More than 900 people gathered at an east-end church in Montreal Monday for an unconventional goodbye to abstract artist Jean-Paul Riopelle.

The crowd included everyone from actors and poets to Premier Bernard Landry, who praised Riopelle for making a unique mark on the world.

There was no priest. Musee du Quebec director John Porter acted as a kind of emcee, introducing speakers and musicians.

Jean-Paul Riopelle's funeral
Jean-Paul Riopelle's funeral

Instead of hymns from a choir there was jazz music from pianist Vic Vogel, and a rap tune by the trio Loco Locass that was inspired by one of Riopelle's masterpieces.

"He was the Quebec artist who's the best known throughout the world," said Landry, citing Riopelle's part in "Refus global," a 1948 declaration by the province's artists freeing them from dictates of the Roman Catholic Church. "We'll never forget you."

"For anyone else, this would be the day for a last goodbye. But not for you," said Jean-Louis Roux, chairman of the Canada Council. "Your work will always be with us."

Riopelle, who had returned to Canada after establishing his reputation as a painter in Paris, died last week at the age of 78.

Although he had rejected the confines of organized religion, Monday's ceremony was held in a Catholic church. The site prompted some long-time companions to boycott the service.

But Roux said that Riopelle was not a fanatic and would have probably enjoyed the irony of choosing a church for his farewell.

L'Eglise Immaculee-Conception, where he was baptized and married, was picked because it was one of the few buildings available that could hold a large crowd of mourners.

Riopelle had left no instructions on where his funeral should be held, or what type of ceremony he should have.