I am sorry this happened to you. She looks to be a very kind cat. I have one reccomendation, though. I don't mean to rush you through the process, but if you feel ready, get a new cat. Your cat probably has other friends up in heaven, and through the kind years you treated it, it wants you to be happy, too.

8 is a young dying age. It probably happened because god missed her so much, that he wanted to be re-united with her .

By the way, welcome to pet talk.