René Angélil Planned Funeral Before His Death to Ease Céline Dion's Burden

"The whole funeral was René's wishes," says a Dion source

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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.

In their 21 years of marriage, Céline Dion and René Angélil were partners through and through.

Even in his death, the music manager – who died Thursday from cancer – hoped to make a very difficult situation just a bit easier for his wife.

“René was generous enough to prepare all of this since the last few months with Céline,” Dion’s longtime stylist and friend Annie Horth tells PEOPLE. “He didn’t know when it would happen, but he really wanted everything to be already prepared.”

For much more on Dion and Angélil’s love story and how the singer is focusing on the couple’s children, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.

Because of this, Dion is “going through [this] peacefully and with control,” adds Horth.

According to a source, Angélil wanted to have his funeral at Notre-Dame Basilica, where he and Dion wed more than two decades ago.

“The whole funeral, that was all René’s wishes,” says a Dion source. “He obviously wanted to have his funeral where he married the love of his life.”

With reporting by JANINE RUBENSTEIN

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