Irish pop icon Linda Nolan of the internationally acclaimed Nolan family has sadly died, aged 65.
The Dublin-born star died from cancer nearly two decades after she was first diagnosed with the disease. Previously, Linda opened up about her own funeral plans, expressing a wish for a sparkly pink coffin similar to her aunt’s.
Linda – who is the latest celebrity to die in 2025 – known as the “naughty Nolan,” is the sixth of eight siblings and experienced her first bout with cancer in 2005, which led to a mastectomy and 18 rounds of chemotherapy. Tragically, she lost her younger sister Bernie to brain cancer ten years ago this July at the age of 52.
Linda also lost her husband Brian and her sister Bernie to cancer, while her eldest sister Anne bravely fought and survived the illness. Linda’s cancer returned, affecting her hip in 2017 and her liver in 2020.
Linda Nolan had previously planned her own funeral
(Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)
Previously addressing her cancer, Linda shared her feelings, saying: “I am positive, but I have my moments when I slide down the wall in a heap,” and expressed her fears: “What happens? Is it dark? Are you on your own? I’m frightened of the unknown, and being on my own, I have always been with people.” She admitted to a fear of crying: “I’m frightened to cry in case I don’t stop sometimes.”
Linda had devised plans for her own funeral, drawing inspiration from how her brothers Brian and Bernie managed theirs. She chose a Neil Sedaka tune, ‘Our Last Song Together,’ for the service and has already chosen the funeral directors.
Recalling Brian’s unique coffin and their auntie’s personalized one, she revealed her own choice: “Then Maureen said, ‘Look at this coffin, it was made for you, it’s pink glitter.'” Confirming her preference, she added, “Absolutely. I am the blingy Nolan.”
The Nolans, famous for hits like ‘I’m In the Mood for Dancing,’ remain a top-selling girl group globally.
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