Maxime Le Flaguais paid tribute to the family values he was left with in his first public appearance since the death of his father, comedian Michel Côté. “Let’s use humor to get through difficult times, to deal with grief and heartache,” he said, peppering his speech with jokes and fond memories.
• Also read: The population invited to pay a final tribute to Michel Côté
• Also read: The artistic community mourns the loss of Michel Côté
Michel Côté’s son, Michel Le Flaguais, took the time to meet the journalists on this rainy Thursday morning, an hour before the opening of the burning chapel in honor of his famous father at the Monument-National in Montreal. This is the first time he has spoken publicly since the disappearance of his father, who died of bone marrow cancer on May 29 at the age of 72.
The actor acted as spokesman for the family. The latter, as we learned this morning, held an intimate family funeral with a hundred relatives yesterday, Wednesday.
“My mother is doing well. It’s unbelievable what strength this woman has. She’s an independent woman, so I’m not worried about her,” a very generous Maxime Le Flaguais replied when asked about his mother, actress Véronique Le Flaguais.
He did not fail to evoke the tenderness and love that his father felt for his mother all his life; a beautiful tribute to the artist couple who have been together for more than 50 years.
proof of love
“Thank you for being here, I take that as a token of love on your part,” he told press. My father was important to me and to the people of Quebec. The more journalists there are, the more we realize that the person was important. »
Though he cracked several jokes and recounted some comical reminiscences, the actor confessed he’d never cried more than he did during the “tsunami” of tributes and messages of support from people in the public and artistic communities, here and elsewhere, after his father’s death.
“We knew we had a father like no other, but this tsunami hit us. My father died leaving us in a media storm and a love storm. Not on a rotten raft. It’s just beautiful, it was amazing, I got so many testimonials from people who only had good words for him. »
He’s the man behind the actor that people have been fond of honoring ever since he left. And it’s the strongman who fought to the end that his son wanted to celebrate at Monument-National this morning.
The Last Moments
“It was difficult to balance hope and despair. But there is a great team that has supported him. When he was in palliative care, everyone who treated him came to pay their respects. They said: We come to see the man behind the famous actor. »
With a slightly broken voice, Maxime Le Flaguais returned to the final months of his father’s battle with bone marrow cancer. This was given a chance of survival of 30 to 35%. He underwent a bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy treatments, developed rejection symptoms, only to be told he only had a month or two to live.
“It’s quite a disease! My father never complained about his pain. Incredible strength! It was made of steel. In the end he stopped crying, he was strong, strong, strong. He met his mother and his brothers, his grandchildren. My father spent an hour with his grandchildren to teach them about family values. It was a majestic moment. »
The grandpa also spent about twenty minutes with Françoise, Maxime’s daughter, and his wife, the actress Caroline Dhavernas, to say goodbye to him by stroking his hair before finally falling asleep.
“We’re not preparing, we’re just listening and there,” the actor replied when asked how he prepared for his father’s departure. You can’t prepare for someone’s death. Whether father or mother, we have two and both are injured. I hope that I can keep my mother with me for a long time. When we are with the sick person we try to be more idealistic than realistic. »
Among the many values the ‘Omerta’ and ‘La petite vie’ actor instills in his family, Maxime Le Flaguais mentioned humor, curiosity and interest in others.
“He taught me to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. He also taught me how to die. Die with dignity; strong and happy. At the end he told us that he was satisfied with his life. »
What is the greatest legacy of Michel Côté – who will be posthumously awarded the title of Knight of the National Order of Quebec on June 21 – to the people of Quebec?
“He made her laugh and he made her cry. But being an actor is much more than that. Broue and all his projects are mirrors of society. It’s an important job and my father did it so well. He was a great actor, he was funny and moving. He could do anything. »
- Those wishing to say a final farewell to Michel Côté can do so today, Thursday 8 June, at the family’s Ardent Chapel. This takes place from 1pm to 5pm and 6pm to 9pm at the Monument-National in Montreal.