Anne Nolan has opened up about her late sister rather odd funeral request. Linda, who was 65, died in January after a long battle with secondary breast cancer.
This past weekend, a ceremony took place at St Paul’s Church in Blackpool, where memories were cherished and farewells said.
On Anne recounted to hosts and the mix of emotions felt at Linda’s service, and revealed an unexpected request from her, reports
She said: “It was very emotional, very sad, but on the other hand it was kind of joyous as well. I mean, she picked her own coffin, the pink glittery coffin was her idea. That’s the only thing… Oh the other thing she wanted, she wanted us to wear mantillas.”
Anne explained the confusion about Linda’s wish for them to don mantillas, noting her tongue-in-cheek nature: “You know, the scarf things that you wear? The lace things? So my daughter and Coleen actually ordered them online. When they came, we chatted about it, and we said, ‘I think she might’ve been having a laugh there!’
Anne spoke about Linda’s funeral on GMB (Image: ITV)
“I don’t really think she wanted us to wear mantilla, so we didn’t wear them. But, that was the kind of humour she had.”
Anne reflected as she shared these tender memories. As Susanna prodded whether the mantillas were tried on, Anne mused: “I’m not sure what she was thinking about!
“She was probably just having us on, you know. But she did say she wanted us all in black and people to think about her and cry.”
People in droves lined the streets to honour Linda during the funeral, a send-off that Anne discussed while chatting with the ITV presenters.
Hundreds of people attended Linda’s funeral to pay their respects (Image: Getty Images)
brought to light a touching detail about the funeral arrangements for Linda, as discussed on Good Morning Britain, she said: “In the days running up to the funeral, we were reporting on Good Morning Britain, that you as a family had said, if anybody wants to come, anybody, then come.”
Anne confirmed this sentiment, reflecting on her late sister’s wishes. She commented: “That’s what Linda wanted. We were doing it for her really. It was really strange because on the way to the church in the funeral cars, as we arrived there was loads, hundreds of people outside the church.”
Anne recounted an emotional moment involving her other sister, she continued: “My sister Maureen started crying. I mean, we were all very emotional, but she started crying because of all the people that were there. She said, ‘I’m so glad because Linda would’ve been so disappointed if all these people hadn’t turned up.'”
Linda Nolan died earlier this year after a lengthy battle with cancer (Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Hearst)
The sense of community support was palpable, with Anne recalling how a local woman offered refreshments to the mourners.
Anne shared that one woman, who lived close by to the church, came out with a tray of tea and coffee to give to those who had attended.
Reflecting on Linda’s legacy, Anne expressed a heartfelt tribute, adding: “She’s going to be missed, such a lot. She was a forceful character. She was a big, big character in our family and in lots of people’s lives. I realised that now, she was amazing.”
Good Morning Britain continues weekdays on ITV from 10am.