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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?

Iam64 Fri 10-Oct-25 10:11:20

My husband bought me a ring, made by a silver jeweller, when my wedding ring no longer fit due to arthritis. It’s three years since he died, yes I wear the ring and still feel married to him

Grannmarie Fri 10-Oct-25 10:01:52

Lovemylife

My OH died very suddenly only a few weeks ago. Still struggling with the word ‘widow’ and have no intention of taking my ring off.

Thinking of you, 💐.

TheWeirdoAgain60 Fri 10-Oct-25 09:09:37

I've never married, but if I did and were widowed, I'd still wear my wedding ring after he died. The marriage doesn't end when one partner passes over.

If our marriage were permanently unhappy, then I'd dump the ring, but if not, I'd wear it until I myself die.

Mt61 Fri 10-Oct-25 09:02:52

I can’t ever see my mum ever taking off her wedding ring. She will wear hers until the day she dies.

travelsafar Fri 10-Oct-25 08:13:49

Still wear mine as a widow of nearly 5 years. I'd feel strange without it. Sadly due to arthritis ....swelling of knuckle ....can't wear my engagement or eternity rings.

Magenta8 Fri 10-Oct-25 08:06:58

Lovemylife thanks

Lovemylife Fri 10-Oct-25 08:04:04

My OH died very suddenly only a few weeks ago. Still struggling with the word ‘widow’ and have no intention of taking my ring off.

Grannmarie Thu 09-Oct-25 23:11:20

At the moment I am wearing both of our wedding rings on a heavy gold chain around my neck. Our rings were a matching pair, popular when we married 52 years ago. When I was widowed six months ago neither of us was wearing our rings because they had become pretty tight over the years.

pably15 Thu 09-Oct-25 19:31:02

I always wear my wedding ring, been married 57 years, my husband always wears his too.

Magenta8 Thu 09-Oct-25 19:20:58

I had my wedding removed when I broke my left wrist. I have not worn it since. I don't wear any jewellery.

Daddima Thu 09-Oct-25 19:13:55

I can’t imagine not wearing my rings, even though the Bodach has been dead for 5 years. I’ve had them on now for 54 years!

Grammaretto Thu 09-Oct-25 18:26:01

I don't wear mine. Like Midgey I rarely wore it when we were married. I am fond of it and like to know it's safely in its box but I hardly wear any jewellery because I am a potter and often have my hands in clay or water.

DH didn't wear a ring. I wore mine when I had young children in case people thought I wasn't married. 🤣😂 shock horror

GrannySomerset Thu 09-Oct-25 18:14:58

Yes, of course -I am still P’s wife even though he is no longer here. Sixty years of being together is part of who I am.

Ladyripple Thu 09-Oct-25 18:10:20

Been a widow 28years and will never not my wedding ring.

tanith Thu 09-Oct-25 18:05:16

Ive been widowed 7yrs now and I don't wear my wedding ring. I've never liked jewellery so its safely put away with my late husbands ring but i never wear it.

Romola Thu 09-Oct-25 17:44:52

My DH died three years ago. We were married for 57 years and I intend to wear both wedding and engagement rings until I die.
Recently I spent quite a lot of money having the rings made bigger, as a touch of arthritis has enlarged the knuckle on that finger.
My DM kept her original wedding ring on after DF died. But she also wore one on that finger given to her by her late-life love, though they didn't marry, neither wanting the financial complications arising from a late second marriage.

RosieandherMaw Thu 09-Oct-25 17:34:34

Yes I do. And I have DH’s on my right hand (a bit bigger than mine)
He died 8 years ago.

Smileless2012 Thu 09-Oct-25 17:29:19

Yes I would wear mine and Mr. S. says he would wear his.

adrisco Thu 09-Oct-25 17:24:50

I still wear my wedding ring two years after being widowed.

BlueSapphire Thu 09-Oct-25 17:24:00

Widowed 8 years and would never dream of taking it off; still feel very much married. And yes DH always wore his wedding ring; it now resides in my jewellery box.

sarahcyn Thu 09-Oct-25 17:20:24

My mother was cremated wearing her ring after seven years of widowhood and 56 years of marriage. I plan to do the same if things go the same way.

mumski Thu 09-Oct-25 17:16:32

My DH died 6 years ago. I wore my wedding ring all the time. Then when I became so lonely I started dating again, I took it off and put it on my right hand. I felt somehow, disloyal dating again.

grandMattie Thu 09-Oct-25 17:04:09

Three years widowed, it hasn’t occurred to me to remove it!

Eternaloptimist Thu 09-Oct-25 16:54:48

I didn’t wear my wedding ring regularly during our marriage. I didn’t particularly like it (bought in a rush, so pretty much hobson’s choice at the time!). I have though worn a ring all the time since I’ve been widowed. I had my husband’s signet ring remodelled and am very happy with that.

crazyH Thu 09-Oct-25 16:54:12

My widowed mother wore her wedding ring , till the day she passed away - 35 years after my dad died. She was 93 at the time, had lost a lot of weight and the ring was loose on her finger. I can still see her sitting on her armchair and playing with her ring. 😢