Academy Award-winning actress Diane Keaton died of pneumonia at the age of 79 last Saturday (October 11), her family confirmed in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE on Wednesday (October 15).

"The Keaton family are very grateful for the extraordinary messages of love and support they have received these past few days on behalf of their beloved Diane, who passed away from pneumonia on October 11," the statement reads.

"She loved her animals and she was steadfast in her support of the unhoused community, so any donations in her memory to a local food bank or an animal shelter would be a wonderful and much appreciated tribute to her," the family added.

A spokesperson for the family had previously told PEOPLE that there were "no further details available" when Keaton's death was initially reported last Saturday. A source told the media outlet that the legendary actress' health "declined very suddenly, which was heartbreaking for everyone who loved her" and described her death as "so unexpected," "especially for someone with such strength and spirit."

"In her final months, she was surrounded only by her closest family, who chose to keep things very private. Even longtime friends weren’t fully aware of what was happening," the source told PEOPLE at the time of Keaton's death.

Keaton gained notoriety in the 1970s for her roles in The Godfather film series and collaborations with director and comedian Woody Allen, which included winning the Academy Award for Best Actress starring as the title character in Allen's 1977 film Annie Hall during a legendary career that spanned six decades.

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