Celine Dion’s Brother, Daniel Dion, Laid to Rest

The goodbyes continued for Celine Dion as the singer’s brother, Daniel Dion, was laid to rest this morning, just days after her husband’s funeral last Friday.

Daniel Dion, 59, died on Jan. 16, two days after Dion’s husband, René Angélil, 73, passed away after a battle with throat cancer. Daniel had also been battling cancer of the throat, tongue and brain and reportedly passed away with his family at his side.

Following Angélil’s high profile memorial service and funeral at Montreal’s Notre-Dame Basilica last Thursday and Friday respectively, Celine arrived at the Salon Charles Rajotte funeral home in the Montreal suburb of Repentigny, Que., Saturday for Daniel’s memorial. Loved ones, including Dion’s 88-year-old mother Thérèse, gathered at the St-Simon-et-Jude Parish in the Dion family’s hometown of Charlemagne, Que., for Daniel’s funeral this morning – a far more private affair than Angélil’s service.

According to Daniel Dion’s obituary, “He was the eighth child of Thérèse and Adhémar Dion, brother of Céline. In sadness and grief, he leaves a large family headed by their mother, Thérèse Tanguay-Dion; his daughters Valérie (Patrick Goyette) and Marie-Michelle; his grandchildren Matis and Laurianne (Valérie); his brothers and sisters Denise (Yvon Dodier), Clément (Denise Dumont), Claudette (Serge Gaudet) Liette (Guy Poirier) Michel (Danièle Corbeil), Louise (Pierre Tremblay), Jacques (Geneviève Garceau), Ghislaine (Jacques Talbot), Linda (Alain Sylvestre), Manon, Paul, Pauline (Marc Martel) and Céline (René Angélil). As well as many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends, who are remembering a gentle and reserved man of many talents.”

The notice also said that, “His last days were in the wonderful care of the doctors and personnel at Maison Adhémar-Dion, a palliative care center in Terrebonne Québec. For those wishing to send flowers, a donation to that organization would be very much appreciated.”

After Daniel’s passing, Barry Garber, a family friend, noted, “Knowing Céline and the way she is so close to her family, it has to be particularly difficult. The family is a very close knit family both on René’s side and Céline’s side.”