If you would like to join the coffin club and decorate your own or a family members coffin
Contact: Ron Email: olivine@xtra.co.nz
Deidre Email: deidrebarnett2@gmail.com
Phone:
07 345 3553,
027 224 5698
or 07348 2291
Come on Kiwi's, give it a go, make and decorate your own coffin
if you want to know more about it or to join the group read on...
Founder of the Coffin Club Katie Williams, says that everyone is welcome.
She decorated hers for only $20.00
Katie documents the entire process, to all people wanting to make their own, giving a photo album and DVD to each person when they finish their coffin to remember the experience.
So have you ever thought you may like to decorate your own coffin?
Why not give it a go?
This group from Rotorua will show you how.
Whole families help decorate them.
The
History of the KIWI COFFIN CLUB.
( information supplied by Katie Williams)
It all started at a general meeting
of Rotorua University of the Third Age (U3A).
New groups were needed to encourage fellowship and learning for the
members.
It was muted by one person that
she wanted to build her own Coffin.
Dead silence!
Dead silence!
When people had time to ponder
the idea, there was a small group that were interested.
These folk met and a carport at the
instigator’s home became the “coffin face”.
Some could build, some could paint and a retired paper-hanger came to
the party.
It was rather a long but
dedicated making of the first few coffins.
Lots of fun was had and the socialisation was grand.
This was early 2003. The beginning of a wonderful experience for
many folk.
After two years the home front was
way too restrictive and the La Grouws came to our aid with the free use of one
of their workshops.
The group has
burgeoned into a close knit, caring fellowship of approx 50 friends.
Early in 2013 they came away from under
U3As’s umbrella as the role of U3A was limited to Education and Socialisation.
The Kiwi Coffin Club emerged with those two aims intact but with a strong wish
to help those that cannot afford to have funerals with unlimited costs.
Each week they meet at the rooms from 8am till about 1.30pm.
with up to 40 people.
Some have made and decorated their coffins
ages ago.
Some are in the middle of
their project and some are coming to plan and to do their underground
furniture.
The men in the workshop make three
in a day with help as able, from the owner.
The timber is purchased in bulk and
kitsetted.
Decoration is done by the
owner to their own design.
It is
wonderful to see these wooded boxes made to depict the owner’s life and
interests.
The help
given by the knowledgeable volunteers is wondrous. Nobody need go it alone.
They share time together and food for morning tea and at lunchtime.
They have been making small boxes (4
sizes) to use for Foetal deaths from about 22 weeks gestation to full term
still births.
These are lined with
delicate fabrics and lace.
Each box has
a little teddy bear or animal in it.
These are stored at the Obstetric Unit and offered to the grieving
parents at a very distressing time.
The volunteers help with whatever is
needed.
Lining the coffins, painting,
wall papering.
Transport to take the coffins home for storage is provided by a
man with a van.
The ladies in the
kitchen organise the meal times and appreciate the full plate donations.
A huge benefit of the
Club has been the opportunities of family involvement in the planning of their
loved ones wishes at the end of their life.
It has often been a taboo subject and it so good to see it out in the
open.
They have started two groups on
Maraes.
More have shown interest and
hopefully these will get off the ground.
It has become more difficult for some
families to cope with the expenses of a death.
One couple have joined, as both
come from very large families and they want to help with trying to reduce the
costs.
SO:
50 wonderful volunteers working side by side and having a great time
together.
They are helping many people to prepare their families and themselves to leave this earth with class, showing who they were and with the pride of a life well lived.
This is one awesome group of great
Rotorua people.
Creative Quote of the day
Contact: Ron Email: olivine@xtra.co.nz
Deidre Email: deidrebarnett2@gmail.com
Phone:
07 345 3553,
027 224 5698
or 07348 2291
If you don't have humour, then you may as well nail the coffin lid down now.
Roger Moore
2 comments:
Very innovative. While preparing for the inevitable, it brings life to the group through socialization and a shared stage in life.
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