The tragic death of one of her own family members helped Jacqui Lewis support husband Wally when he fell into depression after an operation for epilepsy.
The former wife of the man known as King Wally also considered selling the family home and getting a job when she feared he would not be able to return to work after the debilitating illness.
The revelations originally reported in the Sydney Morning Herald make the demise of her marriage to Wally particularly poignant, reinforcing her 36 years of selfless devotion to the man.
While Jacqui declined to comment to Daily Mail Australia when contacted about her former husband s statement on the split, earlier media appearances illustrate the extent of her loyalty to the rugby league legend.