Death is something many of us prefer not to think
about, but an 85-year-old Wairarapa woman isn't only embracing her
inevitable exit, she's preparing to go out in style.
As a mother, grandmother and great grandmother Mary
Wait wants her colourful life to continue beyond the grave.
“I thought I’d do a self-portrait on the front. Well,
you have to have a good imagination to know it's a
self-portrait.”
The retired nurse was inspired to buy and paint her own
coffin after her late husband designed his own to save money.
Now her creation is showing at the Greytown arts
festival this weekend.
Ms Wait’s daughter Carolyn Wait encouraged her mum to
exhibit the coffin.
When Carolyn first saw the coffin she wasn't surprised.
She says her mother's always been a planner.
“She was just preparing for her next great
adventure.”
Ms Wait says it was her son who used to sing Engelbert
Humperdinck which inspired her to put the lyrics on her coffin and
have it played at her funeral.
“He had such a good voice, you know, you couldn't help
but love it.”
And though she's in no rush, when the time comes for
her family to let Ms Wait go, she says she'll be ready.
“I'm 85, I've done everything I want to do. I've had
the most wonderful life, a wonderful husband for 54 years, six
beautiful children. What more could I ask for?”