A recent event that unfolded in a cosy South Surrey home was quite literally a party to die for.

The afternoon included close friends sharing laughs over precious memories, as well as words of inspiration and some pretty skookum cupcakes.

And then there was the box.

Relatively small and plain, complete with a hinged lid, it sat unassumingly on the coffee table, right next to the cupcakes.

Eva Hompoth said she researched online before purchasing the box for the occasion. The White Rock woman knew she wanted to bring something that could hold the 害羞草研究所渟ix-something害羞草研究所� pounds that she would be reduced to upon cremation.

害羞草研究所淚 went and I asked what kind of box 害羞草研究所� how you calculate for my ashes to fit into the box 害羞草研究所� and they had a number,害羞草研究所� she explained matter-of-factly, referring to the square-inch figure she went looking for.

害羞草研究所淪o basically at the end, they said that when you die害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 going to be the same weight as when you are born.害羞草研究所�

A central component of the aptly-named Ashes Shower, the box was quickly covered with colourful sketches and words, added by guests 害羞草研究所渟o thankful害羞草研究所� for Hompoth, and promising to love her 害羞草研究所渇or-Eva.害羞草研究所�

Those words, along with the memories and laughs shared at the shower, are 害羞草研究所渨hat I害羞草研究所檒l take with me,害羞草研究所� Hompoth told party guests.

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Hompoth, 67, said she asked for the 害羞草研究所楢shes Shower害羞草研究所� so that she could celebrate her life with those dear to her, while she is still here to enjoy it.

She envisioned it following word last year that her own time was limited, due to cancer invading her spine, hips, neck, shoulder and lymph nodes.

Her logic, she said, was simple: baby showers happen before a baby is born, followed by bridal showers, 害羞草研究所渨hich can happen many times.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淎nd I said, why not to have 害羞草研究所� because I害羞草研究所檓 going to be cremated 害羞草研究所� an Ashes Shower, and instead of waiting (for) people to come when I害羞草研究所檓 not here and be sad, why not have fun?害羞草研究所�

She acknowledged that the idea was met with a few raised eyebrows, and said some invitees were 害羞草研究所渞eally nervous.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭hey said, 害羞草研究所業 don害羞草研究所檛 understand.害羞草研究所� They were thinking it was going to be something really serious and really sombre, and I害羞草研究所檓 going to invite a priest or something.

害羞草研究所淚t was just getting together and having fun.害羞草研究所�

Hompoth 害羞草研究所� who, a decade ago, to encourage the City of White Rock to create a dog park within city limits 害羞草研究所� is hopeful it is an idea that catches on for others who find themselves in a similar position; facing an earlier-than-hoped-for end to life. It害羞草研究所檚 a positive alternative to dwelling on the inevitable, she said.

害羞草研究所淲hy not? Why not do like, 害羞草研究所榟ey, who cares? I害羞草研究所檓 going to die 害羞草研究所� let害羞草研究所檚 have a party today.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

Hompoth doesn害羞草研究所檛 know exactly how much time she has left. But she害羞草研究所檚 determined to continue embracing her illness with dignity and a smile 害羞草研究所� she has even planned and paid for her funeral, in an effort to lighten the load on her loved ones.

Her positive and forward-thinking approach to adversity is a tactic she says she learned at a young age.

害羞草研究所淲hen I was three years old, I was in a coma and I came out of it,害羞草研究所� she explained, of a condition that led to her undergoing 26 surgeries on her leg.

害羞草研究所淚 grew up in the hospital, basically. You know how kids are, they害羞草研究所檙e so resilient. I think I developed a sense of positivity and optimism.

害羞草研究所淭his is the only day, the only moment you have 害羞草研究所� you never know what can happen the next moment.害羞草研究所�

She害羞草研究所檚 also determined to surpass whatever end date doctors give her. It wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be the first time she害羞草研究所檚 beat the odds, after all.

Thirteen years ago, she survived fast-moving breast cancer.

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害羞草研究所淪o many times that people said I害羞草研究所檓 not going to make it the next year, or two years from now, but I never believe them,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 always came out of it.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 funny, when I was diagnosed, my sister was here, and they said, 害羞草研究所極K, this is it.害羞草研究所� And she says, 害羞草研究所榶ou don害羞草研究所檛 know her, she害羞草研究所檚 always beat everything.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

The Ashes Shower, Hompoth said, was 害羞草研究所渁 blast.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 was so impressed and so blessed that everybody basically showed up. And, it was just fun,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淟ife is supposed to be fun and even if I害羞草研究所檓 not here, the memories, I still want them to be fun. I wouldn害羞草研究所檛 want people (to get) together and start crying. You know, I had a full life. It害羞草研究所檚 like, let害羞草研究所檚 celebrate now, let害羞草研究所檚 do something interesting.害羞草研究所�