Lee Kuan Yew wanted to die.

This much we now know, as his daughter, Dr Lee Wei Ling, revealed these poignant moments of his later years.

In her commentary ("Missing Papa on Aug 9") in The Straits Times today, Lee revealed that her father considered euthanasia in his last years as a widower.

"But the last few years of Papa's life without Mama were a sad and difficult time for him. He raised the topic of euthanasia with his doctors, and they told him that was illegal in Singapore. I also told him it was illegal for me to help him to do so elsewhere.

Papa was released from his suffering on March 23 this year. Knowing what he was battling prior to his last hospital admission, that he died without further suffering, the security officers who tended to him round the clock and I were relieved, yet terribly sad .

But knowing Papa, his best reward was that he did witness that his efforts had improved the lives of Singaporeans."

Lee's love story with his soulmate and wife Kwa Geok Choo is well-known. And it must be a tough 4.5 years since her passing on Oct, 2., 2010.

In his eulogy, he said,

"Without her, I would be a different man, with a different life. She devoted herself to me and our children. She was always there when I needed her.

She has lived a life full of warmth and meaning. I should find solace in her 89 years of life well lived. But at this moment of the final parting, my heart is heavy with sorrow and grief.”

We heard of many stories when a loving couple would pass away within days or months of their partner's death.

Maybe it's Lee's good health or his iron-will to continue to devote his life to Singapore, but he managed to eke out four and a half years of a well-lived but lonely life.

These are some of the highlights in Lee's later years without his wife: 

1. Published his last book One Man’s View of the World in 2013.

2. Became a Tanjong Pagar MP for the 11th term.

3. Recorded the Proclamation of Independence reading in 2012.

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4. Witnessed the reprint of his The Battle For Merger book in 2014.