[2013.05.11] 300 FANS PAY THEIR RESPECTS TO SITA CHAN

Stephanie Cheng

courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

The hall is simply decorated with Doraemon

Sita Chan's smile will remain in the hearts of many

Father Chan calls Sita Chan his pride

Sita Chan's parents

Sita Chan's sister remembers her 20 years with her

Mother Chan 

Paco Wong would always remember Sita Chan

The record company fulfills Sita Chan's wish with a memorial record release

Almost 300 fans wait to pay their respects

Fans are upset after paying their respects

Dr. Lee Hau Man reportedly is Sita Chan's behind the scene benefactor

Sammy Sum would always remember his friend's smile 

Terence Siufay

Sandy Lau and husband Lee Shing Chak

Jade Kwan, Alfred Hui

Alex Fong Lik Sun

Fiona Sit

LAN KWAI FONG 2's Kelvin Kwan, Calinda Chan, Linah Matsuoka, Wilson Chin, Dominic Ho, Gregory Wong, Angelina Zhang remember working with Sita Chan

HotCha's Winkie

Friends and fans folded origami cranes for Sita Chan

Joey Yung sent a floral arrangement

A moth flew into the hall and caught attention

Message from Nicholas Tse

Message from Jay Chou
courtesy of mingpao.com

Known as the new comer with the most potential in the music scene in recent years, Sita Chan Hei Yi (originally named Chan Ho Yi) passed away in a car accident in the early morning of April 17 and ended her 26 year short life. Yesterday her funeral services began at the Po Fook Memorial Hall. Her parents, younger sister, mentor Paco Wong, confidant Lam Hau Man, rumored boyfriend Sammy Sum Chun Hin, a group of industry friends and almost 300 fans paid their respects. Cries echoed throughout the halls and broke hearts. Mother Chan in the memorial book broken heartedly wrote, "Seeing the pajamas on your bed, the song drafts and make up on the table, my heart and insides shatter from the pain!" Rumored boyfriend Sum Chun Hin wrote, "Your singing and smile are the best gifts for fans." Paco Wong said that he would always remember Sita.

Chan Hei Yi's funeral decorated the halls in white with pink roses and music symbols. Her final photo was from her second record with a brilliant smile, which her family chose for everyone to always remember her smile. Sita liked Doraemon and a cardboard likeness was on the hand to keep her company. Her sister produced a video to be played at today's funeral. Her remains will be cremated after the funeral and her ashes will be placed at the Po Fook Memorial Hall.

Sita's parents and family yesterday arrived around 2PM, the location was filled with plenty of offerings, as well as origami cranes from her fans and friends. They originally wanted to fold 10,387 cranes to represent Sita's 1987 March 10 birth date, the final count was over 60,000. A moth flew in and caught everyone's attention. Dr. Lam Hau Man who reportedly funded Sita behind the scene arrived around 3:30PM to pay his respects. He stared at Sita's photo, then workers accompanied him for a final glimpse of Sita. Around 5PM he stepped out of the elevator and the media flocked to take photos. He waved them off to indicate no interview.

Yesterday a public memorial took place, almost 300 fans waited early on and entered the hall around 5PM. Many fans wore school uniforms; many fans after paying their respects broke down. A female student said that she has liked Sita for a year and wished her idol a safe journey.

Chan Hei Yi got along with people well, many friends in the business came to pay their respects. They included Sum Chun Hin, Fiona Sit Hoi Kei, Stephanie Cheng Yung, Alex Fong Lik Sun, Terence Siufay, Dr. Lee Shing Chak and his wife Sandy Lau Sin Ting, Kelvin Kwan Chor Yiu and others. Siufay and Lau Sin Ting were saddened, Siufay cried so hard that he needed assistance. Sum Chun Hin did not take a final glimpse of Sita. He said, "Sita's family wants to be low key. I already accepted her passing. A good friend has passed away, which is regrettable. I think Sita would want us to be happy. Today so many friends are in attendance, she should be very happy." He did not talk with Sita's parents and would not attend today's funeral.

The record company originally wanted to release Sita's memorial record yesterday, but the printing could not make the schedule and the release has been postponed. 500 sets were prepared for family and friends. The photo book that came with the record included messages from Sita's family, idols and good friends, one of which was a wedding photo that Sita posed for the day before her passing. Paco Wong said, "The memorial record release is to fulfill Chan Hei Yi's wish. Singing was her favorite, her biggest dream was for more people to hear her songs. The first printing had several thousand sets." Paco Wong in the memorial book simply wrote, "Always remember you". Mother Chan broken heartedly wrote, "Touching your still moist face, seeing the pajamas in bed, the song drafts and make up on the table, my heart and insides shatter from the pain......your beautiful outside and inside will always be in my heart......I even have no regret from having this excellent daughter!" Father Chan wrote, "You are my pride, I am proud of you. I hope to be father and daughter again in the next life." Her sister wrote, "Sister, thank you for spending 20 years with me, with joy and sorrow, laughter and tears. From now on you will always be in my heart."

Rumored boyfriend Sum Chun Hin wrote, "You always greet people with a smile because you say when you don't smile people would mistake you for being mad and mean. You have successfully made all the people who love you only remember your smile, proving that you are a very hard working artist who is very worthy of respect. Your singing and your smile are the best gifts for fans."

Chan Hei Yi started in 2011. Although she was only in the business for two short years, she had plenty of friends in the business. In the "Chan Hei Yi memorial photo book" Sita's idols Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) and Nicholas Tse Ting Fung wrote, "May you rest in peace" and "May you find music wherever you go". HotCha members Crystal and Winkie, Sit Hoi Kei also wrote about their memories of her. Winkie wrote, "I liked your directness and sincerity, your smiling silly lady personality." Also enclosed was a photo of her with Sita pouting cutely.

Crystal said that if she was able to, she would pretend that Sita went on a beautiful vacation and would wait to see her again in another space and time. She even asked Sita to "remember not to be forgetful and bring our love on the trip". Endy Chow Kwok Yin wrote, "Because of your optimism, self confidence, courage, you always brought smiles to others, radiated on the stage, and persisted your love and ideas". G.E.M. Tang Chi Kei has not known Sita for long, but after a few conversations she already thought Sita was very true and lovable.