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 乌鸦传媒渟ix-something乌鸦传媒� pounds that she would be reduced to upon cremation.

乌鸦传媒淚 went and I asked what kind of box 乌鸦传媒� how you calculate for my ashes to fit into the box 乌鸦传媒� and they had a number,乌鸦传媒� she explained matter-of-factly, referring to the square-inch figure she went looking for.

乌鸦传媒淪o basically at the end, they said that when you die乌鸦传媒� it乌鸦传媒檚 going to be the same weight as when you are born.乌鸦传媒�

A central component of the aptly-named Ashes Shower, the box was quickly covered with colourful sketches and words, added by guests 乌鸦传媒渟o thankful乌鸦传媒� for Hompoth, and promising to love her 乌鸦传媒渇or-Eva.乌鸦传媒�

Those words, along with the memories and laughs shared at the shower, are 乌鸦传媒渨hat I乌鸦传媒檒l take with me,乌鸦传媒� Hompoth told party guests.

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Hompoth, 67, said she asked for the 乌鸦传媒楢shes Shower乌鸦传媒� 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, 乌鸦传媒渨hich can happen many times.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淎nd I said, why not to have 乌鸦传媒� because I乌鸦传媒檓 going to be cremated 乌鸦传媒� an Ashes Shower, and instead of waiting (for) people to come when I乌鸦传媒檓 not here and be sad, why not have fun?乌鸦传媒�

She acknowledged that the idea was met with a few raised eyebrows, and said some invitees were 乌鸦传媒渞eally nervous.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淭hey said, 乌鸦传媒業 don乌鸦传媒檛 understand.乌鸦传媒� They were thinking it was going to be something really serious and really sombre, and I乌鸦传媒檓 going to invite a priest or something.

乌鸦传媒淚t was just getting together and having fun.乌鸦传媒�

Hompoth 乌鸦传媒� who, a decade ago, to encourage the City of White Rock to create a dog park within city limits 乌鸦传媒� 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乌鸦传媒檚 a positive alternative to dwelling on the inevitable, she said.

乌鸦传媒淲hy not? Why not do like, 乌鸦传媒榟ey, who cares? I乌鸦传媒檓 going to die 乌鸦传媒� let乌鸦传媒檚 have a party today.乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮�媒�

Hompoth doesn乌鸦传媒檛 know exactly how much time she has left. But she乌鸦传媒檚 determined to continue embracing her illness with dignity and a smile 乌鸦传媒� 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.

乌鸦传媒淲hen I was three years old, I was in a coma and I came out of it,乌鸦传媒� she explained, of a condition that led to her undergoing 26 surgeries on her leg.

乌鸦传媒淚 grew up in the hospital, basically. You know how kids are, they乌鸦传媒檙e so resilient. I think I developed a sense of positivity and optimism.

乌鸦传媒淭his is the only day, the only moment you have 乌鸦传媒� you never know what can happen the next moment.乌鸦传媒�

She乌鸦传媒檚 also determined to surpass whatever end date doctors give her. It wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 be the first time she乌鸦传媒檚 beat the odds, after all.

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

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乌鸦传媒淪o many times that people said I乌鸦传媒檓 not going to make it the next year, or two years from now, but I never believe them,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淚 always came out of it.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 funny, when I was diagnosed, my sister was here, and they said, 乌鸦传媒極K, this is it.乌鸦传媒� And she says, 乌鸦传媒榶ou don乌鸦传媒檛 know her, she乌鸦传媒檚 always beat everything.乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮�媒�

The Ashes Shower, Hompoth said, was 乌鸦传媒渁 blast.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淚 was so impressed and so blessed that everybody basically showed up. And, it was just fun,乌鸦传媒� she said.

乌鸦传媒淟ife is supposed to be fun and even if I乌鸦传媒檓 not here, the memories, I still want them to be fun. I wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 want people (to get) together and start crying. You know, I had a full life. It乌鸦传媒檚 like, let乌鸦传媒檚 celebrate now, let乌鸦传媒檚 do something interesting.乌鸦传媒�