The late Linda Nolan had her fair share of struggles in life but could always count on her devoted sisters to lift her spirits. And it was with them that she could share her most upsetting fears and struggles.
Pop icon Linda, who rose to fame with her siblings in The Nolans, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 65, after living with cancer for many years. Those who followed Linda’s Mirror column, in which she documented her cancer journey, admired her tremendous courage in the face of such serious obstacles.
A wonderfully witty individual, Linda had a knack for finding cheeky humour and lightness even in the darkest of Christmas, joking with readers right up until the end about her disappointing last Christmas where she’d felt too poorly to enjoy the usual festivities.
In one poignant piece, published December 18, Linda expressed gratitude for another festive season with those who knew and loved her best. She wrote: “I can barely believe I’ve made it – but here I am, and I’m so grateful. Thank you so much for reading my highs and lows this year. I’ll make a Christmas wish for many more.”
Brave Linda would, however, confide in sister Coleen about the personal struggles she was dealing with behind her sunny smile, including the sorrow she felt after losing her beautiful blonde hair.
Speaking exclusively with the Mirror in September 2023, Coleen shared: “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 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.
“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’.”
Popstar Linda first learned she had cancer in 2005. One year later, she went into remission, but in 2017, she devastatingly announced she had been diagnosed with a secondary cancer in her hip, which spread to her liver in 2020. In 2023, Linda announced that the cancer had spread to her brain.
In an article published January 8, Linda had told Mirror readers that she was feeling brighter after coming down with what she thought was a “bout of flu” over Christmas. Sadly, just two days later, Linda was taken to hospital with breathing problems, where doctors diagnosed double pneumonia.
Because of her secondary breast cancer, Linda’s condition deteriorated. Linda’s close-knit group of sisters – Anne, 74, Denise, 72, Maureen, 69, and Coleen, 59 – were called to her bedside at 3.30 am on Tuesday, January 14 as doctors made the decision to place her in end-of-life care. The siblings kept a vigil by Linda’s side, right until the end.
In a statement released to the Mirror, 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.”
The statement continued: “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.”
The Macmillan Support Line offers confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. If you need to talk, call us on 0808 808 0000.
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