01 January 2024 , 09:15
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Jane McDonald has opened up about how having a friend move in with her has helped her cope with the loss of her fiance Eddie Rothe.
The English singer, 60, lost her beloved fiancé to lung cancer in March 2021, after 13 years together. The Loose Women favourite had reunited with The Searchers musician in 2008, nearly three decades after losing touch when they first dated.
Despite their romantic reunion, former cruise ship singer Jane and rocker Ed never got married. After a romantic Christmas Eve proposal, in 2021 Jane announced that Ed had died at the age of 67, revealing he had been suffering from lung cancer for several months.
Jane's Celebrity Gogglebox co-star and long-time friend Sue Ravey moved in with her last yearAmid her grief, Jane's Celebrity Gogglebox co-star and long-time friend Sue Ravey moved in with her last year after Eddie's sad passing, and the singer and TV star has said that having the company of her dear friend has been exactly what she has needed to get through one of the hardest times of her life.
"It helped keep the grief at bay," she shared. "I tend to grieve in private. But you can't always be sure when it's going to strike. Your emotions can ambush you." Jane also confessed that this time of year is particularly tough for her, adding: "I do shed the occasional tear and especially at new year. That's when it hits me."
Gogglebox star shows off three stone weight loss in impressive year apart snaps
Despite her grief, Jane insists she 'refuses to be sad' most of the time as she believes that if Eddie and her late mum Jean were looking down on her, they wouldn't want her to be consumed by sadness. "I still talk to both of them in my head," she told OK! Magazine.
Eight months after his passing, Jane appeared on Loose Women, where she confessed she had been on a 'dark path'. However, she finds comfort in their 'Thirteen years of absolute bliss and that's how I'm getting through it'.
Jane also recently opened up about her last weeks with Ed where she became his full-time carer. "It wasn’t slow, because we didn’t know. He had no symptoms. As daft as it sounds, I’m thankful it was during Covid because I was there with him. Nobody else was. But that was the hardest thing. I had no nurses or doctors come in.
Eddie passed away in March 2021
Jane has been grieving the loss of her beloved partner (WireImage)"I had to learn how to do it all myself," she told The Mail. "I had him at home as long as I could. Then I took him to the Wakefield Hospice, which is a beautiful place. I’ll be forever grateful to them. I was with him all the time there," she explained.
Eddie's 'low-key' funeral took place under pandemic restrictions which Jane says 'was a tragedy, because nobody could come to see him.’ Jane now hopes she can pay the tribute she wanted to with her new tour and album that will be dedicated to her partner.
The Loose Women panellist will return to the road after taking a hiatus to process her grief, much to the delight of her devout fanbase. 'With All My Love', will see Jane perform at more than 20 theatres and arena across the UK this year.
For more information or support about cancer, you can contact Macmillan Cancer Support.