but also kind of sweet that she doesn't want to live without me.
Or she wants you to suffer after :D
That sense of "contributing" gives a sense of worth. I imagine that person who can't work for a long period because of illness and has to rely on family to support, must feel pretty crappy.
My friend is actually in that position right now and yes it wears on him a lot. They don't need his income, but he still likes to feel as though he is offering something.