Celine Dion’s Brother Daniel Dies, Loses Battle to Cancer Two Days After René Angelil’s Death
Celine Dion (Credit: Ethan Miller/WireImage)
We’re so sorry, Celine. Celine Dion’s older brother Daniel lost his battle with cancer on Saturday, Jan. 16, just two days after her husband and longtime love, René Angelil, passed away.
According to CBC News, Daniel, 59, died in the early hours of Saturday morning in Dion’s native Montreal. As previously reported, he had been battling various forms of cancer. His death was confirmed by the office of the singer’s publicist, Francine Chaloult.
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“It’s very painful. It’s a matter of days or hours,” Dion’s sisterClaudette told the Journal of Montreal. “It looks a lot like René, he had cancer of the throat, tongue and brain. Our family is very experienced.”
Daniel was the eighth of 14 Dion children and the father of two, according to the Toronto Sun.
Daniel Dion, brother of Celine Dion, in Montreal, Canada, on November 07, 2006. (Photo: Michel PONOMAREFF/PONOPRESSE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Angelil lost his battle with the disease on Thursday, January 14, at the age of 73. A coroner’s report revealed that the music manager’s death was “due to natural causes,” and that he passed away at his home while under the care of a physician.
Dion, 47, confirmed the news via Twitter, with a short, sweet note.
“Rene Angelil passed away this morning at his home in Las Vegas after a long and courageous battle against cancer,” she tweeted.
Angelil and Dion tied the knot in an elaborate ceremony in 1994 and have three young sons together: Rene-Charles, 14, and twin boys Nelson and Eddy, 5.
Last August, the “My Heart Will Go On” singer told Us Weekly that she had been doing her best to prepare her children for the inevitable.
“I’m trying really hard to show my children that sickness and things happen in life. You cannot be crying and be depressed and consistently talk about, ‘Oh my God,’” Dion told Us.
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