[casterway]

Though his funeral will be a private affair, a public memorial is being organized for the late Jeff Healey, the musician's widow said in a statement Tuesday.

Healey, the acclaimed Canadian blues, rock and jazz musician, died Sunday following a lifelong battle with cancer. He was 41.

A public memorial is in the works to honour the late Jeff Healey.A public memorial is in the works to honour the late Jeff Healey.
(Canadian Press)

"We would like to thank our family, friends and Jeff's fans for their condolences and kind thoughts at this most difficult time," Cristie Healey said Tuesday.

"Now we need to say our goodbyes in private; however, we respect the public need to participate in celebrating Jeff's life and music and we are planning a public memorial, with details to follow."

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to be made to the international children's charity, Daisy's Eye Cancer Fund.

Healey lost his sight at the age of one after being diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a form of eye cancer.

Other forms of cancer struck him in recent years, with the musician undergoing several operations to have tumours removed from his leg and his lungs.

The celebrated musician is survived by his widow and two children, Rachel and Derek.

His last album, Mess of Blues, is scheduled to hit music stores across North America on April 22.