She had written her obituary with the help of some friends and had organised everything, including her funeral, which would be held as a celebration of her life. In the notice, Mrs Pomana told people to "sunblock up" as the funeral would be outside.
"She liked to be in control of things" Mr Pomana said, "she wouldn't sit back and accept it, she put herself in control.
"The cancer was controlling her life, but she wouldn't let it control everything."
She wanted to be farewelled in a frog-green coffin and hoped friends and family would write messages and memories to her.
Friends said she was an adored work colleague, known for her incredible work as a nurse. A flag is flying at half mast at Hawke's Bay Hospital.
She had been practising for 25 years, and even continued to work after completing her first round of chemotherapy.
Her passion for dirt-biking also landed her in hospital. She took it upon herself to drive to the emergency department despite suffering breaks and dislocations.
Dirt biking was one of many activities the family enjoyed doing together, which also included jet-skiing, and boating in the summer.
Mrs Pomana was said to have helped son Sam, 18, with his rugby and Hannah, 20, in her own nursing career.
She had touched a number of people, and memories of her would continue to linger long after her death.
Mr Pomana said no one could understand how his wife fit so much in her action-packed life.
"She had an enormous number of friends, and was well known in the community", he said.
"She'd always be near the forefront, putting her hand up to organise, and fundraise."
The mother of two had competed in her first dirt-bike competition alongside daughter Hannah in 2007, and rode for the last time this June.
Friend Lynda Henderson was one of the many she influenced.
"I'm at a loss for words, she was such an amazing woman," she said.
The two women's husbands power-lifted together and Mrs Henderson said the go-getter was "instrumental in spearheading the powerlifting world and getting the Hawke's Bay team together".
Mr Pomana said he was a three-time power lifting champion, but wouldn't have achieved the title without his late wife.
"Without her organisation, fundraising, and her efforts outside the gym ... they were a tremendous support for me and we worked hard through the years."
The funeral will be held tomorrow, at 3pm at Ormlie Lodge.
"You can park in our neighbour's paddock, I'll get Derek to put up a sign," Mrs Pomana wrote in her death notice.
