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Widow dies of 'broken heart'
26/06/2007 23:16 - (SA)
Jana van der Merwe
Petrus Steyn - The widow of prominent farmer Helgard Claasen died, literally, of a broken heart as she made funeral arrangements and was buried with him in a double funeral on Tuesday.
Helgard, 58, and Suzette, 53, were buried on the family farm, Paradys, near Petrus Steyn in the Free State.
Suzette was making funeral arrangements at the weekend with her daughter, Marichen Gernstholtz, 31, who had travelled with her husband, Werner, from Canada for her father's burial.
Suzette's brother-in-law, Petrus Claasen, said that shortly after Helgard's death Suzette had said: "I depended so much on Helgard that I feel as if I was breathing through his lungs."
Sister-in-law Ina Claasen said Suzette had literally died of a broken heart.
Died of a heart attack
Since Helgard's death six days previously, she had complained of chest cramps and on Monday about 11:00 she told Ina about acute chest pains. A medical examination did not reveal any cardiac problems, however.
She died at her home of a heart attack early on Tuesday morning.
The family decided to bury the couple together in a double funeral.
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