In it, they said it was important to set the record straight, as much of what had been reported in the media was based on rumour.
"Bob was a loving and devoted father, grandfather, brother, son and husband," the statement read. "His loss leaves a hole in the lives of everyone he touched."
They said his business had created jobs for thousands of Indonesians. "He was a good and honourable man.
"His integrity, generosity and spirit is evidenced by the way the business community both expat and Indonesian, have rallied to support us and to pay their respects.
"As a family we are unified and will be relentless in seeking answers and justice for what has occurred in this tragedy."
The family also thanked those who had helped them and said they were now focused on farewelling Mr Ellis "with dignity and respect".
Around 30 people attended a service for Mr Ellis held in Bali last week. One of his sons from the previous marriage now lives in New Zealand, where Mr Ellis will be buried.
Family friend Ross Taylor says John and Peter Ellis, students at Edith Cowan University, are deeply mourning their father, who they spoke to by phone almost daily.
Police are considering charging Ms Noor with premeditated murder, which can carry the death penalty.
Her defence lawyer says she was experiencing marital problems and paid her maid's boyfriend to solve the problems but told him not to harm or kill her husband.
The businessman's body was found wrapped in plastic and dumped in a ditch on Tuesday.
Police say Ms Noor - bitterly unhappy about her husband's infidelity and the handling of their finances - admits to being behind the plot, where her maid's boyfriend slashed Mr Ellis' throat in the kitchen of their Sanur villa.
But her lawyer, Nyoman Wisnu, argues it was never supposed to go that far. "This incident happened because Noor picked the wrong person to talk to about her problems," he said.
According to the lawyer, Ms Noor last week confided in her maid that she was "losing her patience" with her husband over their marital problems.
Mr Ellis had twice refused to divorce his Indonesian wife, whose name was used to acquire substantial assets in the country, Mr Nyoman said.
The maid introduced Ms Noor to Aril, "who could solve the problem".
She agreed to pay him Rp 150 million ($A14,000) but said she didn't want her husband hurt.
Ms Noor waited in another room when Aril and four others confronted her husband on Sunday night, Mr Nyoman says, and was stunned when she found him dead.
The men told her they had to "slash him" when he fought back.
"Noor was crying and in regret," he said. "She was hysterical, frightened and confused."
One of the four men still on the run then ordered Ms Noor to drive her car when they disposed of Mr Ellis' body in a rice field, according to the lawyer.
Her lawyer says she will plead forgiveness from her sons, aged 19 and 23, whose support could be crucial to her leniency before the courts.
"She really wanted to meet her sons and tell them lots of things, especially to apologise for her mistake," Mr Nyoman said.
The lawyer says his client suffered through years of infidelity by her husband of 25 years, and denies her actions were motivated by greed.
Rather, he says, Ms Noor was being denied access to funds she was helping to earn, and barred from a dignified separation.
"There's no action without reaction, no smoke without fire," he said.
"It was Bob who was selfish, playing around with women, getting drunk and keeping all of their business profits in Australia."
Aril and the couple's two maids remain in custody, while Mr Ellis' remains will next week be flown to New Zealand, where he will be laid to rest.
- AAP
