Brian Mulroney害羞草研究所檚 three sons say there害羞草研究所檚 no doubt their father would have been thrilled by this week害羞草研究所檚 public tributes honouring his life.

害羞草研究所淗e would have loved it. He is smiling down right now,害羞草研究所� Mark Mulroney said in an interview with his two brothers.

害羞草研究所淧eople coming down to tell his sons how great he was? He would have liked that,害羞草研究所� added Ben Mulroney, as the other two laughed in agreement.

On Friday, for a fourth consecutive day, Mulroney害羞草研究所檚 sons Ben, Mark and Nicolas stood alongside their mother, sister and other family members to greet the steady stream of people who came to pay respects at their father害羞草研究所檚 casket.

The body of the former prime minister lay in repose for a second day in Montreal害羞草研究所檚 St. Patrick害羞草研究所檚 Basilica, after it lay in state for two days in Ottawa where it was visited by the prime minister, other dignitaries and the public.

Nearly every visitor during the past four days 害羞草研究所� dignitary and member of the public alike 害羞草研究所� has been greeted by the Mulroney family with a handshake, hug, and a thank you or quick chat.

In an interview at the church on Thursday alongside his brothers, Mark Mulroney said the decision to spend four long days greeting people came from a desire to support their mother, Mila Mulroney, who didn害羞草研究所檛 want to leave her late husband害羞草研究所檚 side.

害羞草研究所淢y mom heard there were people waiting out in the cold and she said, 害羞草研究所榃ell, I害羞草研究所檇 like to greet them,害羞草研究所� and it just kind of happened organically that way,害羞草研究所� he said.

He praised his mother as the 害羞草研究所減illar害羞草研究所� of the family, adding, 害羞草研究所渟he is just so strong.害羞草研究所� While it害羞草研究所檚 hard to grieve publicly, he said, doing so has brought the family even closer.

害羞草研究所淚f there害羞草研究所檚 one thing that害羞草研究所檚 really stood out right now, it害羞草研究所檚 that we get to be together as a family going through this,害羞草研究所� he said.

Nicolas Mulroney said the week has been emotional but that he and his brothers feel energized after hearing so many stories from Canadians about how his father impacted their lives.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e told people that since his passing, his legacy has given me a superpower,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲hile grief comes in waves, what I have experienced personally by the people that have come through the door has just been absolutely powerful and I害羞草研究所檒l be forever grateful.害羞草研究所�

Brian Mulroney, who died Feb. 29 at age 84, left behind a long legacy as prime minister, which stretched from 1984 to 1993. That included the North American Free Trade Agreement, signed between Canada, the United States and Mexico during his time as prime minister, his participation in fight against South African apartheid, the 1991 acid rain accord, and the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax.

Over the past week, the Mulroney family heard a lot of stories about their father, and have a few thoughts of their own about his legacy.

Mark Mulroney, for one, hopes his father will inspire more people to consider a career in public life.

害羞草研究所淢y dad talked to every single politician from every single party, all the time, he was there for everybody,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淎s people look at that, I think people should know what a noble calling it was and how much he gave himself to do the job.害羞草研究所�

Nick says his father害羞草研究所檚 example shows that 害羞草研究所淐anada is a place where possible can happen.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淛ust because you started out as a poor boy on the North Shore in Baie-Comeau (Quebec) doesn害羞草研究所檛 mean that that害羞草研究所檚 where you害羞草研究所檙e going to end up,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淎nd he worked really hard. And Canada is a great country and he showcased exactly what you can do in this country.害羞草研究所�

A state funeral is set for Saturday at Montreal害羞草研究所檚 Notre-Dame Basilica, with eulogies from Mulroney害羞草研究所檚 daughter Caroline, former Quebec premier Jean Charest and hockey great Wayne Gretzky.

Ben Mulroney said the funeral will include a cross-section of people who knew his father in politics, business and in his personal life. There will be music, and hopefully some funny, human moments to help hold off tears, he said.

害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檙e also going to see 16 grandkids running around,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 going pretty impressive.害羞草研究所�

READ ALSO: