Family brings actress Barbie Hsu's ashes home, no funeral planned

Taipei, Feb. 5 (CNA) Actress Barbie Hsu (徐熙媛) has "returned home" to Taiwan, and there are no plans to hold a funeral for the TV star who died in Japan from influenza-induced pneumonia, her family said in a statement Wednesday evening.

The statement was released after local media outlets reported that her ashes were brought back to Taiwan on board a private jet, which arrived at Taipei Songshan Airport around 3 p.m. on Wednesday.

To the reporters waiting at the airport, the statement issued by the family read "(we) appreciate friends working in the media for waiting in the cold weather."

"She has safely returned home. (We) believe she is right now happy and carefree up there," the statement added.

It said the family will not hold a funeral for the actress "because she always preferred to keep a low profile. If you miss her, keep her in mind. We are grateful for the love you feel for her."

Barbie Hsu's younger sister, TV presenter Dee Hsu (徐熙娣), confirmed the death of the 48-year-old actress in a separate statement on Monday.

No exact date was given for the death, only that it happened during a family trip in Japan during the Lunar New Year holiday.

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