Funeral Director Marches With Red Nose for Beloved Magician

When Roderick Stewart walked into his final performance, he made sure everyone left with a smile.

The 95-year-old entertainer, known to generations as Rod Rick the Wacky Wizard, got a farewell that matched his magical life. Funeral director Richard Vialoux marched into the Bay of Plenty service wearing a red nose, arms pumping enthusiastically as circus music filled the chapel.

The entrance was spontaneous, but the joy was carefully planned. Vialoux greeted mourners with "roll up, roll up" before handing each person a red nose to wear during the service.

Balloons decorated the chapel, a nod to Stewart's balloon artistry that delighted audiences for decades. Local artist Donna from Bdazzled Balloons created the displays specifically to honor him.

Stewart died earlier this month after 95 years of spreading happiness as an actor, teacher, puppeteer, ringmaster, and balloon artist. His daughter Melanie Strathdee wanted his goodbye to capture his spirit.

"We wanted his farewell to feel like him: colorful, creative and full of laughter," Strathdee said. She described her father as someone whose greatest talent was bringing joy to others.

As pallbearers loaded the coffin into the hearse for Stewart's final journey, mourners placed their red noses on top. The simple gesture transformed a goodbye into one last shared laugh.

Why This Inspires

Vialoux says families are increasingly comfortable breaking traditional funeral molds. He's happy to accommodate most requests that truly reflect someone's personality, though some requests do get turned down.

The key is making your wishes known. A funeral doesn't have to be somber to be meaningful. Stewart's circus celebration proved that honoring someone's life can mean celebrating exactly what made them special.

For a man who spent nearly a century making others smile, sending him off with laughter wasn't disrespectful. It was the most genuine tribute possible.