Linda Nolan, who was born in Dublin, tragically passed away last week, January 15, in a hospital close to her home in Blackpool, with double pneumonia.
Linda was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, and she received a full recovery in 2011. Sadly, her cancer reappears in 2020 and affects both her hip and brain.
She passed away last Wednesday surrounded by her loved ones, including her sisters, with whom she had a close knit friendship, after her condition deteriorated over the Christmas holiday. The Nolans lost their sister Bernie to breast cancer in 2013, making this their second sibling death.
Sister Coleen tells The Mirror that Linda was almost always in good spirits, ate the chocolates she had brought, and spoke with her friends and family.
She was “being her usual funny self,” Coleen says, “even though she had double pneumonia and was on oxygen.”
Before she passed, Linda did also discussed what she wanted for her funeral. Coleen adds: “She wanted everyone in black, wearing mantillas, those little lace veils that cover your face. I remember saying”, You are joking, Linda! If I see all my sisters in mantillas, I’m going to laugh the whole way through the funeral! We’ve decided not to do that, but we are wearing black. “
She lost her husband Brian a few months after receiving the first diagnosis 20 years ago. Coleen explains:” He was the love of her life and they hadn’t spent a night apart for 29 years. Then, two months later my mum died, all while Linda was having treatment. I don’t think many people could survive that, but she did.
She resided in my own home in Blackpool, which is located directly opposite where my sisters live for many years. It’s packed with her belongings – every costume and every bit of memorabilia from over the years, as well as Brian’s ashes”.
The Mirror agony aunt also provided a sweet description of Brian’s place of final rest for her sister Linda, which will be next to her.
“My first thought after she died was to put Brian’s ashes with Linda’s”, says Coleen, so that’s what we’re doing. In life they were never apart, so I’m glad they’ll be together again. “
And she shared details of Linda’s send off:” Her coffin is pure showbiz – bright pink and sparkly, just as she wanted, “Coleen adds”. The one thing my sister loved was bling – her trainers had bling on them, her handbags, her tops, her walking stick – so it feels right that she has a glittery pink coffin. “
The Nolan Sisters have entertained fans all over the world for the past 50 years and rose to fame as one of the first female bands in the 1970s.
Coleen adds:” For the rest of my life, I’ll be toasting Linda with a Malibu and Coke, which was one of her favourite tipples. She used to call it Mabilu and Coke and I can still hear her shouting, “Coleen! Get the Mabilu out”!
Leave a Reply