Jade Goody celebrated

Jade Goody fans wept as they said their final goodbyes to the star at her funeral today (04.04.09).

Well wishers from as far as Derbyshire and Hampshire lined streets and threw flowers at the 'Big Brother' star's cortege as it made its way from Jade's childhood home of Bermondsey, South East London, to Buckhurst Hill in Essex, where the funeral took place.

Citing the reality TV star - who lost her battle with cancer last month - as an inspiration and role model to ordinary people everywhere, mourners wore T-shirts bearing Jade's face and brought flowers to lay outside St John The Baptist church, where the midday service was held.

Watching the funeral on big screens outside the church, Claire Elcock - who had travelled from Cromford in Derbyshire - said: "I just wanted to say goodbye to Jade. She is so inspirational and my daughter and me have followed her since 'Big Brother'.

"We feel like we know her really well, as every aspect of her life has been in the public eye and she was never afraid to speak her mind, be honest with people.

"I think she'll be remembered for so many things, not just her contribution to cancer awareness - I'll never forget her laughter and her angry moments. She's the patron saint of reality TV really, that's how she should be remembered."

Another mourner, Katrina Bailey, 24, from Dagenham wore a specially printed T-shirt reading 'Jade R.I.P'.

She said: "Jade's been brilliant, the thing with her was she was just like us, a real, normal person from a working class background and she never left that behind.

"There's a mixture of feelings around the funeral, it's happening and it's very sad, we're mourning the loss of a great person. But at least she is at peace and there are all these people who have turned out for her."

"She has definitely inspired us and made us realise we need to get regular smear tests."

The crowd observed a minute silence for the star at the service, which featured a number of readings from Jade's closest friends and family, a video montage in tribute to her and a mixture of hymns and pop music.

Bethany Parker, six, came to the funeral after seeing Jade's wedding to Jack Tweed - which took place only a month before she died on March 22 - on television.

She said: "I watched the wedding over and over and over again, it was beautiful, she was like a real life princess.

Bethany's grandmother, Diane added: "We brought the rest of the family with us from Bury St. Edmunds.

"I think it was brilliant, the reception she got when the cortege arrived, and seeing the coffin being carried was beautiful. I was surprised they didn't play the wedding song though, Aerosmith's 'I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing'."

After the funeral Jade's family accompanied the coffin to a private burial nearby.

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