A recent event that unfolded in a cosy South Surrey home was quite literally a party to die for.

The afternoon included close friends sharing laughs over precious memories, as well as words of inspiration and some pretty skookum cupcakes.

And then there was the box.

Relatively small and plain, complete with a hinged lid, it sat unassumingly on the coffee table, right next to the cupcakes.

Eva Hompoth said she researched online before purchasing the box for the occasion. The White Rock woman knew she wanted to bring something that could hold the 鈥渟ix-something鈥� pounds that she would be reduced to upon cremation.

鈥淚 went and I asked what kind of box 鈥� how you calculate for my ashes to fit into the box 鈥� and they had a number,鈥� she explained matter-of-factly, referring to the square-inch figure she went looking for.

鈥淪o basically at the end, they said that when you die鈥� it鈥檚 going to be the same weight as when you are born.鈥�

A central component of the aptly-named Ashes Shower, the box was quickly covered with colourful sketches and words, added by guests 鈥渟o thankful鈥� for Hompoth, and promising to love her 鈥渇or-Eva.鈥�

Those words, along with the memories and laughs shared at the shower, are 鈥渨hat I鈥檒l take with me,鈥� Hompoth told party guests.

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Hompoth, 67, said she asked for the 鈥楢shes Shower鈥� so that she could celebrate her life with those dear to her, while she is still here to enjoy it.

She envisioned it following word last year that her own time was limited, due to cancer invading her spine, hips, neck, shoulder and lymph nodes.

Her logic, she said, was simple: baby showers happen before a baby is born, followed by bridal showers, 鈥渨hich can happen many times.鈥�

鈥淎nd I said, why not to have 鈥� because I鈥檓 going to be cremated 鈥� an Ashes Shower, and instead of waiting (for) people to come when I鈥檓 not here and be sad, why not have fun?鈥�

She acknowledged that the idea was met with a few raised eyebrows, and said some invitees were 鈥渞eally nervous.鈥�

鈥淭hey said, 鈥業 don鈥檛 understand.鈥� They were thinking it was going to be something really serious and really sombre, and I鈥檓 going to invite a priest or something.

鈥淚t was just getting together and having fun.鈥�

Hompoth 鈥� who, a decade ago, to encourage the City of White Rock to create a dog park within city limits 鈥� is hopeful it is an idea that catches on for others who find themselves in a similar position; facing an earlier-than-hoped-for end to life. It鈥檚 a positive alternative to dwelling on the inevitable, she said.

鈥淲hy not? Why not do like, 鈥榟ey, who cares? I鈥檓 going to die 鈥� let鈥檚 have a party today.鈥欌��

Hompoth doesn鈥檛 know exactly how much time she has left. But she鈥檚 determined to continue embracing her illness with dignity and a smile 鈥� she has even planned and paid for her funeral, in an effort to lighten the load on her loved ones.

Her positive and forward-thinking approach to adversity is a tactic she says she learned at a young age.

鈥淲hen I was three years old, I was in a coma and I came out of it,鈥� she explained, of a condition that led to her undergoing 26 surgeries on her leg.

鈥淚 grew up in the hospital, basically. You know how kids are, they鈥檙e so resilient. I think I developed a sense of positivity and optimism.

鈥淭his is the only day, the only moment you have 鈥� you never know what can happen the next moment.鈥�

She鈥檚 also determined to surpass whatever end date doctors give her. It wouldn鈥檛 be the first time she鈥檚 beat the odds, after all.

Thirteen years ago, she survived fast-moving breast cancer.

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鈥淪o many times that people said I鈥檓 not going to make it the next year, or two years from now, but I never believe them,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 always came out of it.

鈥淚t鈥檚 funny, when I was diagnosed, my sister was here, and they said, 鈥極K, this is it.鈥� And she says, 鈥榶ou don鈥檛 know her, she鈥檚 always beat everything.鈥欌��

The Ashes Shower, Hompoth said, was 鈥渁 blast.鈥�

鈥淚 was so impressed and so blessed that everybody basically showed up. And, it was just fun,鈥� she said.

鈥淟ife is supposed to be fun and even if I鈥檓 not here, the memories, I still want them to be fun. I wouldn鈥檛 want people (to get) together and start crying. You know, I had a full life. It鈥檚 like, let鈥檚 celebrate now, let鈥檚 do something interesting.鈥�