Tears of Children and Grandchildren Mark Final Farewell Mass for Maria Bernadeth Latifah Oetama

JAKARTA – The mournful tears of Maria Bernadeth Latifah Oetama’s children and grandchildren marked the coffin-closing mass at the family home on Thursday evening (28 May 2026). Approximately 27 of Latifah’s children and grandchildren, dressed in white, lined up to take turns seeing her face for the final time. Some spent long moments gazing at the face of the wife of Kompas Gramedia’s founder. They gently stroked and kissed her face in a final farewell. A small white teddy bear, brought by one of her grandchildren from Amsterdam, Netherlands, was placed at her left temple. Another granddaughter named Maria placed several items to accompany the deceased, including a Bible, rosary beads, and perfume. One by one, children and grandchildren placed pink tulips that Maria had brought from the Netherlands. Maria explained that the tulips reminded her of Latifah’s time studying in the Netherlands. ‘I brought the tulips from Amsterdam. Grandmother often spoke of attending an economics school there,’ she said after the services on Thursday. Maria also noted that her grandmother loved collecting perfumes, which is why she often brought her perfume wherever she went. During their final meeting, Maria even sprayed the perfume she had brought from the Netherlands on her grandmother. She then covered Latifah’s face with a cloth before allowing officials to proceed with sealing the coffin, which was later glued shut. Afterwards, one of Latifah’s great-grandchildren sobbed loudly. According to a grandchild named Adi, the girl was particularly close to Latifah. The girl with braided hair was then comforted by her mother.