Celine Dion’s husband René Angélil planned his own funeral so the singer wouldn’t have to.
In their 21 years of marriage, Céline Dion and René Angélil were partners through and through.
Even in his death, the music manager – who died Thursday from cancer – hoped to make a very difficult situation just a bit easier for his wife.
René, who acted as a mentor and manager to Celine Dion, had been battling throat cancer since 2013 but lost his fight last week.
His funeral is set to take place on Friday at the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, where the pair tied the knot in 1994. According to a source, Angélil wanted to have his funeral at Notre-Dame Basilica, where he and Dion wed more than two decades ago.
In the months leading up to his death, he planned the ceremony himself to ease his wife’s burden.
The singer’s stylist and close friend Annie Horth told People: “René was generous enough to prepare all of this since the last few months with Céline.”
She added: “He didn’t know when it would happen, but he really wanted everything to be already prepared.”
Because of this, the singer is “going through [this] peacefully and with control.”
Contrary to reports, Celine has chosen not to sing at the funeral, though one of her songs maybe played during the service.
As a respected figure in Canada his funeral is expected to be televised nationally and flags will fly at half mast on the day he’s laid to rest.