Anthony Bourdain's Body Cremated in France
Body cremated less than a week after death - ashes to be sent to family in the US
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Less than a week after his tragic death, French authorities have cremated the body of Anthony Bourdain.
Mr. Bourdain’s body has been tied up in bureaucratic red tape in France, leaving funeral plans for him temporarily on hold, according to the late reporter's mother, Gladys.
Bourdain’s family was still waiting for the French government to allow the beloved TV journalist's body to be flown back to the US for burial after he was found dead in his French hotel room Friday.
“They won’t be shipping his remains back for a couple of days because of formalities,” said Gladys Bourdain, 83.
But his mom said that is pretty typical of the “ces’t la vie” country.
“Listen, I lived there for five years — nothing is done quickly,” she said.
Mr. Bourdain's body was cremated in France on Wednesday.
His family was informed after the fact and told that his ashes will be returned to the United States on Friday, according to a published report.
French prosecutor Christian de Rocquigney de Fayel said there was no evidence that Bourdain’s death was anything but a suicide, according to People magazine.
“Nothing suggested the involvement of a third person,” Rocquigny said.
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Body cremated
A CNN spokesperson confirmed the news to E! News and added the family asks that their privacy please be respected.
According to People, who first reported the news, the Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown star was cremated in France.
His ashes will be flown back to the United States on Friday.
Last week, news broke that the celebrity chef had passed away at the age of 61.
"It is with extraordinary sadness we can confirm the death of our friend and colleague, Anthony Bourdain," a spokesperson for CNN said in a statement Friday morning.
"His love of great adventure, new friends, fine food and drink and the remarkable stories of the world made him a unique storyteller.
"His talents never ceased to amaze us and we will miss him very much.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his daughter and family at this incredibly difficult time."
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Unexpected death
Bourdain, 61, was found dead by his best friend, chef Eric Ripert, on Friday hanging by a bathrobe belt in his room at the Le Chambard hotel in Kaysersberg-Vignoble, France.
The French Ministry of Justice, which handled the investigation into Bourdain’s death, did not respond to requests for comment.
According to CNN, 61-year-old Bourdain was in France working on an upcoming episode of his award-winning CNN TV show, "Parts Unknown."
His best friend Eric Ripert, the French chef, found Bourdain unresponsive in his hotel room Friday morning, having died of an apparent hanging.
