Viv Bicknell with husband Wayne.
Viv Bicknell was a woman with a strong spirit - and nothing underlined that as much as her death notice: she penned it herself.
Her husband, Wayne, said her decision to do that simply captured the way she was.
"Yep, and she left us instructions on how the funeral service was going to go and everything like that - right down to what clothes I have to wear."
Mrs Bicknell died earlier this week after a long and courageous battle with breast and lung cancer, and in the notice she prepared wrote, "I have passed away surrounded by my family and friends."
She wrote of the love she had received and the pride she had in her children and grandson and "a granddaughter on the way".
And she asked people "please not to be sad".
"Fifty-seven is young to die but I've had an awesome life."
Mr Bicknell said his wife had been very organised and the sort of woman who would shoot from the hip.
"She was very strong, very opinionated, very organised," he said, adding that the devastating cancer, which emerged just over five years ago and eventually took her life, was not something she was going to let get the better of her.
Like any other hurdle in life she simply took it on and was not prepared to let it steer her from the things she wanted to do.
She worked for as long as she could and even toward the end was all too ready and willing "to do her bit".
A long-time member of the Hawke's Bay Sport Fishing Club, she stepped forward to carry out her "duties" at a prizegiving function in August.
"Her speech was a bit slurred by that stage but she was determined to do it - and she did," Mr Bicknell said.
He said his wife's love of fishing was sparked by his own lifelong love of the sport, and her organisational abilities soon saw her playing a leading role at the club - she was their first woman president.
Her worsening condition never saw her back off, Mr Bicknell said, and a fishing expedition they went on last November saw her achieve a goal she had long sought.
"Her goal was to catch a pin snapper."
A special tie pin is awarded to those who catch a snapper over 9kg and she had long tried for it.
"And the last time she went out she got one - it was meant to be, I think."
Mr Bicknell said the voyage back to port was colourful.
"She gave me a hard time about it," he laughed, adding that a couple of celebratory rums were called for on the way back in.
Mrs Bicknell had what her husband called "extraordinary" administrative and office skills.
She was so adept at shorthand and typing that during one job application test the shorthand side of it "wasn't quick enough for her".
Music was also a love.
"She was very talented - she'd go and play at some of the rest homes - she got them singing along."
The aggressive cancers made her aware her time was limited, but her attitude was undimmed.
Mr Bicknell said she became involved in breast cancer awareness work, which typified her approach to life and what she could do for other people.
He said that as the condition steadily worsened it was other people, her good friends, who then stepped forward to do something for her.
"All her friends would come here and be with her, helping her, 24/7 - they were just amazing."
She had not wanted to go into a hospice - she wanted to spend the last stage of her life at home with family and friends around her all the time.
Mr Bicknell said her stoic, no-nonsense attitude and determination had washed over everyone in the family.
"Her whole attitude has really helped us deal with this," he said.
"She battled it so bravely.
"And near the end she told us not to dwell on it when she had gone - just carry on, get on with life."
That was underlined in the words she wrote for her death notice: "My thanks to everyone who has supported and assisted us over recent times - please continue that support for the ones I've left behind."
The death notice Viv Bicknell had published in Hawke's Bay Today last Thursday
BICKNELL, Viv
(nee Christie)
After a battle with Breast and Lung Cancer I have passed away surrounded by my family and friends leaving a very loving and devoted husband of 36 years, Wayne, 2 beautiful children of whom I am very proud, Joe and Sally; Joe's partner Pam and Sally's husband Chris; my adorable grandson Riley Burch, a granddaughter on the way; and my 86 year old mother, Jean Christie who has been the best mum you could wish for throughout my whole life.
I also leave behind 3 older brothers - Allan, Peter and Ian Christie and numerous brothers and sisters-in-laws and even more nieces and nephews. Please don't be sad. 57 is young to die but I've had an awesome life. My thanks to everyone who has supported and assisted us over recent times. Please continue that support for the ones I've left behind.
My funeral will be held at the War Memorial Conference Centre, Napier on Monday October 13, at 1:00pm.
Everyone welcome. Please bring a dollar or two to throw in the Ozanam House box - it is an amazing place that deserves support. Messages to 'The Bicknell Family' PO Box 12054, Ahuriri, Napier 4144.
#Yesterday was the start of the NZ Breast Cancer Foundation's two-day Pink Ribbon Street Appeal. Volunteer collectors will be shaking their pink buckets at 48 sites throughout Hawke's Bay. For more information, visit anychanges.co.nz