Kwan weeping beside her deceased father

It’s heartbreaking to see these pictures of Kwan Usamanee weeping beside her deceased father during his bathing ceremony, one of the first steps in a Thai funeral. As part of the ceremony, monks, relatives, and friends pour scented holy water on the right hand of the deceased individual, and a thread is then passed three times each around the hands, toes, and neck, symbolizing the bonds of passion, anger, and ignorance. I have done it but never understood the concept.

Roughly 2 days ago, Kwan’s father Kasem Phulakert was found dead in a parked car near an eatery–cause of death, lack of oxygen.

At her father’s bathing/watering ceremony more than 700 people which included her fanclub members, other celebrities, singers, and Ch7 executives came to honor her father’s passing. The funeral will span 7 days from September 23-29. On the 29th, his body will be relocated to a temple in Tha Rap, Phetchaburi province where it will stay for about a year.

With tears in her eyes, Kwan talked the media that she is still shock by her father’s sudden death.

“This is a big loss for me and my family. I was not prepared for this because it happened so sudden. I have cried ever since I got the news. I was very shocked, I couldn’t believe it that my father had just passed away. I did not get any premonition at all,  other than that day it happened. When I returned to the lakorn set in Bangyai to drive to the lakorn set in Sala Ya, a water lizard run in front of my car, and I completely trampled it. Soon after, I received call from a close friend to tell me he/she is sorry that my father has passed away. When I heard that, I was very shocked.”

“Before he passed away, he invited us to go to the beach, but I didn’t have time so I didn’t go. When he passed away, I feel very regretful for not taking better care of him when he was  still alive. I promised my father that I will take care of my mother and everyone he loves. I will try to be the best child, not to be stubborn, and I asked that he will sleep well. If there is a next life, I want to be born as his daughter again and I want to tell my father that I love him very much.”

Kwan’s mother Pranee is very upset by the news that her husband drank himself to death because of depression and other life issues. “It’s not true, he did not drink. The alcohol found on his hands, he brought it for a worker he had agreed to talk about a land sale. He did not drank and lost his life.”

Her mother also stated that her husband suffered from heart disease. That day, he had heart failure while sleep in his car with the windows up thus he was not able to breath.