‘I miss you so much and life won’t be the same without you in it’
Loose Women star Coleen Nolan marked an emotional day on Sunday as she paid tribute to her late sister Linda.
February 23 would have been Linda Nolan’s 66th birthday. The singer, who was in a band with Coleen and four of their sisters, died in hospital in January surrounded by her family.
The Dublin-born star was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. She was given the all-clear in 2011 but in 2017 she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. By 2020, it had spread and by 2023 it had reached her brain.
Loose Women panelist Coleen, 59, marked Linda’s birthday on Sunday, paying an emotional tribute to her ‘beautiful’ sister.
In a post on Instagram, Coleen shared a video of the pair dancing and singing together at a party. In one touching moment, Linda was seen placing her sister’s hand on her head before lifting up her wig to reveal her bald head underneath, leaving Coleen in stitches.
Alongside the video, Coleen wrote: “To my beautiful sister… think of you everyday, but especially today on your birthday. I miss you so much and life won’t be the same without you in it.”
Linda’s funeral took place at St Paul’s Church in Blackpool earlier this month. Earlier this month, Coleen spoke about the ceremony as she returned to the ITV panel show.
Asked by host Christine Lampard how the family were doing after Linda’s funeral, Coleen said they were “doing great.” She said: “It’s difficult to say isn’t it? It’s so soon, we’re all doing great. We have great moments then you absolutely have down moments and they come out of the blue!”
Recalling the funeral, Coleen shared: “It was a beautiful day, if you could say that, for Linda- she would have absolutely loved it, and the weather was beautiful. And more importantly, the turnout from the public, right from when she passed away, the public- you know, people we’ve never met before sending the most amazing messages, cards and flowers to the whole family.
“You probably think ‘they don’t even read it’, but we read as many as we can, and I can’t tell you how much it means to us, and that really helped and, of course, all of you guys.”
Linda made several appearances on Loose Women alongside her sister Coleen, who is a regular panellist. After the news of her death broke, Coleen, who was by her sisters side when she passed, said: “I am utterly devastated by the passing of my sister, Linda. Linda was a beacon of love, kindness and strength. Her wit, humour and laughter was infectious, her precence could light up any room.
“Linds had a heart full of compassion and always knew how to bring comfort and joy to those around her. Her memory will live on in the many lives she touched, and while we will miss her more than words can express, we take solace in the love and warmth she shared with all of us. Rest in peace, Linda. You will forever be in our hearts. Love you, Coleen xxxx (Colette).”
Linda appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and her musical theatre career included Blood Brothers, Pump Boys And Dinettes and Prisoner Cell Block H. She also wrote a Daily Mirror column.