Joey Feek Laid to Rest: Inside Her Final Days

In her final weeks, Joey Feek inspired millions through her public struggle with cervical cancer. Through husband Rory’s poignant posts at ThisLifeILive.com, the couple shared their faith in God, hope for a miracle and their ultimate decision to end her treatment last October. 

The late singer — one half of the Grammy-nominated country duo Joey + Rory — touched those closest to her with her actions. Spending her last days lying in a hospital bed at a family friend’s house in her Indiana hometown, she remained positive. “She had a special spirit about her,” friend and gospel great Bill Gaither says in the new issue of Us Weekly. “An optimism.”

On days when he stopped by to perform hymns, Gaither says Joey, mom of 2-year-old Indiana, “would sing along.”

And before slipping into unconsciousness in late February, Joey — who passed away March 4 at age 40 — assured Rory, 49, she had lived a full life.

“One of the last things Joey said … is ‘I have no regrets,’” Rory wrote in a heartbreaking February 29 post. “I can honestly say that I have done everything I wanted to do and lived the life I always wanted to live.”

Now, those closest to her are celebrating that life. The singer was scheduled to be laid to rest on her property March 8 in a simple wooden casket crafted by a farmhand.

Three days earlier, those in her hometown of Alexandria, Indiana, recognized her with a candlelight service. “It was amazing,” Gaither tells Us. “The whole community was out holding candles, holding signs of Joey. It really brought everyone together.”

For more on Joey’s final days, pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, on stands now.

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