Brian Mulroney鈥檚 three sons say there鈥檚 no doubt their father would have been thrilled by this week鈥檚 public tributes honouring his life.

鈥淗e would have loved it. He is smiling down right now,鈥� Mark Mulroney said in an interview with his two brothers.

鈥淧eople coming down to tell his sons how great he was? He would have liked that,鈥� added Ben Mulroney, as the other two laughed in agreement.

On Friday, for a fourth consecutive day, Mulroney鈥檚 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鈥檚 casket.

The body of the former prime minister lay in repose for a second day in Montreal鈥檚 St. Patrick鈥檚 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 鈥� dignitary and member of the public alike 鈥� 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鈥檛 want to leave her late husband鈥檚 side.

鈥淢y mom heard there were people waiting out in the cold and she said, 鈥榃ell, I鈥檇 like to greet them,鈥� and it just kind of happened organically that way,鈥� he said.

He praised his mother as the 鈥減illar鈥� of the family, adding, 鈥渟he is just so strong.鈥� While it鈥檚 hard to grieve publicly, he said, doing so has brought the family even closer.

鈥淚f there鈥檚 one thing that鈥檚 really stood out right now, it鈥檚 that we get to be together as a family going through this,鈥� 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.

鈥淚鈥檝e told people that since his passing, his legacy has given me a superpower,鈥� he said. 鈥淲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鈥檒l be forever grateful.鈥�

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.

鈥淢y dad talked to every single politician from every single party, all the time, he was there for everybody,鈥� he said. 鈥淎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.鈥�

Nick says his father鈥檚 example shows that 鈥淐anada is a place where possible can happen.鈥�

鈥淛ust because you started out as a poor boy on the North Shore in Baie-Comeau (Quebec) doesn鈥檛 mean that that鈥檚 where you鈥檙e going to end up,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd he worked really hard. And Canada is a great country and he showcased exactly what you can do in this country.鈥�

A state funeral is set for Saturday at Montreal鈥檚 Notre-Dame Basilica, with eulogies from Mulroney鈥檚 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.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e also going to see 16 grandkids running around,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going pretty impressive.鈥�

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