Death notice puts the fun into funeral

The Magness family. Photo / Supplied

When Richard Magness came to terms with his terminal stomach cancer, he decided to take his "fun-er-al" plans into his own hands.

The Rotorua 35-year-old died on Thursday night in the company of his wife, Antonia, and sons Ryan, 7, and Alex, 5.

Richard wanted to write his own death notice "joke", to ease his family's pain.

It reads: "In life the only certainties are death and taxes. In opposition to the thieving Govts I have decided to put my foot down and cease paying any more tax forever. Yes I have died and am free to travel the spirits highway. All welcome to attend my fun-er-al."

Antonia said her husband was "a tower of strength".

Richard's "fun-er-al" will be at the Joseph H. Gray Memorial Chapel in Rotorua at 1pm tomorrow.