TAIPEI, Oct 24: Former first lady of China Soong Mayling brought a tumultuous chapter in modern Chinese history to a close Friday when she died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 106.

The widow of Taiwan military strongman Chiang Kai-shek died at her home in the New York beach suburb of Long Island where she had lived since 1991, her granddaughter-in-law Fang Chih-yi told reporters here.

“She passed away peacefully ... we wish from the bottom of our hearts that her soul would bless the country and people she loved dearly,” Fang said.—AFP