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Grieving Coleen Nolan ‘putting on a brave face’ as she prepares to celebrate milestone birthday just eight weeks after beloved sister Linda’s tragic death

Grieving Coleen Nolan ‘putting on a brave face’ as she prepares to celebrate milestone birthday just eight weeks after beloved sister Linda’s tragic death

Coleen Nolan is reportedly ‘putting on a brave face’ as she prepares to celebrate her 60th birthday, just eight weeks after sister Linda’s tragic death.

The Loose Women star will mark the milestone on March 12 with a family party, but the big day will be ‘bittersweet’ due to her beloved sibling’s absence. 

Linda tragically died on January 15, 2025, aged 65 following a 20-year breast cancer battle and suffering from double pneumonia.

Coleen found fame alongside sisters Linda, Maureen, 71, Anne, 74, Denise, 72, and the late Bernie as members of smash hit pop group The Nolans.

A source told OK!: ‘This is a milestone birthday for Coleen, but she is still, of course, going to be thinking about her sister’. 

‘Coleen is still very, very sad about losing Linda, so it’s a very bittersweet moment. It’s heartbreaking that Linda won’t be there’.

Coleen Nolan is reportedly 'putting on a brave face' as she prepares to celebrate her 60th birthday, just eight weeks after sister Linda's tragic death

Coleen Nolan is reportedly ‘putting on a brave face’ as she prepares to celebrate her 60th birthday, just eight weeks after sister Linda’s tragic death

Linda (L) tragically died on January 15, 2025, aged 65 following a 20-year breast cancer battle and suffering from double pneumonia  (pictured together in 2023)

MailOnline have contacted Coleen’s reps for comment. 

Last month Coleen penned an emotional birthday tribute for Linda, as she took to social media to pay tribute on what would have been her sister’s 66th birthday.

The post included a video of Coleen dancing with her sister at a party, with the pair descending into laughter as they showed off their moves.

She captioned the post: ‘To my beautiful sister… think of you everyday, but especially today on your birthday…

‘I miss you so much and life won’t be the same without you in it…’

Coleen’s close friends and family all gathered for her sister Linda’s funeral in Blackpool on February 1st. 

The TV personality wiped away tears with a tissue as she arrived at St Paul’s Church in their hometown with her sisters Maureen, Anne and Denise.

Her sons Shane Jr, 36, and Jake, 32, acted as pallbearers at the funeral, solemnly carrying their beloved aunt’s pink coffin through the crowd.

The Loose Women star will mark the milestone on March 12 with a family party, but the big day will be 'bittersweet' due to her beloved sibling's absence

The Loose Women star will mark the milestone on March 12 with a family party, but the big day will be ‘bittersweet’ due to her beloved sibling’s absence

A source said: 'Coleen is still very, very sad about losing Linda, so it¿s a very bittersweet moment. It¿s heartbreaking that Linda won¿t be there' (Pictured 2017)

A source said: ‘Coleen is still very, very sad about losing Linda, so it’s a very bittersweet moment. It’s heartbreaking that Linda won’t be there’ (Pictured 2017)

Coleen found fame alongside sisters Linda, Maureen, 71, Anne, 74, Denise, 72, and the late Bernie as members of smash hit pop group The Nolans (pictured 1983)

Coleen found fame alongside sisters Linda, Maureen, 71, Anne, 74, Denise, 72, and the late Bernie as members of smash hit pop group The Nolans (pictured 1983)

They were among the seven male members of the Nolan family and friends who hoisted the coffin, which was covered with bouquets of pink flowers, on their shoulders. 

Shane also manned the door for his aunt while Denise read the eulogy. 

Coleen, who wore a black furry jacket over a black dress, kept her head down and fought back tears as she walked past mourners who had gathered to pay their respects. 

Read More Coleen Nolan breaks down in tears as she details sister Linda’s final moments on Loose Women article image

The four surviving Nolan sisters went into the church, greeted and clapped by friends and family who lined the walkway. 

Linda’s former brother-in-law Shane Richie cut a sombre figure as he arrived ahead of his ex-wife.

Shane, 60, who was married to Linda’s sister Coleen between 1990 and 1999, was one of the first to arrive to pay his respects, as he hid his eyes behind brown tinted shades.

The funeral was attended by several famous faces, including Grammy nominated singer, Lisa Matthew, who was part of the noughties band, Milkshake, actor Tommy Canon, and Coronation Street star Jodie Prenger. 

The last surviving Chuckle brother, Paul Harman Elliott, 77, paid an emotional tribute to Linda outside the church.

The comedian, 77, said the ‘world will be a darker place without Linda’ and recalled their fondest memories, adding that ‘we used to enjoy our life’ together.

Last month Coleen penned an emotional birthday tribute for Linda, as she took to social media to pay tribute on what would have been her sister's 66th birthday

Last month Coleen penned an emotional birthday tribute for Linda, as she took to social media to pay tribute on what would have been her sister’s 66th birthday 

He called her a ‘fun bubbly person’ as he looked back on their 40 years of friendship. 

The surviving sisters of the Irish eighties pop group, The Nolans – Maureen, Anne, Denise, and Coleen – have raised £2,670 for Trinity Hospice. 

The funeral service, which was due to begin at 10.30am, was held in the same church on Honister Avenue where Linda married her beloved husband Brian Hudson in 1981.

The church is also where she held Brian’s funeral after she lost him to skin cancer in 2007 when he was 60 years old.

A private service followed at a crematorium nearby, with Linda laid to rest with Brian’s ashes.

Coleen previously explained how they had decided on Linda’s final resting place, telling The Mirror: ‘My first thought after she died was to put Brian’s ashes with Linda’s.’

‘So that’s what we’re doing. In life they were never apart, so I’m glad they’ll be together again.’

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