As Jonah Lomu's mother, Hepi, left her son's Auckland home yesterday, she picked up a yellow rose left on the driveway and smiled.
She had spent several hours inside the Epsom house where Lomu lived with his wife, Nadene, and their young sons, Brayley and Dhyreille.
Lomu, 40, died onTuesday night of a cardiac arrest. He had an ongoing battle with a rare kidney disorder known as nephrotic syndrome and underwent a transplant in 2004.
Yesterday, Nadene Lomu was not ready to speak publicly about his death. She was with relatives and focusing on her children.
She was also making funeral plans, helped by church leaders. The family are Mormons and Lomu was baptised into the church in 2012.
Nadene Lomu has set up a fundraising page in a bid to fulfil her late husband's dreams. The Legacy of Jonah Lomu went live on Givealittle yesterday morning and has so far raised more than $1700. The page crashed soon after it was set up but is now back in action.
"While my heart aches I share with you all a vision which Jonah and I had set out to do together," she said. She did not give any specifics on how she would fulfil her late husband's dream but vowed to make a difference.
"I will now do this alone ... With the support of his great global family and all his boys, here I will finish building the legacy that my wonderful husband created when he burst on to the international stage leaving history and our hearts, changing the face of rugby."
Tana Umaga and Ma'a Nonu leaving the Lomu family home in Epsom. Photo / Doug Sherring
She said Lomu would always be a "great husband, father inspiration and icon to the world ... Jonah has left this earth too soon, leaving us all empty hearted ... Jonah and I had big plans to make a difference in the world with all that he learned."
A second Givealittle page set up by the Spark Foundation has raised more than $5600. All donations there will go to Kidney Kids - a charity Lomu was deeply involved with.
Details of his funeral are expected to be announced in the next few days.
New Zealand Rugby spokesman Mike Jaspers said it was too early to speculate on whether the union would be involved with the funeral in an official capacity.
Prime Minister John Key said a state funeral was possible but unlikely. State funerals were usually reserved for former Governors-General and Prime Ministers.
"It is not impossible, but ... hasn't been the modern way we have dealt with these issues," Mr Key said.
"There are other ways we could provide some support, if the family wanted that ... for instance, an official memorial service.
"That is what happened for Sir Peter Blake. It is also the pathway that David Lange's family took."
Mr Key ruled out a posthumous knighthood for the rugby star. But he acknowledged the outpouring of support, love and grief for Lomu and his family from the public in New Zealand and across the world.
Lomu's family are being supported by a stream of visitors to his home. Yesterday, retired All Black Ma'a Nonu and former coach John Hart, armed with a homemade chocolate cake, arrived to pay their respects.
Former coach John Hart, armed with a homemade chocolate cake, arrives to pay his respects. Photo / Doug Sherring
Lomu's close friend Grant Kereama, who donated a kidney to him in 2004, is reeling from his mate's death and yesterday he and Polly Gillespie missed hosting their The Hits breakfast radio show.
