Widowed? When did you remove your wedding ring?

[ClaudiaNaughton]

Not sure what to do.

I haven't removed mine, I am four years down the line. I do think it's a very individual thing though and there is no right, or wrong, time frame.

My mum hasn't ever removed hers. It's been 17 years.

Had to take mine off a few months later and never put it back on. I do wear my eternity ring. There's no right and wrong, do what feels comfortable for you.

33 years later, DM is still wearing hers.

Why would anyone remove it? I would never remove mine.

Unless I was getting remarried that is, which I never would, because I couldn't be arsed with another man again - ever - if my DH died.

Not saying DH is awful LOL, but as I'm getting on for 60, the only man I would get - if I was looking for one/trying to get one - would be 65-70+ And no WAY am I shacking up/getting into a relationship with a man 65-70+ LOL!!!

.

Mine fell off after I lost a lot of weight, and I didn’t want to cut it to have it made smaller, that would have been about a year later and actually it seemed right to stop wearing it. I don’t think there is a right time for everyone, it’s very personal.

My Mum will wear hers until she dies she is 80 she won't remarry or date etc she's been a widow for 4 years. I do think if someone feels ready to consider a new relationship then it's time to remove ring. But if you have no intention of dating marrying again then no harm in wearing it if it feels right for you. I don't imagine removing my wedding ring if DH died

I didn't actually do this for fear of judgement but I wanted to remove it immediately and that feeling didn't change. I didn't feel married any more once he was gone. To me marriage was a partnership requiring daily commitment from both of us, it was an active state that couldn't continue once he was deceased.

I actually removed it after about a year when I felt it wouldn't be remarked upon (although I suspect people still judged out of earshot) and now wear the ring on a chain.

Maybe don't comment until it has actually happened to you, you cannot possibly know how you will feel.

I lost a lot of weight. It flew off. My DC bought me a smaller replacement. DD now has my ring.

I have a colleague who was sadly widowed before she was 40. A few years on, she no longer wears her rings, no new relationship.

My mum was widowed for 40 years. She was cremated with her wedding ring on.

A couple of friends of mine had different approaches - one just swapped her ring to her right hand. Another had her wedding and engagement rings remade into one new ring, which she sometimes wears on her right hand. I think there are probably lots of optionsxpress, and it's down to the individual.

My dad had my late mum's ring resized and he now wears both. Sorry for your loss op.... sending hugs x

I took it off maybe 18mths - I had met someone but that wasn’t why

it just felt right

My friend was tragically widowed at 29 with 3 young kids, she didn't date again until they had all left home, she did remove rings last year when she started a new relationship so she wore ring for approx 14 years in the end it's each to their own

You do whatever you want .
There is no rule book just see how you feel .
Im sorry for your loss , it must be such a difficult transition .

My dh died 2 years ago, I am 48, and I’m still wearing mine. It’s a weird situation because I know I’m technically not married anymore, but I don’t feel single either. I’ve only had had one comment from a man I met who was a friend of a friend and seemed to think I had somehow misled him into thinking I was married 🙄

This. ^ Each to their own, but as I said, I wouldn't remove mine if DH died.

My friend took hers off after a year, it felt right, another wore hers for several years but then it just felt like time to change hands. No right or wrong, one lady at church took hers off after off after the funeral.

I was a young widow,28years on I still wear my ring,I will never take it off.

There’s no right or wrong thing, I lost my first DH 24 years ago I wear his ring on my right hand and my new wedding ring on my left. I wasn’t sure at first but DH said he was marrying me knowing I had loved before and he was happy for me to continue wearing the ring for as long as I felt I needed too. Tbh I don’t really think about it, it’s just there.

A friend is 10 years widowed. Still wears his wedding ring even two years in to new relationship. No expectation of it being removed.

When you are ready. Everyone's different.

My mum was sadly widowed at 41. She’s almost 80 now. She’s never taken hers off.
I think it’s a really personal thing that no one else should dictate. For some
it will be very quickly. For others never.

I’m sorry for your loss

15 years on and still wear mine. Why would I not?