WATCH: Hundreds of Quebecers attended the state funeral held Tuesday afternoon to celebrate the life of former Quebec premier Jacques Parizeau. Tim Sargeant has details from the church in Outremont.
MONTREAL — A state funeral was held Tuesday afternoon to celebrate the life of former Quebec premier Jacques Parizeau.
The service took place at Saint-Germain d’Outremont Church at 2 p.m., and was attended by more than 800 people.
IN PHOTOS: Quebec politerati attend Jacques Parizeau’s funeral in Montreal
Family members, friends, dignitaries and ordinary Quebecers watched the service led by Montreal Archbishop Christian Lépine, including hundreds from outside the church on a large LED monitor.
Quebec’s 26th premier received a full state funeral as decided by current Quebec premier Philip Couillard, who offered a tribute during the service.
READ MORE: Former Quebec premier Jacques Parizeau remembered as a ‘giant’
Former premiers, sitting and former mayors, federal party leaders and others also attended the funeral.
WATCH: Quebec politicians pay tribute to former premier Jacques of Parizeau Tuesday
Parizeau was considered instrumental in modernizing Quebec’s economy in the 1960s and 70s, helping to nationalize Hydro-Quebec and creating Quebec’s pension fund, the Caisse de Dépôt.
An ardent separatist, as premier, Parizeau brought the province very close to seceding from Canada in the 1995 referendum, where the “No” side won by a razor-slim majority.
READ MORE: Should Montreal’s Amherst Street be renamed after Jacques Parizeau?
Parizeau died Monday, June 1, after being hospitalized for five months. He was 84 years old.
Hundreds of people showed up to pay their last respects on Saturday at the Caisse de Dépôt in Montreal, including politicians such as Montreal mayor Denis Coderre, Quebec premier Philippe Couillard and Parti Québécois leader Pierre Karl Péladeau.
WATCH: Pierre Karl Péladeau pays tribute to Jacques Parizeau on Tuesday
There were also public visitations at the National Assembly in Quebec City on Sunday.
Traffic
To accommodate the funeral, Vincent d’Indy Road and the bike path along Cote-Sainte-Catherine Road were closed as of 9 a.m. Tuesday.
The streets surrounding the entire perimeter of the Saint-Germain d’Outremont Church were closed as of 11 a.m.
— With files from Rachel Lau
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