Anna 'Chickadee' Cardwell Remembered as Being 'Full of Life' and 'Spunky Until the Very End' at Funeral (Exclusive)
Cardwell died on Saturday at age 29 following a stage 4 cancer diagnosis in January
Anna "Chickadee" Cardwell’s friends and family are remembering her spirited nature four days after her death.
At her funeral at the Williams-White Columns Funeral Home in Gordon, Georgia on Wednesday, which PEOPLE was invited to, her family shared that Cardwell was “spunky until the very end.”
A friend who she met working at Walmart said Cardwell was always “full of life” and did whatever she wanted because she didn’t care what people thought.
Cardwell's sister Lauryn "Pumpkin" Efird emphasized how Cardwell loved her two daughters, her husband Eldridge Toney, and cooking chicken and dumplings with biscuits and spaghetti for everyone. She grew emotional as she questioned how their family moves on after her death.
Efird, 23, told PEOPLE that the family is “doing as best as they can” and praised Mama June Shannon's husband Justin Stroud for his support during this difficult time.
She noted that Stroud was the "biggest rock" of her family, especially while Cardwell was in hospice care, noting that he "carried 90% of the weight" during that difficult time. Efird said this allowed for Shannon, 44, to focus on being a mom and to mourn and spend time with her, while Stroud helped with providing medicine, running errands and being there "for her and everybody else."
"Because he’s not blood, it was even that much more amazing how he really just stepped up and [showed us] what a good person he is," Efird said.
Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson added her sister's death felt "surreal" and she was "still processing." She also agreed with Efird that Stroud had been a huge help, saying: "I mean, he’s not even blood but he was doing everything."
Cardwell — who starred alongside her family in Toddlers & Tiaras and Here Comes Honey Boo Boo — died Saturday at the age of 29. Shannon confirmed the news in an Instagram post the following day.
"With the breaking heart, we are announcing that @annamarie35 is no longer with us. She passed away in my home last night peacefully at 11:12 PM," Shannon wrote next to a family photograph. The family matriarch noted that Cardwell "passed away with her family around her" and thanked fans for their "continued prayers and thoughts."
On Monday, Shannon shared details of the funeral arrangements on social media and promised to honor her daughter's life before her stage 4 adrenal carcinoma diagnosis in January.
Following Cardwell’s death, Thompson paid tribute to her sister on Instagram: "Anna was in so much pain last night but now as a family we all know she is at peace now. I really don’t know what to say as my heart is completely broken."
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
"Watching my 29 year old sister this last year battle this horrible disease hasn’t been easy. Anna was a fighter & still is. Lord please wrap your arms around her 2 babies & our family as the next couple of days will make this all a reality 🥹," she wrote. "I’m so glad that you waited til I was home to take your last breath! I would’ve loved for you to get to see me graduate college but I know you will forever cheer me on in heaven!"
"We will all make sure your legacy lives on forever," she concluded. "And I promise to always make sure to celebrate our birthday like you never left! The sky looks a little bit different today. We will always love you Anna 💔. You hit me hard with his one Anna but I know your in a better place now and pain free forever!"
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
