Posted at 11/05/2014 9:36 PM | Updated as of 11/05/2014 9:36 PM
MANILA - The family of veteran singer Sharon Cuneta asked to be given privacy as they mourn her mother, Elaine Gamboa Cuneta, who passed away on Wednesday afternoon at age 79.
In a statement given to ABS-CBN News on Wednesday night, the Cuneta family said Elaine died at 2:05 p.m. after seven weeks in intensive care.
Mrs. Cuneta's death was first announced by her granddaughter, actress KC Concepion, in a series of posts on micro-blogging site Twitter, but did not give further details.
According to the family's statement, Mrs. Cuneta died due to internal bleeding and complications arising from abdominal surgery. She was first confined for abdominal pains on September 2.
Mrs. Cuneta is survived by her two children and their respective partners, 11 grandchildren, and eight siblings.
"The family is deeply grateful for the outpouring of sympathy, love, and prayer support during their time of grief," the statement read. "They are comforted by their faith and the certainty that she is in a good place, in the hands of her Creator - no pain, no sickness or weakness, and seeing Jesus face to face."
"It has been a very difficult time for the family, especially for Sharon, Chet, KC, and Mrs. Cuneta's brothers and sisters, and it is their hope that they may be allowed some privacy as they mourn the loss of the beloved Mrs. Cuneta."
