Canadian country singer Eloie Richard died Monday, only days after undergoing surgery to remove a tumour. He was 44.
The indie artist from New Brunswick announced in late May that he was cancelling upcoming concerts to focus on his health. The surgery was to be followed by six weeks of recovery.
“I plan on making a full recovery and continuing my musical journey,” Richard said in a statement at the time.
On Sunday, Richard’s sister Deb said he suffered a setback that required a second operation and he was in intensive care.
Then, his wife Lori shared on Facebook that Richard was showing “very small improvements” and the family was grateful for messages of “love and concern.”
Richard died at Saint John Regional Hospital.
Friends and fans are sharing messages of condolences on social media.
“Heaven’s band gained another Angel,” Dan Daley wrote on Facebook.
Shannon Babcock shared: “You were one in a million.
“We weren’t ready to lose you.”
A funeral for Richard will be held Friday at St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church in St. Stephen.
In addition to his wife and mother, Richard leaves behind two children.