Although she is not planning to use it any time soon, Mrs Te Ua Wiri says building their own is a good thing for people to do if they want a personalised, affordable coffin.
"When my grandson died, the bill for his casket was $14,000 and it didn't suit him. "This one cost $400 to make and I could have decorated one for him with Bob Marley designs, because that's what he would have liked."
Mr Wicks said he has the patterns to make caskets and can make them to order as well and has recently made some for Cleveland Funeral Home.
"Cilla's one took three weeks but she was only coming in two days a week, so in reality it only took four days to make and the rest of the time was spent on sanding and finishing."
Mrs Te Ua Wiri said she is not sure where she will store her casket until it is needed.
"I don't have a lot of room, so I might have to use it for a bed - get used to lying in it."
The Whanganui Men's Shed is part of an Australasian movement that has more than 40 branches around New Zealand.
Although some are for men only, the Whanganui branch has been open to men and women since it opened in 2012.