Hundreds of friends and family mourned the death of internationally renowned Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson in a private funeral Friday.

The Grammy-winning musical legend was honoured during the service held in Mississauga, Ont. as jazz singer and close friend Diana Krall performed songs composed by Peterson.

Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion was also in attendance for the service.

“It was beautiful,” the mayor said to CTV news: “It wasn’t sad. He never wanted anything to be sad.”

CTV also reports that Peterson’s daughter Celine was shocked by the news of the 82-year-old musician’s death and expressed her remorse on her myspace page.

“It is very hard for me to express how I feel about losing my Dad when people around me talk about how a legend, national treasure, virtuoso, piano god has passed away. My Dad was the best father that there ever was,” the 16-year old wrote.

Peterson died from kidney failure and stroke complications late last week.






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