During Tuesday’s episode of the Loose Women, Coleen Nolan shared a poignant revelation.
The discussion turned to remembrance as the panel touched on the anniversary of Friends star Matthew Perry’s death.
On the topic of honouring loved ones, Kelle Bryan expressed how her family has an exuberant annual celebration in memory of her late nan, prompting Ruth Langsford to steer the conversation towards Coleen.
Referencing Coleen’s late sister Bernie, Ruth pointed out: “We know Col that Bernie loved a party and she was a party girl.”
Coleen concurred, recalling Bernie as a “party animal” who would seize any reason to celebrate. She then revealed a unique family tradition that on the anniversary of her birthday or Bernie’s passing, they all get together and have a thing called a vodka mule, reports the Mirror.
She divulged her own sentiments when attending these family gatherings, stating: “I don’t, I think it’s because when we all get together because she loved a party, so when we all get together at a party, it makes me miss her more.”
Injecting a dash of light-heartedness, she added: “She would’ve been at the forefront of that party and I don’t like vodka. She’s really really selfish to say vodka mule!”
Coleen further reflected on the diverse ways her family processes their grief, underlining their mutual respect for each other’s coping mechanisms.
She concluded with a heartfelt thought, adding: “For me. It’s not, ‘Oh I like to have this thing that’s going to help me remember them’. Because I never, ever, from the day she died or my parents died, ever forgot. I’ll never forget.”
Coleens sister Bernie passed away in 2013 at the age of 52, following a battle with breast cancer. The performer was given the tragic diagnosis three years earlier and went through chemotherapy and a mastectomy.
She briefly experienced respite with an all-clear in 2012, only to be dealt the devastating blow that the cancer had come back and spread to her brain, bones, lungs, and liver.
During a candid chat on Loose Women, Kelly Brook delved into the heartache of losing her father, describing how she has processed her grief.
In response to a query about preserving the memories of someone who has passed away, Kelly remarked: “For me, I lost my dad in 2007 and I feel like I’m only just coming to terms with it now.”
She added: “For me, having pictures up or a photo album, things like that I can only bring myself to look at them at certain times of the year. I don’t want a daily constant reminder. That’s definitely not for me.”
Kelly’s father, Kenneth Parsons, succumbed to cancer when he was only 57 years old.
Loose Women continues weekdays on ITV from 12:30pm