Eldridge Toney gives insight into his late wife Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell’s decision to film her family’s television show during the final months of her life.
Toney tells PEOPLE that Cardwell — who was diagnosed with stage 4 adrenal cancer in January and died on Dec. 9 at age 29 — wanted to share her story to raise awareness of the disease.
“Recording was something that Anna wanted to do,” he says. “She wanted to raise awareness of her rare type of cancer because there is still so much unknown about it and it is very rare.”
Anna ‘Chickadee’ Cardwell remembered as ‘full of life’ and ‘brave to the very end’ at funeral (Exclusive)
Anna Cardwell and Eldridge Toney.
Anna Cardwell’s Instagram
Cardwell’s loved ones echoed Toney’s sentiment at her funeral Wednesday, saying her final days were filmed for their family show because “that’s what she wanted.”
Cardwell previously appeared alongside her family on TLC Little children and tiaras and Here comes Honey Boo Boo. She and her family recently appeared on WE tv Mama June: A family in crisis.
Of the crew members, her loved ones told PEOPLE at the funeral that they considered them “friends and family.” They attended Wednesday’s service as guests and did not film the service for the show, PEOPLE confirmed.
Anne ‘Chickadee’ Cardwell’s husband recalls her last breath: ‘I was holding her hand’ (Exclusive)
Cardwell’s mother, Mama June Shannon, confirmed her death on December 10 on Instagram.
“It is with a broken heart that we announce that @annamarie35 is no longer with us. She passed away peacefully at my home last night at 11:12 p.m.,” Shannon, 44, wrote alongside a family photo. The family matriarch noted that Cardwell “passed away with her family around her” and thanked fans for their “constant prayers and thoughts.”
Anne ‘Chickadee’ Cardwell’s husband feels ‘lonely’ since her death aged 29: ‘It’s getting harder’ (Exclusive)
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After Cardwell’s death, younger sister Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson paid tribute on Instagram: “Anna was in so much pain last night but now as a family we all know she is at peace. I really don’t know what to say because my heart completely broken.”
The 18-year-old continued: “Watching my 29-year-old sister battle this horrible disease this year has not been easy. Anna was a fighter and still is. God, please embrace her 2 babies and our family as the next few days will make all of this a reality 🥹 I’m so glad you waited until I got home to take your last breath! I wish you could see me graduate from college, but I know you’ll be cheering me on forever in heaven!”
“We will all make sure your legacy lives on forever,” she concluded. “And I promise I’ll always make sure we celebrate our birthday like you never left! Heaven looks a little different today. We’ll always love you Anna 💔. You hit me hard with his one Anna but I know you’re in a better place now and forever no pain!”
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Source: HIS Education