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REST IN PEACE: 'Linda was just a force of nature and I've been in awe of her'
OK! UK|February 03, 2025
TV star Coleen Nolan pays tribute to her brave and beloved sister Linda who recently passed away
- CLAIRE HIGNEY
REST IN PEACE: 'Linda was just a force of nature and I've been in awe of her'

Coleen Nolan has suffered more than her fair share of grief. But this weekend will be one of her toughest goodbyes of all - as she and her siblings gather in Blackpool to give their beloved Linda the send-off she deserves. After 20 years living in the shadow of cancer, Linda sadly died on 15 January aged just 65, after contracting double pneumonia.

Here, ahead of the funeral, Loose Women star Coleen celebrates Linda's legacy in her own words, and reveals the one perfect last day they spent together.

It's been 10 days since my lovely sister Linda died and it's still hard to believe she's gone. As we prepare for her funeral, I'm holding on to the memory of the last day I spent with her in hospital, which was full of love and laughter. My daughter Ciara and I sat with her and we said everything we needed to say to each other. She told us how much she loved us and we told her we loved her. I think she knew it would be the last time she'd see us, but there were no tears.

Although she had double pneumonia and was on oxygen, she was in good spirits, cracking jokes, being her usual funny self and eating the chocolate people had brought her. She wanted to hear about my new grandson and I showed her lots of photos of him. So many people came to see her, including her best friend of 60 years, Suzanne, and her stepdaughter Sarah, and the whole family were at her bedside. The nurses kept telling her to rest, but Linda, being Linda, would not stop talking!

When I left that evening, I told her I'd come and visit the next day and she said, “Oh, you don't have to,” and I said, “I know, but I will,” and then she said, “Col, I really love you.” Even though I knew she was gravely ill, I really thought she might pull through, as she always has.

This story is from the February 03, 2025 edition of OK! UK.

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This story is from the February 03, 2025 edition of OK! UK.

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