Funeral for Celine Dion's husband Rene Angelil to be held at same Montreal cathedral where pair married 21 years ago

The funeral for Celine Dion's husband Rene Angelil will be held in Montreal at the same cathedral where the pair married in 1994. 

The ceremony will be held at Notre Dame Basilica on Friday, which is also where the couple's eldest son was baptised. There will be a public viewing on Thursday.

The singer is also planning a celebration of Angelil's life in Las Vegas at the Caesars Palace Colosseum on February 3.

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Tragic loss: The funeral for Celine Dion's husband Rene Angelil will take place at the cathedral where they married 21 years ago

A post on Celine's Facebook post read: 'According to his final wishes, his Funeral will be held at Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, where 21 years ago, he chose to marry the one who will remain as the great love of his life, the artist for which he had the most respect, the woman who gave him light and happiness until his very last breath.' 

Angelil died on Thursday at the age of 73 following a long battle with throat cancer. The pair had celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary on December 17.

Celine's Facebook post said that he was 'surrounded by the love of his family and friends' when he died, and paid tribute to 'a gentle man, generous and kind, an unprecedented visionary, a modern Pygmalion, a Renaissance man.' 

21 years of marriage: The couple wed at Montreal's Notre-Dame Basilica on December 17, 1994

Just married: Celine and Rene are pictured here in the cathedral shortly after being pronounced man and wife

Fans were invited to honour René's memory by making donations to Azar-Angelil Research Chair for ORL Cancer, which he helped to set up in 2011.

It has since been revealed that Celine's brother Daniel, 59, is in the final stages of a cancer battle.

Angelil was Celine's manager before they got together. They first met when she was 12 and he was 38, and began dating seven years later, in 1987, marrying in 1994. 

The couple are parents to three sons: René-Charles, who turns 15 later this month, and five-year-old twins Eddy and Nelson. 

Historic place: The Basilica of Notre Dame was completed in 1829 and is home to one of the world's largest pipe organs

Saying goodbye: Rene's funeral will be held next Friday, with a public viewing taking place on Thursday

Angelil was first diagnosed with throat cancer in 1998 and battled three bouts of cancer before his death on Thursday. In September, Celine revealed he had just 'months to live'. 

Announcing the devastating news of his passing in a statement, Celine's team said: 'René Angélil, 73, passed away this morning at his home in Las Vegas after a long and courageous battle against cancer. 

'The family requests that their privacy be respected at the moment; more details will be provided at a later time.' 

Grieving Celine promptly cancelled her January 16 and January 17 performances at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, where she is currently taking part in a residency.  

Leaving the church: The pair, who first met when Celine was 12, married after seven years of dating

A special place: Celine and Rene also had their eldest son Rene-Charles baptised at the cathedral in 2001

The star will resume performances on February 23. 

A spokesperson for AEG said in a statement: 'We are heartbroken to hear this news, not only because René was a great friend and mentor and an extraordinary partner with us in these shows at Caesars Palace for the last 13 years, but even more because he and Celine were so devoted to each other; their relationship has been a model for us all.' 

Mariah Carey paid tribute to Angelil with a Facebook post on Friday, sharing a sweet black and white photo of Celine and her husband.

She wrote: 'Dear Celine, I'm heartbroken for you and your family upon hearing the devasting [sic] news about Rene.

In loving memory: The singer is also planning a celebration of Angelil's life in Las Vegas at the Caesars Palace Colosseum on February 3

'I know there's nothing I can say to take the pain away but I'm sure the memories will comfort you now and always. My deepest condolences to you and your family. Love always, Mariah.' 

Celine's representative confirmed on Friday that her older brother is also battling cancer, with her devastated family believing he has just hours or days to live.

The singer's sister Claudette told Journal Of Montreal: 'It's very painful. It's a matter of days or hours. It looks a lot like René, he had cancer of the throat, tongue and brain. Our family is very experienced.'

'I'm heartbroken for you': Mariah Carey posted a sweet note to Celine and a touching tribute to Rene on Facebook on Friday

Tragic: Celine's older brother Daniel is also battling cancer and his family believe he only has 'hours to live'. She is seen left in November; he is pictured right in 2006

Daniel is in hospital in Celine's native Montreal and surrounded by family, including 88-year-old mother Therese.

Members of the family gathered at Daniel's bedside on Thursday after being told that he is 'dying'.

Claudette added to Journal Of Montreal: 'We are with Daniel, day and night. He is 59 years old, very young to be the end of life.' 

Happy together: Celine and Rene are pictured here at the Bambi Awards in November 2012