Bernie Nolan, who died after a three-year battle with cancer on Thursday, expressed a wish for her ashes to be buried alongside those of her stillborn daughter Kate, who she lost in 1997. Coleen Nolan revealed how her sister had planned every detail of her funeral, which will take place on 17 July. "The funeral will be the party she wanted," Coleen told the Sunday Mirror, adding that it will be a "massive celebration of her life."
Actress and singer Bernie, 52, who starred in TV shows including The Bill and Brookside, had expressed a wish that the ceremony be held in the Grand Theatre in her hometown of Blackpool. Bernie had fond memories of the theatre, where she performed with her famous siblings as part of the Nolan Sisters. Her sister Linda, 54, said: "The theatre was our lives. Bernie was a born performer and did summer seasons and pantomime at The Grand. "Among the mourners will be Bernie’s husband of 17 years, drummer Steve Doneathy, and their 13-year-old daughter Erin. In October 2012, Bernie told HELLO! how she faced the tough task of telling her daughter she had terminal cancer.
"When I take her to bed, we have big long chats and I sing to her still," said Bernie. "That’s when she tells me everything."
Bernie was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. She was given the all-clear in 2011, only to be told in 2012 that the cancer had returned and had spread to her brain, liver, lungs and bones. She retained her indomitable spirit until the end. "There's no point dwelling on it," she told HELLO!. "I’ve got to fight it, be positive and get on with it."
