Sydney woman celebrates life before death: ‘Doesn’t everybody say they wish they could be at their own funeral?’

She’s well-travelled and much-loved. She has credits on some of Australian TV’s most popular programs to her name. And she’s dying. See how Monique Lisa celebrated her life and “shenanigans”.

How do you want to be remembered?

Most of us could only guess what our friends would say at our funeral – Monique Lisa is grateful to have been able to celebrate her life before death.

The 57-year-old has outlived doctor’s predictions as she battled terminal Interstitial Lung Disease or cancer of the lining of the lung.

“I am still going but I feel I am getting close, really close,” Lisa told The Daily Telegraph.

“We are celebrating my life because, why not? How awesome is it – doesn’t everybody say they wish they could be at their own funeral?”

Pictured at Spencer on the Hawkesbury River is Monique Lisa, who has celebrated her life with friends before she dies of cancer. Picture: Richard Dobson

Friends travelled from across the country while others sent love from abroad as Lisa celebrated “a life of shenanigans” at Spencer Thai on Wisemans Ferry Road, Spencer, on Sunday.

More than 50 friends packed the venue while Caribe performed Cuban music.

Monique Lisa hosts a celebration of her life at Spencer Thai on the Hawkesbury. Picture: Richard Dobson

Close friends of course knew of the seriousness of Lisa’s illness, while others learnt via a social media post on May 16, in which she revealed she was leaving Royal North Shore Hospital to return to her “little cabin on the banks of the Hawkesbury River”.

She wrote: “Knowing life is now measured in weeks or at maximum months, provides clarity and a reality check. Travelling takes more energy than I possess and my little cabin is as beautiful a place as any to take your final breath.”

Lisa also shared some of her life learnings, among them “living the life you want as soon as possible”.

Celebrated as a woman who has always lived life to the full, Lisa has worn many hats through various careers.

Monique Lisa before being diagnosed with cancer. Instagram

Monique Lisa with Julia Morris on set of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! in South Africa. Instagram

She has worked in the music industry, and television, including a stint producing on set of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here. More recently she spent two years travelling Europe on a motorcycle named Konrad and did an MBA at Monaco University.

“If I didn’t do that, I’d be pretty pissed off I reckon,” she said. “I am just so glad I had the opportunity to really live my life, like really live every ounce of my life, which I think is so important to do.”

Living life to the full: Monique Lisa before being diagnosed with cancer. Instagram

Monique Lisa before her cancer diagnosis. Instagram

Lisa is registered for voluntary assisted dying with the assistance of medical professionals but does not know what will come first.

“Depending on what comes first, we will see,” she said, adding when asked if she fears death: “I just have this really strong feeling there is something … so I am not overly scared.”

Lisa noted some might question her decision to celebrate her life while here.

“Some people have said to me it is up yourself and I don’t think it is that,” she explained.

“I’ve learnt the effect I’ve had on people. When you live life, and you go, ‘I really haven’t achieved much’, I always thought my house was my achievement and it appears it isn’t, it appears my achievement is you guys.”

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