Joey Feek funeral update: Country singer dies at 40

(Facebook/joeyandrory)

Joey Martin Feek's death may not be sudden, but the pain is the same. On March 4, Joey had finally succumbed to cervical cancer. Rory, her husband, shared the news on their family's blog, This Life I Live, where he documented their journey throughout this ordeal.

"My wife's greatest dream came true today. She is in Heaven," Rory began the post. "At 2:30 this afternoon, as we were gathered around her, holding hands and praying.. my precious bride breathed her last. And a moment later took her first breath on the other side."

He went on to tell more details about how she had fought against the deadly disease and the outpouring of support from their family, friends, fans and their community from the music industry. He also shared to readers how Joey was brought up and how she dreamed of becoming a country singer and adored Dolly Parton.

The post included a video of the whole family watching Parton's personal message to Joey, which made her cry with joy. She kept saying how "amazing" the moment was.

Joey was first diagnosed with cancer in May 2014, just a mere three months after she gave birth to their daughter Indiana. She then underwent a radical hysterectomy and declared cancer-free. However, in October 2015, her doctors later found out that the cancer returned.

After spending several months in the hospital and the doctor informing them that chemotherapy will only prolong her life at this point, the couple decided to go back home in Alexandria, Indiana.

Her doctors told the couple she might not make it until Christmas, but she was still able to spend the holidays with her family. She even made it to plan and see her daughter's second birthday last February.

Rory and his daughters went back to Tennessee to make plans he "hoped we would never have to make."

Back in November, Joey told her husband that when she dies, she would want to be buried in a rough-cut wooden box to be built by their family farm hand Thomas. She further instructed him to find a good spot in their family cemetery behind their house "where we put your mama's ashes last year... with room enough beside my headstone for you to join me someday... in God's time."

Joey's public memorial service is set to be held on March 13 in the gymnasium of Alexandria-Monroe High School at 2:30 p.m..

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