on Wednesday at the Las Vegas airport
According to sources, René wanted to have his funeral at Notre-Dame Basilica.
A message posted to Facebook on Friday read: 'According to his final wishes, his Funeral will be held at Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, where 21 years ago, he chose to marry the one who will remain as the great love of his life, the artist for which he had the most respect, the woman who gave him light and happiness until his very last breath.'
An insider told People: 'The whole funeral, that was all René's wishes, he obviously wanted to have his funeral where he married the love of his life.
A memorial service for Angélil will take place February 3 in Las Vegas at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
Touching: The Power Of Love crooner got a warm hug from a pregnant friend before she boarded
With family: Also with Dion was her son René-Charles, 14, who wore a sweat outfit and a red hat
Dion isn't only grieving over the passing of her husband. Her bother also died this month. On January 16, just two days after René died, her brother Daniel Dion lost his battle at aged 59 with brain, tongue and throat cancer.
The Dion family will then attend the funeral of Daniel on Tuesday.
On Wednesday Dion was seen for the first time since the death of her husband.
The singer looked pale as she got hugs from friends before boarding a private jet in Las Vegas with her three children in tow.
Still stylish: The Immortality singer wore a black turtleneck with leggings and knee-high boots
The Grammy winner had her red locks pulled back into a severe bun and her face looked strained.
The Heart Will Go On hitmaker was dressed in head to toe black, including a turtleneck, leggings and to-the-knees high-heeled boots. The beauty also had on her wedding rings.
She was seen with several handlers as well as her three children: René-Charles, aged 14, and twins Nelson and Eddy, aged five.
Rene had endured a long fight against cancer before passing away just two days before his 74th birthday.
He had been married to Celine for 21 years and as well as serving as her manager since she was a teenager.
Lots of support: The A New Day Has Come songbird got an embrace from a friend outside her white Escalade
Off to Canada: Celine was on her way to Montreal for the funeral. In accordance with Rene’s wishes two of Celine’s songs will play during the service. The Canadian beauty will not sing at the memorial
Off to face her fans: The couple are superstars in their native Canada and the funeral will be televised on three networks and flags will fly at half-staff, according to TMZ
She's taking a month off: Celine is scheduled to perform at Caesars Palace on February 23 in Las Vegas
Not flying commercial: The Las Vegas staple left in a small jet that had red stripes
In the early years of their relationship: Celine (center) with René (left) and Eddy Marnay (right) in 1985
On Saturday DailyMail.com reported exclusively the performer used her Las Vegas show in recent weeks as a tribute to the man she loved, knowing that his long battle against cancer was close to being lost.
And he used it to make his final public appearance, clearly frail, but smiling and waving on a video he knew would be played to her fans.
The image of René was projected onto a screen the Las Vegas venue where Dion has been a performer in residence.
Her performances have been canceled until the end of February, but she was a trooper until the night before he died.
Celine is scheduled to perform at Caesars Palace on February 23 in Las Vegas.
Gone too soon: Dion isn't only grieving over the passing of her husband. Her bother also died this month. On January 16, just two days after René died from throat cancer, her brother Daniel Dion lost his battle at aged 59 with brain, tongue and throat cancer
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