Celine dion husband in casket

Céline Dion is coping with the loss of her beloved husband René Angélil, followed by the death of her brother just two days later. Click here for the full story, only in PEOPLE.

Céline Dion said her final goodbyes to husband René Angélil Friday.

Along with thousands of family, friends and fans, the singer honored her longtime manager and husband of 21 years at his 3 p.m. funeral in Montreal’s Notre-Dame Basilica, the same parish in which they got married in 1994.

Dion and Angélil’s three sons – René-Charles, 14, and 5-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy – walked alongside their widowed mother as she gripped their hands walking into the church.

Dion covered her face with a black veil as she marched toward her husband’s casket with her children, looking solemn as she held on to lilies of the valley, which were also fastened to the ends of every pew.

As she reached her husband’s casket, Dion placed the flowers on top of the casket as she made the sign of the cross. René-Charles also placed a pillow on the casket.

Angélil’s grown son Patrick spoke first in French, followed by René-Charles’ brief remarks in English.

“Fifteen years is not a long time for a son to get to know his father … [but] you left me with enough good memories of you to share with my younger brothers. As they grow older, without you being around, I’ll make sure to pass on what I’ve learned from you,” he said.

“You are a tough act to follow … Dad, I promise you here that we’re all going to live up to your standards,” René-Charles finished before leaving the altar and embracing his mother.

The full Catholic funeral included communion, which Dion and René-Charles received first. After they sat down, she gave her firstborn a tender rub on the back as the choir finished their French hymn. Later, attendees listened to a recording of Dion singing “Love Still Exists.”

Just before the funeral Mass concluded, Dion

WARNING: Some images in this gallery are pertaining to persons who are deceased and may be confronting for some readers.

Grieving Celine Dion has joined fans to mourn her husband René Angélil at open casket visitation for the public to pay respects at Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal.

As one would expect the music legend looked visibly heartbroken as she attended Thursday’s service wearing a veil and all black, just using a white handkerchief to wipe her tears away.

In an rather unorthodox move the open casket service was televised and mourners could see Angélil, who passed away last week at the age of 73 after a lengthy battle with throat cancer, laying peacefully with his arms folded.

Dion’s mother Thérèse, 88, arrived to the visitation early, as did René’s brother André.

It is believed Angélil planned his own funeral which will also be held at Notre-Dame Basilica on Friday – the same Old Montreal church where he married Celine in 1994.

The national funeral will be televised.