Widows and wedding rings

I can’t imagine not continuing to wear my wedding ring if I survive my spouse. It’s never occurred to me to do otherwise. However, as already said, it’s a very personal choice.

2 years and some months on I still wear my wedding ring and alternate the diamond and precious stone rings that DH gave me as gifts. I still consider myself to be married and have no intention of seeking another relationship.

It's been nearly a year for me. I took my ring off about 4 weeks later as I had a new one made with his ashes in. That never moves off my finger. My wedding rings are put aside for my GDs

I can't answer really - others hopefully will. All my relatives carried on wearing their wedding rings forever, being widowed made no difference. It brought closeness and comfort and they couldn't imagine being without their wedding band.

On the other side of the coin, I am married but don't wear my wedding ring, I seem to prefer my grandmother's little gold band , she died when I was five years old. I mangled my wedding ring in a door once, it got squished and sat in the drawer for ages. Do what feels right for you.

We married in 1963, my husband died 53 years later. I still wear my wedding and eternity rings, as far as I`m concerned, he`s still my husband.

I was widowed eight years ago. My wedding ring is now too small so I don’t wear it. My engagement ring, also too small is on my little finger.
I had no hesitation in not wearing a ring as my DH never wore one and what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Still miss him though😢

Calendargirl, my fingers aren't swollen, the rings are quite loose. Over the years, though, my knuckles must have grown thicker, so yes, I'd have to have the rings cut off.

My husband died suddenly six years ago. I have never removed my wedding ring since he put it on my finger in September 1971, and never will. I also wear my engagement ring when appropriate. I still consider myself married.

Whiff

My husband died 20 years ago last month until November I always wore it with a ring tightener as I have lost 7 st over the years and it was loose. Went out shopping and took my gloves off and no ring . I screamed and burst into tears. I had forgotten to put the ring tightener on. I take it off at bedtime . I looked everywhere and then phoned the cafe I had a drink in . They found it on the floor and because I am a regular they knew it was mine. My daughter had been on to me for a year to put it on a chain. My husband was 47 and me 45 when he died married 22 together 29. I wanted the ring left as he put it on my finger. But I brought a silver snake linked chain and wear it round my neck. I hate not wearing it but I couldn't bare to lose it.

Oh Whiff, I'm so glad your ring was found, what a horrible moment for you to see such a precious thing missing.

I still wear my wedding and engagement rings, also my late husband's wedding ring. I have been alone for 15 years now but wouldn't dream of not wearing my rings. As has been said, it is a personal choice.

I don't wear my ring to show I'm "unavailable." I wear it because I want to, because I still feel married, because the man I loved with all my heart gave it to me on our wedding day.
I don't wear it every day. Sometimes I forget to put it on. Throughout our almost 50 years of marriage I've been the same.

I never ever regularly wore mine through my long and happy marriage. I don't find rings comfortable, never have, and working in the NHS, I did a LOT of handwashing so while Iwas allowed to wear a wedding ring at work, I never did. Its never entered my head that its a sign of unavailabilty or otherwise, I just don't wear it.

I am surprised how many people still wear their wedding ring. I stopped wearing mine a year or two after being widowed. That does not mean I am looking for another partner!

I still wear mine - OH died 4 years ago. It is in fact a ring that he gave me for our ruby wedding. It is curtain ring type narrow band with 6 tiny rubies set in it - a local jeweller made it - I think my OH had help from the DDs in organising this! It is a very pretty ring and I wear it for that reason. It does not fit on any other finger.

My original wedding ring dated from 1970 and was of the wide "bit of copper pipe" style that was fashionable then - but I had to stop wearing it as my finger went rotten underneath!

I guess if I suddenly got the urge to tout round for a new partner I would take it off - but the potential candidates would all be older and I have done my share of caring for a sick elderly man. I did it willingly but have no desire to do it again.....

DH died 3 years ago this Monday - much missed, but as I’ve posted before, I’ve no real sentimentality towards ‘things’. After changing to white metal, years ago, I sold my original yellow gold wedding ring. For a cruise in ‘05, I didn’t want to take my engagement ring (also not the original) so I bought a diamond band. DH had no interest and said to just get what I wanted. I still wear that, as I like it and it wouldn’t fit a finger on my right hand. When I (very rarely) wear my engagement ring, I take the diamond band off and wear the plain band with it.

However, as others have posted, it’s a personal choice.

I will be eight years a widow on 5th August and I have no intention of taking my ring off, its been on my finger for 35 years. Just like the OP I have no desire to enter a new relationship.

My dear mother made it perfectly clear that, on her death, her wedding and eternity tings were NOT be taken off.

She was buried in them.

My original wedding ring had to be cut off twice so we bought a replacement and I take it off every night but wear it every day. I will be P’s wife to my dying day.

I am 81 years of age and my husband of 50 years died 10 years ago. I still wear my wedding, eternity and engagement ring because in my opinion, death did not part us, I am still a married woman and detest the word widow. I loved him then and love him now and I know that one day we will be together again.

as not ask*

I wore my wedding ring for fifteen years after my husband died and only stopped wearing it when I almost lost it as it had become too loose.
I wore it secured by my engagement and eternity ring at my daughter's wedding as she asked me to ask 'dad' had to be there.

I haven't worn my wedding ring for years due mostly to weight gain and I panic if I can't get it off silly I know. I have worn it on a gold chain which I never take off, when my husband died I had his wedding ring and put it on the chain my ring fits perfectly inside his wedding ring so I feel it was meant to be. It is all down to the person and what they feel happy with.

I’m still a Ms. Rheumatoid and osteo meant I ve not been able to wear the ring I married in for years. My husband bought me a beautiful gold ring for my 50th. When my ducks neck deformity stopped me wearing that, a jeweller friend made me a silver ring I can adjust, it also disguises the mishape. I still wear it but not permanently because my hand swells at times. I wore my 3 wedding rings on a gold chain at his funeral. It’s a very personal choice e

I wear mine but on cold days it is a bit loose. I would hate to lose it. A few years ago it was too tight when my hand swelled up for some reason and I had to have it cut off and made bigger, something to avoid.

At the end of this month it will be 2 years since my husband's sudden and unexpected death. I still wear my wedding ring and as far as I'm concerned, I'm still his wife.
I have several friends who are widowed and some wear their rings, others don't and one or two have had their rings incorporated into other jewellery.
There's no right or wrong, do what you feel is right for you.