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Montreal - The funeral for Celine Dion's husband René Angéli will take place this Friday at the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal where the couple married, a family spokesperson said.
Angelil, who discovered the Canadian pop diva and managed her career, died last Thursday at age 73 after a struggle with cancer.
In 1994, when she was 26 and he was twice her age, the couple married in an extravagant wedding ceremony that was televised live in Canada, and splashed all over glossy magazines.
Angelil's funeral will unfold at the spot 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," a statement by the family spokesperson read.
Beginning on Thursday, a chapel at the basilica "will be open to the public to pay a last tribute" to the Montreal native, whose body will be displayed, it added.
A large crowd is expected on Friday for the funeral, including show business and political figures.
Meanwhile, a commemorative celebration will be held on 3 February at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Days after Angelil's death, Dion lost her brother to cancer also. Daniel Dion was 59 and was one of 14 Dion siblings.
