A security guard lets the public approach Annie Cordy's coffin in small groups at the athanée in Cannes, Tuesday, September 8, 2020 -

F. Binacchi / ANP / 20 Minutes

  • Singer and actress Annie Cordy died on Friday near Cannes at the age of 92.

  • Since Tuesday and until Friday, the day before the funeral of the Belgian artist, the public can come to meditate on their coffin.

In the large “Croisette” room of the athanée de Cannes, a fan has just placed a huge bouquet.

Stapled to the composition, an A4 sheet is scrawled with orange felt: “To our aunt Yoyo, the priest's maid.

We will never forget you.

Since this Tuesday morning, the public has the opportunity to meditate on the coffin of Annie Cordy, who died Friday at the age of 92 in the neighboring town of Vallauris where she resided.

Pierre, 52, made the trip to Nice on purpose to pay tribute to this "generous and very human" woman, who "gave everything to her audience during concerts".

Fan of the first hour, the security agent went for the first time near the remains of Baroness Léonia Cooreman, the real name of the Belgian singer before returning there a few minutes later, a bouquet of pink lilies under the elbow.

The little card attached to the flowers is addressed to her "friend".

“Annie Cordy was everyone's friend,” he says.

Pierre, 52, came from Nice to pay tribute to Annie Cordy - F. Binacchi / ANP / 20 Minutes

"We lost a very great lady of the song"

"It belongs to the public", admitted to AFP Michèle Lebon and this is also why the niece of the artist wanted to organize this vigil until Friday.

"Everyone can pay homage to Annie who loved the audience," she says.

Tuesday afternoon, a handful of small groups had already gone to the funeral home, where we received all day "many calls to know the modalities of visitation".

Visits sometimes… from far away.

Pierre 73, disembarked Monday evening from Paris to attend the funeral of the Belgian, Azuréenne by adoption.

"We lost a very great lady of the song that we had, it is true, a little forgotten these days", explains this former executive of the large distribution moved behind a black mask, dressed in a polo shirt and 'also black shorts.

"It will henceforth be that of the good Lord"

Yet it is the "joie de vivre that Annie Cordy transmitted" that many came to greet this Tuesday in Cannes.

"When I had no morale, I just had to listen to his songs and I was gay again," says Jean, du Cannet, also retired.

"She was the priest's maid, she will henceforth be that of the good Lord", he smiles.

All are also planning to participate in the ceremony which will be organized outdoors on the hill of Saint-Cassien, a green setting overlooking Cannes airport, Saturday at 3 p.m.

The burial of the singer and actress will follow in the cemetery of L'Abadie, north-west of the city of festivals.

Television

Films, documentary… France Télévisions pays tribute to Annie Cordy

Culture

Tributes to a “popular” artist, ambassador of “belgitude”

  • Funeral

  • Tribute

  • Belgian

  • Singer

  • Nice

  • Cannes

  • Culture