Céline Dion's Mother "Maman Dion" Has Died At The Age Of 92
Several outlets, including La Presse and Journal de Montréal, are reporting that Céline Dion's mother, Thérèse Dion, has passed away at the age of 92. Thérèse hosted her own cooking show called Maman Dion, on which Céline was an occasional guest. She was mother to 14 children, of which the superstar is the youngest.
The humble family home in Charlemagne, Québec was where Céline first realized her singing talents.
Thérèse, with her husband Adhémar, was the head of a musical family. As a young child, Céline would "sleep on chairs in restaurants and bars while they sang," she told People magazine in 1994.
Thérèse co-wrote* Céline's first single, "Ce n'était qu'un rêve," launching a career that would bring her daughter's net worth to around half a billion dollars.
In July 2019, her daughter Claudette opened up publicly about her health, stating then that poor eyesight and memory loss had begun to limit her mobility.
In May 2019, Céline posted a touching tribute to her mother on Instagram, writing, "Now more than ever, I realize the importance of a mother’s role. Not only did you give me life, but you also wrote my destiny. I love you Mom."
In 2005, the Dion matriarch also started her own foundation, with a mission "to foster the fulfillment, the development of self-esteem and the desire to succeed in school for young Quebecers between the ages of 5 and 16 who come from disadvantaged backgrounds," according to its website.
On social media, fans and public figures have begun to offer their condolences to the Dion family.
Thérèse Dion était la maman de 14 enfants. Elle est aussi devenue en quelque sorte la maman du Québec grâce à sa Fo… https://t.co/MHLvD0P9fZ— Valérie Plante (@Valérie Plante) 1579279775.0
Thérèse Dion "became in a way the mother of Quebec thanks to her Foundation. She was proof that a mother's love can make all dreams possible. All my sympathies to the family and loved ones," wrote Valérie Plante, mayor of Montreal.
Céline has also released a message in the aftermath of her mother's death.
"Maman, we love you so much… We dedicate tonight’s show to you and I’ll sing to you with all my heart," the singer wrote on Instagram alongside an image of the entire Dion family, including Céline, her parents, and 13 siblings.
Read more about Céline's childhood here.
*This article has been updated.
