Who is Praskovya Golovina from Great Short Works of Leo Tolstoy and what is their importance?

Praskovya Fedorovna is Ivan Ilych's wife. She is the mother of his children, she accompanies him to his various his various assignments, and she shares in his success. Sadly, Praskovya is a chronic malcontent who blames her husband for everything, particularly the parts of her life that make her unhappy. Over time, they become estranged, and by the time Ivan is stricken by illness, she has no compassion for him at all.