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Wearing a wedding ring when widowed

(118 Posts)
mrsgreenfingers56 Thu 09-Oct-25 14:30:55

On recent post on "Ladies who lunch" one of the paragraphs was "9 years a widow, Marge still wears a ring".

I felt a bit shocked when my widowed friend told me she had taken her wedding ring off as her marriage had ended due to her husbands death. My mother and mother-in-law still wore their wedding rings in their widowhood. Nearly everyone I know still wears their wedding ring if widowed but of course each to their own as they say.

If a widow do you still wear your wedding ring?

WithNobsOnIt Fri 10-Oct-25 14:10:07

Do wear your wedding ring. I think its a lovely thing to do in his memory

LisaP Fri 10-Oct-25 14:08:49

hollysteers

For those of you who still wear your wedding ring, did your husband wear one too?
Not wearing one seems a class/generation/British thing🤔

Or wife.

Labradora Fri 10-Oct-25 14:07:38

" Wearing them or not wearing them and for how long has to be a very personal decision."

That's what I think, also.
😊

grannygran Fri 10-Oct-25 14:07:13

Like Crosstichfan I too wear my wedding ring..I'm still a married woman. At least that's how I feel after 64 yrs happily married.
I'd feel undressed without it.

4allweknow Fri 10-Oct-25 14:05:49

Married 55 years before a widow. Still wear my wedding ring. Husband did always wear a wedding ring. He did remove it when doing anything dangerous and could catch his hand.

DamaskRose Fri 10-Oct-25 14:03:37

midgey

I didn’t wear a wedding ring when my husband was alive so no change for me!

This. We’re still married after 51 years.

Lahlah65 Fri 10-Oct-25 14:02:10

Not the same I know, but I went through traumatic separation and divorce after 27 years of marriage. But not wearing a ring on my left hand still felt very strange. I bought a new ring to wear on my middle finger, so that it didn’t feel so odd.

Remarried now, with a new wedding ring. Stones and gold from my ‘old life’ have been incorporated into my new wedding ring and other jewellery.

It wasn’t always a happy marriage and it ended very badly, but there were happy times and if nothing else it gave me two of best DDs anyone could have.

It strikes me that widows may have very different memories of their marriages, someone undoubtedly better than others. There’s an awful lot tied up in the symbolism of these rings, isn’t there? Wearing them or not wearing them and for how long has to be a very personal decision.

Laurensnan Fri 10-Oct-25 14:00:42

I read that once widowed your ring should be moved to the right hand. I've been married 43 years and I don't think I'd move my ring if it happened to me. It would feel strange to me.

Oreo Fri 10-Oct-25 14:00:14

Ex DH never wanted to wear a ring , he hated jewellery but still expected me to wear one, so I did. DP bought me a very pretty eternity type ring which I will always wear.
It’s just up to the individual isn’t it?

mollyonamission Fri 10-Oct-25 14:00:13

I was widowed in 1997 (age 49). I still wear my wedding ring but agree with others, it is purely each individual’s choice.
Yes, my husband did wear a wedding ring and I’ve never wanted to marry again. However, having said that, I don’t think wearing your wedding ring is a deterrent for some men!😂

Growing0ldDisgracefully Fri 10-Oct-25 13:59:23

My husband is still very much alive and kicking but should I have the misfortune for him to die before me, I will continue wearing my wedding ring til the day I die as I would still consider myself his wife, and would not want another husband.
My Mum did the same, and her rings weren't removed until the day before her funeral, when the undertaker gave them to me at the funeral parlour when I made my last visit to Mum.

Robin202 Fri 10-Oct-25 13:58:47

If you had a happy marriage and it makes you happy to continue to wear a wedding ring, then why not. To suffer the loss of a partner and remove the ring would be a constant reminder I think. Do what makes you happy

Jojo1950 Fri 10-Oct-25 13:54:27

Married 52years. Hardly wear my wedding ring. Cant be bothered!
Still married. Other half has one but stopped when saw I wasn’t wearing mine!!’🙄🙄

Fridayschild Fri 10-Oct-25 13:53:50

My mother wore her wedding ring until it was stolen from her while she was living in a nursing home. Apparently it was used to buy drugs. I am still so upset and angry that something like that could happen to someone so vulnerable. I have my grandmother’s and great grandmother’s wedding rings and should have added mum’s but of course can’t. Mum was 99 when she died.

StoneofDestiny Fri 10-Oct-25 13:52:41

Can't see the problem - wear it or don't wear it. Surely it's a personal choice if you are married OR widowed. Can't say I've ever noticed my friends' jewellery.

GardenofEngland Fri 10-Oct-25 13:51:27

I will always wear mine and the heart I had made from my husbands ring.

FranP Fri 10-Oct-25 13:50:15

I cannot get mine off, so if he went, I would feel a bit awkward cutting it off. If I manage to lose some weight it might be different perhaps. Both MILs and mum wore theirs until they died.
I do find that I am addressed as Mrs, by a quick glance at my fingers

meddijess Fri 10-Oct-25 13:48:04

I wore my wedding ring for about 2 years after my first husband died. I was only in my early 40s, and just felt that it was time to take it off. I met my 2nd husband after 7 years of widowhood. I wouldn't be shocked or horrified if a widow decided not to wear her ring anymore as I think it's up to the individual.

Luckygirl3 Fri 10-Oct-25 13:46:45

I still wear mine. It is a beautiful plain very narrow court shape classic wedding ring, but embedded in it at equal intervals around the whole circle are 6 tiny rubies. He had it made for our ruby wedding. I couldn't take it off ...........

Angelafeet Fri 10-Oct-25 13:45:09

We celebrated 49 yrs yesterday and should the awful happen I cannot imagine taking off my ring…I’d still be married

Etep06 Fri 10-Oct-25 13:41:13

Widow even

Etep06 Fri 10-Oct-25 13:40:31

I have had to stop wearing my ring because of swollen knuckles. I am also a ninety year old widox

kircubbin2000 Fri 10-Oct-25 10:19:43

I took mine off when expecting my second child. I never wore it again as my husband led his own life and gave me no support.

Elusivebutterfly Fri 10-Oct-25 10:18:14

I have been widowed for quite a long time and stopped wearing my wedding ring a year or so after being widowed. I stopped wearing any jewellery at all, just can't be bothered with putting it on. I stopped wearing makeup as well.

Pippa000 Fri 10-Oct-25 10:17:19

My husband died very suddenly 7 years ago and as I have never removed my wedding ring since my husband put it on my finger 54 years ago I have no intention of removing it now.