Celine Dion's brother dies of cancer two days after she loses her husband to the disease

Celine Dion's brother has died of cancer just two days after she lost her husband to the disease, her publicist has confirmed.

Dion's older brother Daniel, 59, passed away surrounded by his family after battling cancer for several years.

His sister Claudette told Journal de Montreal newspaper he was ready and died "peacefully" surrounded by his family.

Dion's husband and manager Rene Angelil died on Thursday, the day before his 74th birthday, after a long battle with throat cancer.

The singer and Angelil had three children together - Rene-Charles, who was born in 2001 and twins Nelson and Eddy, who were born in 2010.

Daniel Dion, the father of two daughters, was the eighth of 14 Dion children.

His funeral will be held in the family's hometown of Charlemagne, Quebec.