Linda Nolan was laid to rest at St Paul’s Church in her hometown of Blackpool on Saturday with her famous sisters in attendance.
The former eighties pop star planned her own funeral in the years before her death right down to her glitter pink coffin and an emotional Faith Hill ballad.
Linda passed away on 15th January, aged 65 at Blackpool Victoria Hospital from double pneumonia, where she entered into end-of-life care and then into a coma.
She was living with secondary breast cancer, which had spread to her hip, liver and brain, but cancer was not the cause of death.
By invitation of the Nolan sisters, fans flocked to the church where Linda married her former manager and husband, Brian Hudson, in 1981 and later held his funeral in 2007.
Loose Women star, Coleen Nolan’s son Shane Richie, 35, was manning the door for his aunt while Linda’s older sister Denise, 72, read the eulogy.
Linda Nolan was laid to rest at St Paul’s Church in her hometown of Blackpool on Saturday with her famous sisters in attendance
The former eighties pop star planned her own funeral in the years before her death right down to her glitter pink coffin and an emotional Faith Hill ballad
The four surviving Nolan sisters – Maureen, 71, Anne, 74, Denise, 72, and Coleen, 59 – arrived first and waited in the church as their sister was carried in seven pall bearers comprised of male members of the Nolan’s friends and family.
Linda’s name was arranged in white flowers and pink roses in the back of the black hearse.
A matching flower arrangement was placed on top of her coffin, with heartfelt messages from her family attached.
Fans were clamouring to get into the church which was full, and the door had to be manned by two make-shift security guards.
The service began with Faith Hill’s emotional ballad, There You’ll Be, playing before Denise, who Linda lived with towards the end of her life, lead the eulogy.
In it she revealed the family’s nickname of ‘Auntie Ginda’ for the late singer, ‘because she liked a gin or two’.
She began: ‘She was the life and soul of the party. Her sense of humour was unlike any other and no party will ever be the same.
‘Linda would always say, “I’m living with cancer not dying of cancer”. She didn’t let it rule her life no matter how hard it tried.’
Linda passed away on 15th January, aged 65 at Blackpool Victoria Hospital from double pneumonia , where she entered into end-of-life care and then into a coma (pictured in 2014)
Linda’s name was arranged in white flowers and pink roses in the back of the black hearse with a matching flower arrangement placed on top of her coffin
Heartfelt messages from her family and friends were attached to the arrangement
One read: ‘Love you always Auntie Lin’
Another sweet addition included a pig constructed from pink roses
The order of service was topped with a glamorous photo of Linda
Other photos included one from her wedding day to Brian Hudson
By invitation of the Nolan sisters, fans flocked to the church where Linda married her former manager and husband, Brian Hudson, in 1981 and later held his funeral in 2007
The service began with Faith Hill’s emotional ballad, There You’ll Be, playing before Denise, who Linda lived with towards the end of her life, lead the eulogy
In it Denise (pictured) revealed the family’s nickname of ‘Auntie Ginda’ for the late singer, ‘because she liked a gin or two’
The last surviving Chuckle brother, Paul Harlan, 77, also paid his respects and said ‘the world will be a darker place without Linda, we used to enjoy our life together’
Denise continued: ‘The hair loss was the worst thing for her when she got it again. And then during Covid she spent a week in hospital alone with no visitors were allowed.
‘All of these things would have destroyed a lesser person but Linda wouldn’t allow it.’
Denise concluded: ‘It’s time to rest now Linda, the battle is over you are free,’ as a song by Linda, When It’s Over, followed.
The last surviving Chuckle brother, Paul Harlan, 77, paid his respects and said ‘the world will be a darker place without Linda, we used to enjoy our life together’.
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