The 'Power of Love' hitmaker shares her final moments with her husband and how she told their children about his death.
- May 18, 2016
AceShowbiz - Celine Dion shares her final moments with husband Rene Angelil who died of throat cancer in January. "We were living in hope, knowing that there's no hope," she tells PEOPLE in her cover story for the magazine's latest edition.
She adds, "There were times when I was very, very scared and he'd write me 'The end is near, I feel it.' I would go back and say, 'How can you say that? Are you in more pain?' Now I know it's possible for someone dying to feel when it comes."
Calling it "a long, long journey," the singer says, "You know what, 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."
Celine recalls her heartbreaking last day with her husband. "I covered him because he was very cold," she says on "Good Morning America". "I took one of his bathrobes. I put one on him, one on me and I talked to him in his ear. I kissed him so much."
She remembers pleading for him to go in peace and telling him not to worry about her and the children. "You were worrying for my career. You were worrying for the children. You were worrying for everything. It's enough. Do you trust me? Please do. Trust me," she told him. "The kids are fine. I'm fine. I promise you we're gonna be OK. Please leave in peace. I don't want you to worry."
When he finally closed his eyes for good, it's very difficult for her to break the news to their kids, 15-year-old Rene-Charles and 5-year-old twins Eddy and Nelson. So, she mentioned the family's favorite movie "Up". She explains on "GMA", "The only thing I wanted is for them to say up. Up is a good thing. Up is uplifting."
"I really, really want to prove to my kids their mother is strong," she additionally told PEOPLE. "He left me with all of his strength. Every day we live with him, just not physically. I'm thankful that he does not suffer anymore."
