Celine Dion reveals she 'chased the truck' carrying her late husband's body and used Pixar's Up to break the news to her boys

It's been four months since her husband of 21 years René Angélil passed away from throat cancer at 73, and Céline Dion and her children are beginning to feel better.

'When they took [his body] away, I chased the truck a little, like it was my kids going to school for the first day,' the 48-year-old pop diva revealed in the May 30 edition of People - on newsstands Friday.

'It's been a long, long journey. We were living in hope, knowing that there's no hope.'

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'I feel at peace': It's been four months since her husband of 21 years René Angélil passed away from throat cancer at 73, and Céline Dion and her children are beginning to feel better

'I feel at peace': It's been four months since her husband of 21 years René Angélil passed away from throat cancer at 73, and Céline Dion and her children are beginning to feel better

When the five-time Grammy winner's 59-year-old brother Daniel died two days later from brain, throat, and tongue cancer - she thought it was 'perfect.'

'René escorted my brother,' Céline rationalized. 'He took him under his wings, and he said, "You know, I'll take good care of him."'

The Québec-born beauty told their 15-year-old son René-Charles Jr. immediately, but waited a few days to deliver the sad news to their five-year-old boys Eddy and Nelson.

Inspired by the 2009 Pixar movie Up, Dion threw a glitter and balloon-filled celebration to inform the fraternal twins that 'Papa' had 'gone up.'  

The 48-year-old pop diva revealed in the May 30 edition of People: 'When they took [his body] away, I chased the truck a little, like it was my kids going to school for the first day'

The 48-year-old pop diva revealed in the May 30 edition of People: 'When they took [his body] away, I chased the truck a little, like it was my kids going to school for the first day'

'René escorted my brother': When the five-time Grammy winner's 59-year-old brother Daniel died two days later from brain, throat, and tongue cancer - she thought it was 'perfect' 

'René escorted my brother': When the five-time Grammy winner's 59-year-old brother Daniel died two days later from brain, throat, and tongue cancer - she thought it was 'perfect' 

'It's the thing I'm most proud of,' the widowed mother-of-three smiled.

'I did not want to relate the passing to doctors and have them be afraid.'

These days, Céline's hockey-loving teenager is 'already talking about cars' while little Eddy and Nelson want to take gymnastics and piano.

'It's hard, but [my husband] left me with all of his strength,' admitted the French-Canadian chanteuse. 

At his January 22 funeral: The Québec-born beauty told their 15-year-old son René-Charles Jr. immediately, but waited a few days to deliver the sad news to their five-year-old boys Eddy and Nelson

At his January 22 funeral: The Québec-born beauty told their 15-year-old son René-Charles Jr. immediately, but waited a few days to deliver the sad news to their five-year-old boys Eddy and Nelson

'It's the thing I'm most proud of': Inspired by the 2009 Pixar movie Up, Dion threw a glitter and balloon-filled celebration to inform the fraternal twins that 'Papa' had 'gone up'

'It's the thing I'm most proud of': Inspired by the 2009 Pixar movie Up, Dion threw a glitter and balloon-filled celebration to inform the fraternal twins that 'Papa' had 'gone up'

'I really, really want to prove to my kids their mother is strong.'

Dion will receive the Icon trophy at this Sunday's Billboard Music Awards where she'll perform a cover of Queen's The Show Must Go On in honor of Angélil.

The uplifting song was originally penned about frontman Freddie Mercury's desire to perform despite having AIDS, and he passed away at age 45 a month after its 1991 release.

'René always insisted the show must go on,' Céline - whose net worth is $630M - recalled.

Moving on: These days, Céline's hockey-loving teenager is 'already talking about cars' while little Eddy and Nelson want to take gymnastics and piano 

Moving on: These days, Céline's hockey-loving teenager is 'already talking about cars' while little Eddy and Nelson want to take gymnastics and piano 

The French-Canadian chanteuse admitted: 'It's hard, but [my husband] left me with all of his strength. I really, really want to prove to my kids their mother is strong' (pictured November 18)

The French-Canadian chanteuse admitted: 'It's hard, but [my husband] left me with all of his strength. I really, really want to prove to my kids their mother is strong' (pictured November 18)

'I'm 48 years old and I lost the love of my life. I miss him a lot from when he was great but not when he was suffering. I cannot be selfish. You have to let people go. I feel at peace.'

The Overjoyed songstress will next use her five-octave pipes at her Las Vegas residency - now in its 16th leg - at Caesars Palace's Colosseum on Wednesday.

And next Tuesday, Dion drops the first single, Encore un soir, off her 15th French-language studio album hitting shelves this fall. 

Airing on ABC! Dion will receive the Icon trophy at this Sunday's Billboard Music Awards where she'll perform a cover of Queen's The Show Must Go On in honor of Angélil (pictured Tuesday)

Airing on ABC! Dion will receive the Icon trophy at this Sunday's Billboard Music Awards where she'll perform a cover of Queen's The Show Must Go On in honor of Angélil (pictured Tuesday)

Rest in peace: The uplifting song was originally penned about frontman Freddie Mercury's desire to perform despite having AIDS, and he passed away at age 45 a month after its 1991 release

Rest in peace: The uplifting song was originally penned about frontman Freddie Mercury's desire to perform despite having AIDS, and he passed away at age 45 a month after its 1991 release

Céline recalled: 'René always insisted the show must go on' (pictured in 2013)

Céline recalled: 'René always insisted the show must go on' (pictured in 2013)

The My Heart Will Go On hitmaker was famously only 12 years old when twice-divorced René declared her a star and became her mentor/manager.

In 1981, Angélil reportedly mortgaged his home to fund her first record La voix du bon Dieu and, by 1993, they went public with their romance.

He also left behind a son Patrick, 48 (with ex-wife #1 Denyse Duquette), and a son Jean-Pierre, 41, and daughter Anne-Marie, 38 (with ex-wife #2 Manon Kirouac).

Her heart will go on: The Overjoyed songstress will next use her five-octave pipes at her Las Vegas residency - now in its 16th leg - at Caesars Palace's Colosseum on Wednesday (pictured Tuesday)

Her heart will go on: The Overjoyed songstress will next use her five-octave pipes at her Las Vegas residency - now in its 16th leg - at Caesars Palace's Colosseum on Wednesday (pictured Tuesday)

'Look forward to sharing it with you!' And next Tuesday, Dion drops the first single, Encore un soir, off her 15th French-language studio album hitting shelves this fall

'Look forward to sharing it with you!' And next Tuesday, Dion drops the first single, Encore un soir, off her 15th French-language studio album hitting shelves this fall

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