Celine Dion's heart breaking goodbye to her husband

Celine Dion feels at "peace" after her husband's passing.

READ: Celine Dion's husband René Angélil dies at 73

PHOTOS: Celine Dion and René Angélil: a love story

The Canadian singer told People magazine that after a phone call to her husband and last exchange of "I love yous," she awoke to learn that René Angélil, who was being cared for by medical staff at their Las Vegas home, had lost his battle with cancer.

"I got on my knees and I kissed him," she says. "It was the coldest thing I've ever experienced in my life, but it was amazing. I said, 'Promise me not to worry. I'm fine, the kids are great, we're gonna be okay. It's enough suffering. Just go in peace.' "

The My Heart Will Go On hitmaker tragically lost her husband Angélil in January this year following a battle with throat cancer and admits she is "thankful" he is no longer suffering.

"I really, really want to prove to my kids their mother is strong," she continued.

"René always insisted the show must go on. 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.

"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."

The 48-year-old singer - who has René-Charles, 15, and five-year-old twins Eddy and Nelson with her late husband - admits the journey through René's illness has been "long" but she has always tried to stay positive for the sake of her family.

"It's been a long, long journey," she added. "We were living in hope, knowing that there's no hope. I'm not the type of person who's going to say, 'I know he's going to make it.' 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."

Meanwhile, Celine previously admitted she always feels René is there on stage with her despite his passing.

She said: "Through my life I only had eyes for my husband, who sat out here night after night. People thought that I was looking at him but I didn't need to because every time I closed my eyes, I felt René on stage with me - whether he was seated in his seat right there, in the balcony, backstage, or at home with the kids. He's always been on stage with me and nothing will ever change that."

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