(CNN) Fans knew a death was coming to "Modern Family," but did you guess right?

In Wednesday's Halloween episode of the long-running series, the comedy put speculation to rest by revealing that Mitchell and Claire's mother, DeDe (Shelley Long), had died.

It is said later in the episode, appropriately titled "Good Grief," that DeDe died in her sleep.

"It occurred to us that death is a giant part of the family experience and while Phil had lost his mother in a previous episode, we've never seen the entire family have to deal with such a loss," creator Steven Levitan told The Hollywood Reporter . "It seemed like an interesting thing to have happen."

Shelley Long as Dede in an episode of "Modern Family."

The producers behind the series, which is in the midst of what could be its final season, have been teasing a significant character death since September.

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