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Caroline Mulroney made us cry, Wayne Gretzky made us laugh, and Jean Charest and Justin Trudeau told stories of Brian Mulroney’s greatness.

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The funeral for Canada’s 18th prime minister saw six eulogies, a performance by The Tenors, scripture readings by his children and a who’s who of Canadian politics show up to pay their respects in Montreal.

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The ceremony flipped the script on Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and Canadians came to praise Mulroney, not to bury him.

“No one gave a speech like my dad. With his beautiful baritone voice, his sense of humor and his impeccable timing, my dad held an audience in the palm of his hand,” Mulroney’s oldest child and only daughter Caroline, a politician in her own right, said in her eulogy.

Showing hints she has kissed the same Blarney Stone that gave her dad his legendary skills at a podium, Mulroney told stories of her father that were at times funny, touching and incredibly emotional.

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“He became a truly great prime minister, and a world leader. But to us, he was more than that. He was a truly great father, and as his only daughter, he always made me feel special,” she said.

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Mulroney finished the speech describing her father’s last words and interactions with his wife Mila, a moment that made eyes well up across the Basilica and truly across the country for those who were watching on television.

“We’re heartbroken by our loss. We adored him. I miss you, daddy,” Mulroney said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s eulogy, words spoken about the man who undid much of his own father’s legacy, were delivered with class, humility and empathy.

“First and foremost, Brian was motivated by service. He was motivated by leadership by getting the big things right,” Trudeau said before going on to praise Mulroney’s legacy and record on policies like free trade, the GST, his stature on the world stage and especially the fight against Apartheid in South Africa.

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Trudeau noted the last time he spoke at Notre-Dame Basilica was 24 years ago for his own father’s funeral and that he could relate to the grief of the Mulroney family.

“It’s the end of the evening for a giant but the music goes on, and his memory lives in all of us each in our own ways,” Trudeau said.

Pierre Karl Peladeau, the president and CEO of Quebecor, spoke of Mulroney as a second father to him. Mulroney was a longtime associate of Peladeau sitting on the board of Quebecor for many years, including during the period when the company owned the Toronto Sun.

He described Mulroney as someone who worked for the success of many people, not just himself, and said that he truly wanted a better society.

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“We’ve had so many wonderful speakers,” Wayne Gretzky said, “you’re gonna figure out who’s in politics and which guy’s a hockey player real quick.”

Speaking without notes, Gretzky gave a quick but humour-filled eulogy with stories of how he met and became friends with Mulroney during his time in office, and how that friendship lasted throughout the years.

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There was even a eulogy read out by former U.S. secretary of state James Baker who could not be there. Baker praised Mulroney as a statesman, a champion of Canada and friend to the United States.

Jean Charest, who Mulroney appointed to cabinet in 1986 at the tender age of 28, gave the closest thing to a political eulogy. He praised Mulroney’s vision, his love of Canada and Quebec, and his ability to make those around him feel like they mattered.

“Brian Mulroney chose to spend his political capital, he took risks, and by doing so became one of those rarest of leaders able to define an era as his own,” Charest said passionately.

The eulogies were followed by a full Catholic mass and right of burial lead by Archbishop Christian Lépine who during his homily encouraged mourners to follow Mulroney’s example through service.

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At the end of the Mass, Theodora Lapham, Mulroney’s 18-year-old granddaughter, fought back tears to sing what she said was her grandfather’s favourite song, “Mais qu’est-ce que j’ai?”

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In a final tear-filled moment, Lapham was then joined by singer Marc Hervieux in singing “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,” which was finished off with a recording of Brian Mulroney himself singing the words. As mourners followed the casket out of the church, a recording of Mulroney singing “We’ll Meet Again” played over the loudspeakers.

The funeral was like the man, larger than life, filled with tears, warm words and laughter.

As it ended, the words of a Scot came to mind. Robbie Burns, paraphrased, asked: “Who’s like us? Damn few and they’re all dead.”

Mulroney has passed, there are few left like him.

blilley@postmedia.com

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