Denise Welch has opened up about the way her life has changed since the sad passing of her beloved father, Vin.
The 64-year-old Loose Women star was ‘blindsided’ when her father died in September last year, and as the first anniversary of his death approaches, she has explained how she has a new perspective on life.
Denise and her father were very close, and he would often appear alongside her on her ITV lunchtime talk show panel.
The former Coronation Street actress says she is embracing life more than ever now and wants to add more fun to her life.
She told the Daily Star: “When I lost my dad, it changed my perspective on things. I decided I didn’t have a very good work/life balance.
"My dad was somebody who filled every single minute of his 84 years. I want to carry on that family tradition.”
Denise went on to say that she is keeping her father close to her heart and is often reminded of him on a daily basis.
She said: “It has been months since he died, but grief can blindside you. I spoke to my son about him the other day and we were both crying.”
Denise added that she thinks discussing bereavement and personal losses is incredibly important – and also recommends remembering good times that included lost ones.
Sharing further advice, she added: “And while you’ve got your mum and dad, include them in everything. Ring them more than once every two weeks. And never be afraid to say that you love them."
Vin died last September after undergoing major surgery and after battling pneumonia – leaving Denise devastated.
Breaking the news to fans via an Instagram post, the star wrote at the time: "The words I’ve dreaded saying all of my life.
"Last night at 11pm, we lost our dad, the life force that was Vin Welch. After making a miraculous recovery recently from major surgeries, pneumonia plus his existing pulmonary fibrosis was more than even he could take.
"He left us surrounded by his family who could not have loved anyone more.
"I can’t quite function as I’m so grief stricken, but I know he meant so much to so many people, even those who’d never met him.
"I’ve never seen anyone fight to stay longer at a party than dad and last night was no different. He loved life and lived it to the full like no other.”
Returning to the Loose Women panel two months after Vin's death, Denise broke down in tears and told viewers: “Both my mum and my dad when they went, they went with their family.”
She went on to share details about her father’s funeral which she described as a “celebration of his life” with a pink sparkly coffin, a Frank Sinatra performer, and mourners wearing bright suits and sparkles.
She said: “He would have been so peed off at not being there.”
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