The memorial service for late pop singer Coco Lee took place at 4pm today (July 31) at the Hong Kong Funeral Home in North Point, Hong Kong.
The funeral hall was decorated with a sea of colourful flowers surrounding Lee’s brown coffin against a light yellow curtain as a backdrop.
The memorial service, which was opened to members of the public from 6pm, was attended by friends and family members – including Lee’s estranged Canadian husband Bruce Rockowitz and her two stepdaughters, who arrived at the venue at about 3.45pm.
Since Lee’s death on July 5, there have been talks of whether Rockowitz would attend her funeral, a discussion that was further fuelled after he was not included in the list of pallbearers.
On July 28, the businessman refuted the “malicious” and “defamatory” rumours of fighting over Lee’s assets, saying that the pair had been financially independent since their marriage in 2011.
In addition to relatives and friends, Lee’s memorial service was also attended by hundreds of fans – who turned up outside the funeral home hours ahead of the public session to pay their final respects to the beloved songbird.
One Malaysian fan waiting in line told South China Morning Post: “I planned my trip to Hong Kong a long time ago and it’s a coincidence that the funeral was held on the same day. I thought I would take this opportunity to pay my respects.”
Meanwhile, many actors and singers from Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan also recalled their memories with Lee and mourned her passing in a video for her memorial service.
Action star Jackie Chan said in the video that everyone was proud of the singer when she performed at the Oscars.
“To friends like us, Coco was a passionate and kind friend who cared for us. She was really a good person. That’s why we are so reluctant to accept she has left us,” he said.
Lee and Jackie Chan worked together on the Mandarin version of Disney’s ‘Mulan’. Photo: Jackie Chan/Weibo
Taiwanese filmmaker Ang Lee also recounted his exchanges with the late singer when she performed A Love Before Time, the theme song of his award-winning movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, at the Oscars in 2001.
“She looked at me and said, ‘I am the first Asian to stand on this stage, so I will do my best’. We miss her very much. Rest in peace, Coco,” he said.
Other celebrities who turned up for Lee’s funeral were singers Jenny Tseng and Elva Hsiao who gave eulogies commemorating Lee.
Over 10,000 fans from all over the world tuned to the livestream of the memorial service on Lee’s sister Nancy’s YouTube channel, with many leaving comments extending their condolences.
Lee’s funeral will be held over two days until tomorrow (Aug 1). There will be a livestream of tomorrow’s ceremony from 9.30am to 10.30am.
Lee, who was 48, died on July 5 following a suicide attempt.
Her family revealed in a statement on social media that the singer had been struggling with depression.
Lee won international acclaim with her vocal prowess and has released over 15 albums, garnering tens of millions in sales since making her singing debut in 2013.
Her impressive vocal range, reportedly spanning three octaves, earned her the title as the “Mariah Carey of Asia”.
In 2016, Lee was crowned the champion of the fourth season of Chinese reality show, I Am A Singer.
She was also known to voice Fa Mulan in the Mandarin version of Disney’s Mulan (1998).
Those suffering from problems can reach out to: Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (03-2935 9935 or 014-322 3392); Talian Kasih (15999 or WhatsApp 019-261 5999); Jakim’s Family, Social and Community care centre (WhatsApp 0111-959 8214); and Befrienders Kuala Lumpur (03-7627 2929 or www.befrienders.org.my/centre-in-malaysia for a full list of numbers and operating hours).
