The ‘coffin club’ is the work of Katie Williams, 77, a former palliative nurse who started the project in Rotorua in 2010. Since then, the idea has spread across New Zealand, with around a dozen clubs now running on both the North and South Islands.
So why did she come up with the club?
“Because of my work and my age I had become a perpetual mourner,” Ms Williams told the Guardian.
“I had seen lots of people dying and their funerals were nothing to do with the vibrancy and life of those people. I had a deep-seated feeling that people’s journey’s deserved a more personal farewell.”
Dying to join
Working from her garage, she had no tools, no volunteers and no idea how to actually construct a coffin.
Today, the original club has grown to around 80 members, and the coffin count stands at over 300.
The group also crafts coffins for stillborn and premature babies which they donate to the local hospital.
Part of their appeal is the cost – just $250 compared to the usual $2,000 to $10,000.
Keen DIYers can also add their own personal touches to their final resting places. But it’s not just about saving money.
Not your average seniors club
Members say the project has helped them deal with their own feelings around death. “I am of the opinion that it is very healthy to face up to the inevitable,” one member says. “I feel quite prepared now, it is stored in a cupboard at home, waiting for me.”
The club also offers a social outlet. “Our motto is; it’s a box until there is someone in it. And while it’s just a box, it brings us together,” Ms Williams said.
Would you consider joining a coffin club? Let us know below.
