The ashes of late Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu returned home with her family yesterday (Feb 5).
The star passed away at the age of 48 on Feb 2 after she came down with influenza-related pneumonia while on vacation with her family in Japan. She was cremated in Japan the next day.
According to Taiwanese media, Barbie’s ashes were transported from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Feb 5 on a VistaJet private charter flight, which landed at Taipei Songshan Airport at around 3pm.
It is reported that her urn is pink, and her husband, South Korean singer DJ Koo, was seen holding it as they left the airport.
Barbie’s younger sister, host Dee Hsu, her husband Mike Hsu, and mother also reportedly returned on the same flight.
According to sources, Barbie’s ashes will be kept at her home and there will be no memorial ceremony for the late star.
Dee issued a statement through her manager, saying: “We will not be holding a memorial ceremony for [Barbie] as she has always been a low-profile person. If you miss her, just keep her in your heart. Our family deeply appreciates the love you have for Barbie.”
Barbie, who had a history of epilepsy and heart disease, was very open about life and death and lived each day as if it were her last.
She once had a near-death experience when she “stopped breathing” after giving birth to her second child, son Wang Hsi-Lin, in 2016.
Because of this, she repeatedly shared her final wishes with her close friends — one of which was to ensure that no one shed tears.
“The farewell I want most is one filled with joy and laughter. Everyone should drink my favourite champagne, enjoy delicious food, and please don’t cry,” she said.
Barbie also had a 10-year-old daughter, Wang Hsi-Yueh, with ex-husband, Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei.