Linda Nolan and Coleen Nolan(Image: PA)

Coleen Nolan shares sister Linda's heartbreaking lonely nights and brave fight against cancer

16 Jan 2025, 12:42 by Mia O'Hare · Irish Mirror

Coleen Nolan has shared the poignant final nights of her sister Linda, who passed away at 65 after a brave battle with secondary breast cancer. The much-loved Irish singer and TV star died surrounded by her family, with her last hours filled with "love and comfort."

In an emotional tribute, agent Dermot McNamara told the Mirror: "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 at around 10:20am at Blackpool Victoria Hospital on the MCEW Ward. The family said the hospital couldn't do enough, they were tireless."

He added: "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."

Back in September, Loose Women's Coleen shared insights into her sister Linda's courageous fight against cancer that had spread to her liver and brain. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Coleen revealed: "Certainly in public [there's a smile on her face], obviously there's nights she goes to bed and I only found this out recently but there are nights she goes I think the night times because she's totally on her own.

"You know, in your bedroom and your brain, you just overthink and I think they're the times when she has her cry and and she's scared but the rest of the time she is an absolute warrior. I look at her in awe. She treats chemo like she's going to Tesco and it keeps coming back and battering her and she keeps on smiling and she still keeps getting out of bed and she bloody hates it.

Linda Nolan and Coleen Nolan(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

"She hates it, she hates being bald. I think that for her that's the most dramatic thing. She's lost her hair, this is the fourth time and she's lost it again and then she gets embarrassed and she goes 'That's really of vain of me' and I'm like 'It's not'."

Following Wednesday's heartbreaking news, Coleen shared her agent's statement along with a heartbroken emoji.

Linda's loyal followers are reeling from the sudden news of her passing, after she candidly documented her cancer battle in her weekly column for the Mirror. Just last week, Linda shared with the Mirror that she was feeling more upbeat post-Christmas, despite initially thinking she had a "bout of flu".

Unfortunately, her health took a turn when she became too unwell for even hugs and meals. A mere two days after, Linda was rushed to hospital with breathing difficulties, where she was diagnosed with double pneumonia.

Her already vulnerable condition was exacerbated by secondary breast cancer that had spread to her brain, leading to a rapid decline. In the early hours of Tuesday morning, at 3.30am, her sisters Anne, 74, Denise, 72, Maureen, 69, and Coleen, 59, were summoned to her bedside as doctors initiated end-of-life care. They stood at her bedside in her final moments.

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