Linda Nolan died today following a long journey with secondary breast cancer, but sadly it is a day that the 65 year old had been forced to prepare for all too well.
The late Daily Mirror Columnist, TV personality and pop star passed away with her famous sisters at her side, with her final hours said to have been filled with "love and comfort".
Linda was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2017 and in 2020 was devastated to learn it had spread. And when it came to her funeral, the brave star insisted on planning out her final farewell to spare them from the painful job.
Writing in her autobiography, From My Heart, in 2018 she explained: "I want to get all my affairs 'in order', as they say. I've caused my family enough worry over the years and so I want everything I can decided now so they don't have to if I become very poorly."
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TV Times via Getty Images)Linda planned her own funeral, drawing inspiration from how her late husband Brian prepared for his. She chose a Neil Sedaka tune, Our Last Song Together, for the service saying "It's beautiful and by then it really will be our last song with my wonderful family" and also chose the funeral directors.
"Brian organised his funeral and it was amazing," she said. "Bernie arranged hers. It’s easier for people left behind."
When it came to her coffin, the singer opted for one in pink glitter. "Brian's coffin was like a flight case, with 'This way up', 'Fragile' on it," Linda told the Mirror. "Our auntie had a beautiful coffin with pictures of us around it."
"Maureen said, 'Look at this coffin, it was made for you, it's pink glitter'," added the star, who was once dubbed the "naughty Nolan". "Absolutely. I am the blingy Nolan."
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OK!/David Cummings)Linda learned her cancer had returned 12 years after her original diagnosis in 2005, when she was babysitting her grand-nieces Ava, Sienna and Roma and fell down the stairs, feeling a crack in her hip. Doctors found a mass, which they confirmed was a cancer.
In a statement released to the Mirror today, agent Dermot McNamara, said: "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Linda Nolan, the celebrated Irish pop legend, television personality, Guinness World Record holding West End star, Sunday Times bestselling author and Daily Mirror columnist.
"She passed peacefully, with her loving siblings by her bedside, ensuring she was embraced with love and comfort during her final moments. Linda's legacy extends beyond her incredible achievements in music and entertainment. She was a beacon of hope and resilience, sharing her journey to raise awareness and inspire others. Rest in peace, Linda. You will be deeply missed, but never forgotten."
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