Like husband, like wife

Like husband, like wife

JAKARTA (JP): A mother of three children committed suicide by
drinking insecticide yesterday after her husband killed himself
in the same way 40 days ago.

The death of Indah Purwaningsih, 35, came as no surprise to
neighbors and relatives who said she had previously tried to kill
herself by swallowing insecticide.

Indah, who died in her rented house on Jl. Budi Mulia,
Pademangan district in North Jakarta, where her husband ended his
life by drinking insecticide 40 days ago, had looked gloomy and
preferred to be alone in her room, according to neighbors.

Her relatives and neighbors said that Indah's husband, Totok
Rusdianto, a 42-year-old architect who graduated in Germany, had
become very depressed after being fired from work.

Indah had written letters to some neighbors, asking them to
take care of her three children after she was gone.

Neighbors said the husband and wife had opened a rice stall
to make ends meet. However, for Totok, losing his job was a heavy
blow.

Indah is survived by three children, Talita, 12, Mario, 10,
and Aryo, 8.

Talita told The Jakarta Post yesterday that one day before her
mother's death, Indah asked her to look after her brothers.

Talita found her mother on the floor in her bedroom yesterday
morning with an empty can of insecticide next to her body.

Talita said she and her brothers will move to their
grandfather's home in Pasuruan, East Java.

Totok was buried at Menteng Pulo, in Central Jakarta, while
Indah will be buried in her hometown of Pasuruan. (jun)