Samantha Kudeweh grew up in Papakura and studied at the University of Auckland. Photo / Supplied
A funeral will be held for the zoo keeper mauled by a tiger in Hamilton Zoo on Monday.
A funeral notice said the service for Samantha Kudeweh would "celebrate the life of Sam, tragically lost to us on Sunday".
Ms Kudeweh, 43, was an experienced senior keeper and a mother to two children and was killed by Oz, the male Sumatran tiger at the zoo.
An education fund will be set up for her two children, the funeral notice said.
Hamilton Zoo remains closed following the incident, but is due to reopen tomorrow with some of its five Sumatran tigers on display. No decision has been made on whether visitors will be able to see Oz.
The zoo's popular Tiger Talks, Eye 2 Eye and Face 2 Face encounters for all species have been suspended until further notice to allow zoo staff time and space to grieve, the facility said yesterday.
Oz was transferred to Hamilton Zoo from Auckland as part of the Global Species Management plan for the endangered Sumatran tigers, and Ms Kudeweh spoke at the time of her excitement, describing it as a "career highlight".
Her family this week released a statement saying the zoo was a "crucial" part of Ms Kudeweh's life, and "second only to her family" -- husband Richard, who she met working at Melbourne Zoo, and children Billy, 9, and Sage, 3.
Mrs Kudeweh's family have asked for privacy and time to grieve.
The funeral will be held at Hamilton Gardens Pavilion, Hungerford Crescent.
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