Coleen Rooney has posted a heartfelt tribute to her late sister Rosie on her ‘happy heavenly birthday’, eight years after she passed away aged 14.
34-year-old Coleen took to Instagram on Tuesday to mark what would have been her sister’s 22nd birthday, and said she loved and missed her ‘every day’.
The mother-of-four shared the sweet snap of Rosie, pictured in front of a cardboard cutout of Coleen wearing a feather boa, which she said she had found ‘funny’.
Special tribute: Coleen Rooney shared a picture of her late sister Rosie on her ‘happy heavenly birthday’ eight years after she sadly passed away aged 14
‘To our angel Rosie’: Mother-of-four Coleen shared this happy memory on social media as she giggled about the cardboard cut-out
In a special tribute, she wrote: ‘Happy heavenly birthday to our angel Rosie. Have the best day celebrating Ro. Love and miss you every day.
‘Love this pic when you found my cardboard perfume cutout funny with your feather bower’. [sic]
The picture shows the cardboard cutout of Coleen wearing a pink feather boa as her younger sister beamed for the camera.
Rosie suffered from Rett syndrome, a genetic brain disorder that causes problems with language, coordination and repetitive movements, and died on January 5, 2013.
Thinking of you: Coleen honoured the memory of little sister Rosie on what would have been her 22nd birthday (pictured in February 2019)
Last month, Coleen took to Instagram to mark the anniversary of Rosie’s death with an emotional tribute.
Coleen shared a black-and-white photo where she held her sister in her arms, as they smiled while spending time together.
Writing a moving tribute to Rosie, Coleen said: ‘8 years since our Rosie got her angel wings and flew to heaven to dance and run free.
‘My boys speak about you all the time Ro, wish they all could have met you. Love and miss you every day.’
Rosie was originally taken in as a foster child by Coleen’s parents, bricklayer Tony and Colette, a former nursery nurse, when she was aged two.
‘Love and miss you every day’: Last month, Coleen penned an emotional tribute to Rosie and said she wished her sons could have met her
Although they were aware she was disabled they did not know the full extent of her condition, which has no cure.
In an exclusive article for The Mail on Sunday in 2006, Coleen wrote: ‘When Rosie arrived she could crawl, and even though she couldn’t use her hands that much she would handle toys on her play mat and she could eat.
‘But over a period of time she stopped crawling and lost what use of her hands she had. Then she started having problems swallowing her food.
‘It took pretty much a year for Rosie to be diagnosed and, looking back, I can see how much Mum pushed to find out what was wrong with her and to try to do what was best for her.’
Coleen was said to idolise her adopted sister and chose Rosie as chief bridesmaid when she married Wayne in 2008.
Sister: Rosie suffered from Rett syndrome, a genetic brain disorder that causes problems with language, coordination and repetitive movements, and died on January 5, 2013
In a statement released shortly after her death, Tony and Colette wrote: ‘Sadly our special angel Rosie, our much-loved daughter and sister, went to Heaven at 2.50 this morning at home where she was surrounded by her loving family.
‘Rosie was just 14 years old and fought a lifelong battle with Rett syndrome. Throughout her life she brought so much love and happiness to all our family and everyone who knew and met her.
‘She was such a strong little girl and an inspiration to us all. We shall cherish for ever the memories we have shared and the love she showed us each and every day of her life. As a family we are heartbroken but we are blessed to have had her in our lives.’
Coleen had been on holiday in Barbados with her younger brothers, Joe and Anthony, but cut short the trip when she heard that Rosie’s condition had deteriorated.
Heartbroken: Coleen had been on holiday in Barbados with her younger brothers, Joe and Anthony, but cut short the trip when she heard that Rosie’s condition had deteriorated