The Nolan family were angered last week when internet trolls claimed cancer-stricken Bernie had died.
Rumours were rife on Twitter and Facebook.
And even the respected internet encyclopaedia Wikipedia was changed to say she had died last Wednesday.
One Twitter user wrote: “Apologies for my Bernie Nolan tweet last night, it appears someone thought it would be just hilarious to pretend she was dead.”
And another said: “Bizarre that I see Bernie Nolan dead, when it’s just Twitter wildfire rumour.”
But the Nolan family were quick to hit back at the upsetting rumours. Sister Coleen, 48, wrote: “Just to let everyone know AGAIN!! Bernie is still with us and continues to fight everyday! Don’t know who or why someone is saying otherwise.”
Bernie’s niece Kirsty Louise Doneathy was also bombarded with messages from friends asking if Bernie had died.
In the end she had to text her uncle Steve – Bernie’s husband – to find out if it was true.
Another Twitter user wrote: “Over on Facebook some t***s posted RIP Bernie Nolan, she’s not f****** dead you moron.”
A family friend said: “Bernie’s nearest and dearest went into panic mode when they heard that she had died.
“There were lots of comments on Twitter, people saying ‘rest in peace’ and ‘sorry to hear the sad news’.
“But when they heard it wasn’t true, worry turned to anger.”
Brave Bernie is living out her last days with her family. Last week Steve revealed their home had been ransacked while Bernie had a spell in a hospice.
The singer-actress says she wants to be buried alongside their first daughter Kate, who was stillborn in 1997.