Remembering The Last Moments With His Late Wife, Yasonna: Just One Night Is Not With Him Is Heavy

Menkumham Yasonna H Laoly (Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia Yasonna Laoly reminisced about the last moments with his late wife Elisye Widya Ketaren, who died Thursday, June 10 and was buried at San Diego Hills Memorial Park, Karawang, West Java, Saturday.

Elisye, said Yasonna, often asked to be accompanied by Yasonna and her children when she continued treatment at Medistra Hospital, Jakarta, after undergoing chemotherapy for 10 days in Penang, Malaysia.

"When she (Elisye) said, if you go away, and then I die, you won't see (me) anymore," Yasonna said recalling one of her last conversations with the late Elisye as quoted from Antara, Saturday, June 12.

Yasonna, to Elisye, had admitted that it was hard for her if she was no longer with her late wife.

"I told him, I'm tough, I can ride 50-100 kilometers, I can shoot at 600 meters too. (But) it was very hard, one night I was not with him," Yasonna said.

Elisye W Ketaren passed away. (Kemenkumham Twitter)

Because of that, Yasonna and her family decided to continue Elisye's treatment from Penang to Jakarta in order to be closer to her family. The decision also followed the advice of the doctor who treated Elisye.

"He needs family support, being in the midst of the family, because family psychological support is very important," added Yasonna.

Elisye was treated for 41 days at Medistra Hospital before breathing his last at 15.25 WIB, Thursday. The deceased left four children, two daughters-in-law, and six grandchildren.

In the funeral procession in San Diego Hills, Yasonna admitted that she was willing to let go of her wife, even though it still felt heavy for her.

"(It's) hard, but we believe as the word of God says that whoever dies in Christ, will be placed with Him," said Yasonna.

On that occasion, he also asked his relatives, colleagues, and colleagues to forgive if there were mistakes that the late Elisye had made.

“If any of you, Mr. and Mrs., there is an error from my wife, someone has hurt your heart, Mr. and Mrs. I beg you to forgive me. We ask you to continue to strengthen us with prayer, to get through these difficult times. Thank you," Yasonna said to the mourners present at the funeral.

Before being buried, Elisye's body was buried at the Sentosa Funeral Home, Gatot Subroto Army Hospital, Jakarta, from Thursday to Saturday. At the funeral home, a number of public officials, including the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, came and offered their condolences directly to Yasonna and her family.

Meanwhile, at the funeral, mourners were present, including high-ranking middle and primary leaders of the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights, as well as PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto.