The death of Daniel Dion, 59, marks the end of an arduous, multi-year battle with cancer. It also comes just two days after the death of Celine Dion’s husband, René Angélil, who died of throat cancer at age 73 ahead of the weekend.
Daniel, one of 14 Dion brothers and sisters, will be remembered at a funeral in Charlemagne, the family hometown outside of Montreal. “We are remembering a gentle and reserved man of many talents,” the Dion family offered in a statement.
The Dion clan was an intensely musical family, with the children touring and giving performances during Celine’s youth. Indeed, it was Celine’s siblings that help propel her career towards superstardom, thanks to a relentless move to involve René Angélil, who immediately started managing and guiding Dion’s career.
Daniel’s ceremony will come just two days after Angélil’s, whose life will be celebrated at Montreal’s Notre Dame Basilica. The Basilica is the same church where the couple married in 1994.
Dion has cancelled her immediately-scheduled shows at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, but is reportedly planning to return in late February.
Image: Anirudh Koul (CC by 2.0).