The glass carriage with Maree Foster's casket is pulled by Chippy the horse, with Joe Pearson (right) and Colleen Constable and Murph the dog in the driver's seat. Photo / Christine McKay
The glass carriage with Maree Foster's casket is pulled by Chippy the horse, with Joe Pearson (right) and Colleen Constable and Murph the dog in the driver's seat. Photo / Christine McKay
The funeral of a self-proclaimed "Queen of Halloween" was everything Maree Foster wanted - perfect because she had planned every detail.
From the horse-drawn glass carriage, to the insistence those at the celebration of her 64 years of living, "swing and sway and laugh, to the final farewell under an arch of witches brooms", this was Maree's kind of send off.
"There was no way she was having the other kind of funeral," life-long friend Vicky Grace of Auckland, said.
"This is to be heavy on laughter and light on tears on Maree's demand and woe betide any of us who don't swing and sway to the great Maori music she's chosen."
With poi made by Maree's friend Denise thrown into the congregation, everyone at The Hub in Dannevirke was swinging as they sang Poi E.
Vicky had known Maree for 60 years, since they first began school in the new entrants class of 1959.
"She's my loving, wacky, full-of-life, bossy friend, with a heart of gold," she said. "Maree always found a way to get things done."
Maree Foster and 'friend' raised more than $300 for the Dannevirke SPCA in 2016. Photo / File
Born in Otahuhu in Auckland, on January 1, 1954, the oldest of nine children, Maree was an amazing helper to her mother and friends were always extremely important.
"We were up for most things, especially the Halloween house here in Dannevirke for the past five years, raising money for the SPCA," Vicky said.
Maree Foster volunteered with SPCA for many years. Photo / Supplied
Maree, an SPCA volunteer, spent months decorating her house in Victoria Ave for Halloween, baking special cupcakes, with visitors in their hundreds donating gold coins, blankets, cushions and tins of cat food for a chance to experience a unique and very special experience.
Last year almost 700 people visited the haunted house, well up on the 500 before and with so many visitors queuing out onto the street Maree decided she needed entertainment and so the dancing witches were born.
Constable Steve Dunn was arrested by Maree Foster (seated, second from left) at a Halloween celebration last year. Photo / File
"She was so young at heart and we'll miss her Halloween," brother Chris Cave told the Dannevirke News.
But it wasn't just the animals Maree raised funds for. In 2012, free of cancer for 30 years, Maree was a member of the Relay for Life team, the Wuddyfuddies. She'd taken part in the relay a number of times and a month later kicked off the 2013 Relay for Life fundraiser by having her head shaven.
And before Halloween took over her life, Maree and husband Gary would light up their house for Christmas.
Laura Phillips, the SPCA animal inspector, said Maree was a little lady with a big heart.
"Maree and Gary have done a lot for the SPCA," she said.
"Their fundraising helped keep us and our animals going. She will be a big loss to our community."
A member of the Dannevirke's EvaReady Cherry Chicz Red Hat Society, Maree, aka Lady Bucket, was always the life and soul of the party, red hatter Sue Longridge said.
"We loved her bubbly, phenomenal, endless laughter," she said. "Maree had a scrummylicious smile and infectious laughter."
Neighbour, Liz Edwards, said Maree's kindness would stay with her forever.
"I'll always treasure those little acts of kindness which continue to mean so much today," she said.
"Maree will be so missed by our neighbourhood, but we've been blessed to have had someone like her."
Maree's illness came quickly, but she was aware right to the end, friends said.
Friend and former work colleague Karen Coe said it had been a privilege to walk the last few miles of Maree's life with her.
And friends and family, along with a few witches, walked behind Maree's glass coach carrying her casket drawn by Chippy the horse, accompanied by Joe Pearson, with Colleen Constable holding the reins, along with Murph the dog alongside, down Victoria Ave and Allardice St and across High St to The Hub.
