Celine Dion & Husband René Angélil's Kids Pen Heartfelt Letter to Fans After His Death

The singer is also mourning the loss of her brother, Daniel Dion

By Corinne Heller Jan 29, 2016 7:31 PMTags
Celine Dion, Rene AngelilSam Mircovich REUTERS

As Celine Dion continues to mourn husband René Angélil and brother Daniel Dion, she and her family released a touching message of thanks to their supporters.

The 47-year-old singer's partner and father of her three sons died at age 73 on Jan. 14, and her older brother, died at age 59 two days later. Both men passed away after battling cancer. Their funerals were held a week apart.

"My family and I are deeply touched by the outpouring of love and support from so many people who have touched our lives during these past few days," read a letter posted on Celine's website Friday. "We have felt your love for René, and your prayers and compassion have helped us during this most difficult time... more than you'll ever know. I thank you from the bottom of my heart." 

"I would also like to sincerely thank the Quebec Government for honoring René with National Funerals as well as the many individuals and organizations who came together to hold such a beautiful tribute in his name," the message added. "We will never forget all of the kindness that you have bestowed upon us. On behalf of our family, with all of our love, Céline, René-Charles, Nelson & Eddy...Patrick, Jean-Pierre & Anne-Marie."

Celine and Angélil shared sons René-Charles, 15, and 5-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy. Patrick, Jean-Pierre & Anne-Marie are the singer's husband's adult children from two previous marriages.

The family honored Angélil on Jan. 22 with a massive, livestreamed funeral, during which René-Charles gave a touching speech. A day after his death, Celine's Facebook page featured a statement calling her late husband "a gentle man, generous and kind, an unprecedented visionary, a modern Pygmalion, a Renaissance man."

"As her manager, René Angélil made Céline Dion a star of international stature," the message said. "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. For this reason and for many others that bind him to the core values of this country, he has touched people's hearts."

Celine's brother Daniel's funeral took place this past Monday. In addition to Celine and their 12 siblings, he is survived by their mother, Thérèse Dion, 88, his two daughters Valérie and Marie-Michelle and grandchildren Matis and Laurianne.