Singer Nita Tilana dies at Pondok Indah Hospital

JAKARTA (JP): Popular singer Nita Tilana, who shot to fame with her hit, Tak Ada Waktu (No Time), died on Thursday at Pondok Indah Hospital, South Jakarta, of uterine cancer.

Nita, 33, had been treated in several hospitals, including one in Singapore, before being admitted to the hospital on July 7.

She is survived by her husband Rully A., who married her in October last year.

Nita's brother, Ray Bachtiar, said Nita passed away at 11:15 a.m. Doctors said that the cancer had reached her lungs.

Born in the West Java capital of Bandung on Oct. 8, 1967, Nita, sister of GIGI pop band frontman Armand Maulana, had featured in many tabloids since her illness.

Many articles praised husband Rully, who faithfully accompanied Nita from hospital to hospital.

"He's an angel sent by God to me," Nita used to say of him.

Nita, who was known by the nickname Nitnot, had recently founded a celebrity charity foundation with fellow artist Merlina Bellina.

Her body is being laid at her house in Persada Kemala housing complex in Kalimalang, East Jakarta, before being taken to Bandung and buried at Sirna Raga cemetery in Bandung on Friday.

Friends and relatives as well as fellow celebrities expressed their condolences to her family on Thursday afternoon.

The celebrities included Deasy Ratnasari, Jeffry Waworuntu and wife Ruth Sahanaya, Gunawan and wife Paramitha Rusadi, Melly Goeslaw, Melly Manuhutu, Rina Gunawan, Lilo from KLA Project and Nicky Astria. (lup)