Fayetteville woman laid to rest following crash
FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- In a sacred celebration of life, Olivia Cardona was remembered for her kindness and caregiving.
"She was a nice lady -- good and dedicated to her kids," said her former co-worker and friend, Anastasi Lynch. "She would always make sure she came in to work on time and leave to go pick up her little girl. That was a sure shot. Anywhere you go, you see her with that little girl -- always with that little girl."
That little girl is Cardona's 6-year-old daughter, who is also named Olivia. She survived the crash last Wednesday that claimed her mother's life as the two headed home from church. This Wednesday morning, Olivia and her brothers helped lay their mother to rest in a service at Fayetteville's Saint Patrick's Catholic Church.
"She's in a better place now," said Liriola Pedro, another former co-worker and friend.
Cardona, 50, was about a mile shy of her Murray Fork Road home when authorities said a speeding Brandon Jay Faris, 20, slammed into the woman's car on Morganton Road. Her daughter was unscathed, able to unbuckle her back passenger seatbelt, walk across the street, and pray in the lap of a stranger. (Click here to read more.)
Faris, a Fort Bragg soldier, has been charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and careless and reckless driving. He's scheduled to be back in court on July 1.
Cardona also worked on Fort Bragg, most recently in a coffee shop with MWR (Fort Bragg Morale, Welfare and Recreation). A group of close girlfriends and former co-workers remembered a beautiful spirit, and just how fast life can change.
"You have to be caring. You have to love each other," said a tearful Pedro looking at her friends. "We always work together. We were right there to help each other, work together, you know. You have to be close. The Lord is always going to be with you. Always."
Cardona is survived by a number of family members, including four children, a grandchild and her father.
