Maria Bernadeth Latifah Oetama’s Wake: Tears, Pink Tulips and Final Farewells

JAKARTA — Maria Bernadeth Latifah Oetama, widow of late Kompas Gramedia founder Jakob Oetama, passed away on Wednesday, 27 May 2026. She was laid out at a wake in South Jakarta until Thursday evening. Family members and mourners gathered at the house, with bouquets and wreaths surrounding it. Although not widely known to the public, relatives stated that Latifah played a significant role in her husband’s career. Thursday evening marked the final opportunity for her descendants to see her body in the coffin, prompting heart-wrenching tears. As they took turns approaching her, they touched her cold body and kissed her face for the last time. Items such as a Bible, rosary, perfume, and a doll were placed alongside her. Her grandchildren also laid dozens of pink tulips brought from the Netherlands by one granddaughter, Maria, who said the flowers reminded her of her grandmother’s education in the Netherlands. As funeral staff prepared to close the coffin, family members waved goodbye, bidding her final farewell.