As Loose Women star and Daily Mirror Columnist Coleen Nolan celebrates her milestone 60th birthday, she remembers sister Linda who passed away earlier this year

As Coleen Nolan celebrates her 60th birthday, she can’t help but think about those who should be here to celebrate, including her sister Linda.

It was just two months ago that fellow Mirror columnist Linda, 65, passed away from double pneumonia following a 20-year cancer ordeal. It came 12 years after the Nolans lost sister Bernie aged 52 to the same disease.

“It does feel weird that I’m turning 60 so soon after losing Linda,” Coleen told the Mirror, after throwing a big London bash for her colleagues and family. “[But] parties were her thing, so she would have insisted on some kind of celebration that involved music and dancing.”

Beloved entertainer Linda was surrounded by family when she took her final breath, with her devoted sisters, including Anne, 74, Denise, 72, Maureen, 69, and Coleen, at her bedside

Coleen is celebrating her 60th birthday following the death of her sister Linda earlier this year ( 
Image:
Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

It’s a bittersweet birthday for Coleen ( 
Image:
GC Images)

Loose Women star Coleen previously recalled the touching last exchange they shared. Speaking 10 days after her death, Coleen shared: “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 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.”

Despite the nurses’ insistence that she rest, Linda remained true to her character, continuing to chat with her loved ones. Coleen recalled the last words she shared with Linda: “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’.”

While she’s very much missing sister Linda on her big birthday, Coleen is always looking on the bright side.

“Milestone birthdays can have a funny effect on people,” she said. “For some, turning 60 might feel a bit depressing – let’s be honest, it’s starting to feel quite close to pension age, whatever that is these days!

“But I’m just incredibly grateful to get the chance to celebrate another year and I feel blessed that I’m still doing work that I love.”