Coleen Nolan jokes she ‘ruined Bernie’s death’ as she shares cheeky final moment

Coleen Nolan has joked she and her sisters “ruined Bernie’s death” during their final moments together.

In 2010, the lead singer of the Irish pop group became the third sister to be diagnosed with the disease. Initially, she was said to be in remission in 2012 after completing chemotherapy and a mastectomy.

But in 2013, the actor, who starred in The Bill and Brookside, suffered a second bout of cancer which spread to her brain, bones, lungs and liver. At the age of 52, the star died in her sleep surrounded by her family.

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Following the launch of Coleen’s new self-help book A Hand to Hold: All I’ve Learnt About Grief, the Loose Women panellist has looked back over that emotional period in her life. Speaking exclusively to Daily Star, the mum-of-three shared one of the most heartwarming moments she experienced during her sister’s final moments.

Recalling Bernie’s tragic passing, the TV presenter confessed that there was one heart-warming moment she shared with her sisters before the hitmaker passed away. She told us: “[Bernie] was absolutely out cold on morphine, basically because it was the last few hours.

“And we were all at her bed and then we all started singing, and she’d been out of it, because [the doctors] gave her enough sedation where she wasn’t in pain. And then, just in the middle of us singing, she grimaced and put her hand up to silence us!

“And I went, ‘Jesus Christ. She’s telling us to stop, we’re ruining her death’.” The broadcaster confessed that although she lost her sister that day, she still treasures that moment dearly.

Coleen admitted: “We laughed so much at that moment. Because a) it was typical Bernie and b) because it was like she was saying, ‘Somebody’s not singing in the right harmony’.

“It was a really gorgeous moment actually of who she was. But yeah, she wasn’t impressed, bless her. But that’s a lovely memory for me, that’s not a sad memory. That was a lovely memory because it was her right up until the end.”

The performer made sure not to leave her grieving sisters without a plan, as Coleen revealed that the late singer had organised her funeral down to the smallest detail. And she made sure to go out with a bang.

Coleen explained that the family hosted Bernie’s funeral at a theatre in Blackpool called the Grand Theatre where they often performed as a group in their youth. She told us: “My brother-in-law at the time managed to get the theatre that we performed in for years and years, the Grand Theatre in Blackpool, they got a special license and we had her funeral at the theatre.

“It was perfect for Bernie because she lived for being on stage and it was like going to a concert. It was packed with a standing ovation at the end. The coffin was on the stage with the spotlights on it, it was just perfect.”

In her new book, she explained that her sister’s incredible planning skills took a huge weight off of her relatives’ shoulders but the grieving process still hurt just as much.

In her step-by-step guide, the doting mum confessed that she felt “angry” after her sister’s service ended due to the amount of people asking her how she was doing. She wrote: “I also remember something else about Bernie’s service – feeling so angry.

“Honestly, the number of times I was asked how I was – I just couldn’t cope with it. I mean, how did they think I was feeling? I was acting out of the ordinary, that’s for sure.

“It wasn’t like me to be livid, but that’s what grief does to you. It’s completely normal to not feel or act like your usual self.”

Speaking about the launch of her new book, Coleen reassured fans that although it covers a series of devastating topics, there are plenty of light moments in there. She explained: “Some people think, ‘Oh God, that’s dressing, why would you write a depressing book?’

“But what I want to say to them is, some of it’s sad and some of it’s very funny. There’s lovely poetry in there, there’s helplines in there. I think it’s a nice book to have on your shelf and God forbid you never have to open it or experience it.

“But the chances are, whether its a hamster or a sister or a loved one of ay kind, at some point in your life, you will probably have to go through it. And it’d be nice to have a little book out there where you don’t feel alone.

“If you find it difficult to talk, this can help – I hope.”

Coleen Nolan’s book A Hand to Hold: All I’ve Learnt about Grief is available to buy now.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk