‘You learn to live with the pain’: West Rand mother recalls daughter’s suicide

According to The Citizen, 73-year-old Marie Burger of the West Rand said the death of her daughter nearly 11 years ago still haunts her every day after the woman, in her 30s, committed suicide while Burger was at work.

A mother’s account of that day

Burger told The Citizen her husband phoned her at work to come home immediately because their daughter had taken her own life. She said the daughter was in her 30s at the time.

Warning signs were ignored

Burger said her daughter had told her a few times that she was planning on taking her own life.

“She only succeeded the third time…”

She told The Citizen she had believed the second attempt might be the end, and that on the third occasion her daughter made sure Burger was not at home to stop her.

“The third time, she made sure I wasn’t at home to stop her.”

What happened before they realised

Burger recounted to The Citizen that family members were busy gardening when the daughter told her father she was going to lie down because the sun was getting too hot. Her husband did not think much of it until he went into the house and realised something was wrong.

Daily reminders and faith

Burger said the family are reminded of her daughter’s death every day when they look at her photos on the walls.

“You never get over it. If it wasn’t for God, we would have never found peace.”

Message to others

Speaking to The Citizen, Burger warned people not to ignore warning signs.

“Don’t assume they say it to get attention, especially if you know the person. I know I did everything in my power to help her. Because we were so close, she told me she was definitely going to kill herself, and I knew it would happen. I felt it coming.”

These are the details Burger provided to The Citizen about her daughter’s death and the warnings she says preceded it.