Cline Dion thanks public at Ren Anglil visitation

ClineDion stood byher husbandRenAngelil's open casketfor close to seven hours on Thursday,greeting Quebec dignitaries and the public as they filed into the Notre-Dame Basilica in OId Montreal.

• ClineDion'shusband dead at 73
• RenAnglil: Not just a manager ofClineDion
• ClineDion'sbrother Daniel, 59, has died

Fansbegan lining up at 5:45 a.m. ET for a chance to pay their respects toDion'shusband and longtime managerat the basilica.

The visitation ran from2 p.m. until9:30 p.m. ET

Dion greeted and embraced public visitors as they filed into the same church where she married Anglilmore than two decades ago.

Dion was expected to beat the basilica at the beginning of the visitationand again near the end, but was present at the church for most of the day.

Anglildied of cancer last Thursdayat the age of 73. His funeral will take place Friday afternoon.

Remembering Anglil

All members of the public who entered the Notre-Dame Basilica received a program with a message from Dion.

"I understood that my career was in a way his masterpiece," Dion's message read.

"I realized that if he ever left us, I would have tocontinue without him, for him."

Montreal Mayor DenisCoderresaid the day was a chance to pay homage to a man known for being loyal and generous toMontrealers.

"He was largerthanlife, but he was also the little boy from Villeray," Coderre said. "He never forgot his roots."

MimsyeBelle isaMontrealerwhobenefitedfromAnglil'sgenerosity.

Belle, who has a physical disability, metAnglilwhen she was working for the entertainment technologycompanySolotech.

Faced with daunting surgery, she said she received a "substantial amount" in her bank account.

"I was never able to confirm from who it was coming," Belle said,"but I don't have any other rich friends."

"For him, the real generosity is anonymous."

Belle saidshe can stand more straight today because ofAnglil'sfinancial help.

"He changed a lot of people's lives, including my own."

Julia Martin, who has seenDionperform on three continents and metAnglilseveral times, travelled from Orange County, Calif., for the visitation.

"I know it's crazy, yes, but it feels right," Martin said of her long-distance trip. "I haveto be here."

Martin said when she finally got to express her condolences toDion, the singer recognized her.

"She said, 'I can't believe you're here today,'" Martin recounted, "I told herI need to be here, there's no doubt about it."

"Every single time [you metAnglil],he makes you feel like you're the most important person in the world," Martin said."He's such a wonderful man."

Fans 'moved' byDion

Fan DianaZerbisiaswaited three hours in the cold to offer her condolences toDion.

Once in the basilica,ZerbisiassaidDionlooked beautiful and peaceful as she shook her hand.

Zerbisiassaid she toldDion"love exists forever," and that she was there for her and her family.

ZerbisiassaidDionthanked her.

Many fans waited to offerDiontheir condolences and words of encouragement.

"I told her I'm a widow for 30years, and she has to be very strong and have faith in God," said Montreal residentFloreenPaul.

"She said 'OK' and you know, she held me and squeezed me and kissed me when I told her that."

DianeLabrecque, another fan, said she shared a personal story withDion.

"The way she responded to me was so confident, so beautiful, so generous of herself,"Labrecquesaid."I was moved."

Fans waiting since 5:45 a.m.

Fansfrom all walks of life waited for hourstothankAnglilandDionfortheircontributions.

BenoitGendron, the firstperson in line, said he's been to 192 Cline Dion concerts.

Mamadou Ndoye and Kon Bilalipraised Anglil and Dion for their contributions to people around the world.

"There are two words to describe Ren Anglil," Ndoye said. "Generous and visionary."

Jrmy Gabriel, whobecame known in Quebecwhen hesang for thepope in 2006, said he wanted to be at the visitation to support Dion.

Gabriel said the couple gave him his first big break and were great friends to him.

Several roads are closed to traffic around the church including Rue St-Jacques, Rue-Notre-Dame, Cte de la Place D'Armes and Rue Saint-Sulpice.