Céline Dion has lost another loved one.
Her brother Daniel Dion – one of Céline’s 13 siblings – has died, PEOPLE has confirmed. He was 59.
Daniel had brain, throat and tongue cancer, according to the Associated Press.
His death comes less than a day after PEOPLE learned he was dying, and two days after the death of her husband, René Angéli, who also died of cancer.
“They’re close, she’s close with all of her siblings,” a source previously told PEOPLE of Céline, 47, and Daniel. “It’s hard.”
At the time of her husband’s passing, Céline had tentatively scheduled her return in Las Vegas for Feb. 23.
“Céline is still in Vegas with her kids making plans for [her husband’s] funeral,” the source said. “It’s a typical grieving process. There’s moments of shed tears, moments of memories and laughter.”
Daniel’s tribute will take place on Saturday, Jan. 23, at Salon Charles Rajotte in Repentigny. A religious funeral will also take place at St-Simon-et-Jude, in Charlemagne Québec, where the family was raised.
“His last days were in the wonderful care of the doctors and personnel at Maison Adhémar-Dion, a palliative care center in Terrebonne Québec,” Daniel’s obituary read. “For those wishing to send flowers, a donation to that organization would be very much appreciated.”
Read the full official obituary below.
Battling cancer for a few years, it’s in the uttermost discretion and surrounded by his family that Daniel Dion, 59, died today, January 16. 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.
Tribute will be paid at Salon Charles Rajotte in Repentigny, Saturday January 23 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. A few days later, a religious funeral will take place at St-Simon-et-Jude, in Charlemagne Québec, where the family was raised.
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.
Taking in consideration the reserved character of their deceased brother, the family wishes respect and discretion from the media.
Source: people.com
