[Thriptic]

I understand your stance; perhaps at the very least she should have used a pseudonym to protect her husband's family and friends. With that being said, we are only being exposed to a portion of the story which she has decided to share in a certain way. There may be circumstances which she chose not to mention out of respect for her husband's legacy or her pride. What if her husband was not only verbally abusive but physically abusive? What if his friends or family blame her for his alcoholism or death? We don't know the full context driving her decision to publish this in NYT, so to immediately dismiss her move as inappropriate seems a bit callous.

Her story also might help other people watching loved ones deteriorate take action before it's too late, or may help people grieve following the death of a loved one under similar circumstances. This alone may be sufficient justification for her actions.