As said for me it's case by case, I can see it for an index linked pension and someone who can get another mortgage, then it might be more beneficial to take the pension, but I think any woman close to retirement who is facing a life time of renting, would have to think about it very carefully.
Rent is forever, it's an enormous financial drain, but a mortgage ends. Normally over a long enough period a property escalates and someone like Lilly could then down size and take equity out.
In addition renting gives huge uncertainty, you can be priced out of an area over a period of years, your rent become unaffordable, or your home sold from under you. Who knows what the rent on a two bed property will be in twenty years.
You've also got an asset to bequeath your kids. But it's not just that. If your ex suddenly passes away, then you've nothing. No pension, no house. Sweet fuck all really.
It's all a gamble, and there are pros and cons for both. But again it's not even that simple, because there is also the question of can you take the mortgage on your own, I'd assume a mortgage company would take maintenance into account but I've no clue.