Is this normal?

[CMS]

I've posted before that my wife passed away in November

I'm still wearing my ring and have no plans on removing it

is that normal?

[Uversabound]

How wonderful that you have such a wonderful marriage I think this just means so much. Thank you for sharing it with us and to the rest of you I’ve been married to Dominic for 28 years this year. He’s 10 years older than me and is having a lot of health problems, but you know what I wouldn’t want to be around anybody else it’s a pleasure to take care of him. I love Republic because of posts like this there’s so many bad things going on in the world at any given time right thank you

[PGalt]

Condolences

[shotgun]

So sorry for your loss. It’s your life and you should be proud to display the love you shared with your wife. Ignore those who say different.

[G Larry]

Yep!

Dad's been gone 15 years and Mom still wears her ring.(91)

[CMS]

Prayers for you. and your husband. i wish you many many more happy years together.

[MeganC]

You’re just fine and I am deeply sorry for your loss. She was a very blessed woman to have had you in her life.

Hugs, Megan

[goo goo g'joob]

pure speculation on my part - here’s my guess as to what prompted you to reach out...

grief experts (who lost a pet or a 98 year old great aunt) are telling you how to handle your grief

be polite, if you choose, but I would avoid their company for a while

[wafflehouse]

what is normal? you do you

[Flatus I. Maximus]

I’ve generally found that the people most eager to tell me it’s not normal for me to still be wearing my wedding ring are divorcées who are on the hunt for their next future ex-husband. Such women are not to be trusted to give you good advice.

[FreeReign]

Yes it's normal. Some have been know to wear the ring for several years after.

Posting for a friend.

[Ann Archy]

How old are you and how many kids do you have??

[Flatus I. Maximus]

Oh God, yeah, *everyone* who has never actually lost a beloved spouse is a self-appointed grief expert.

[Flatus I. Maximus]

About what I tell people who get intrusive. I’m still married. It’s just a long-distance relationship right now, but I hope to be reunited with her someday.

[rellic]

very normal.
To my wife’s chagrin and loss of pressure on my wallet, I don’t wear any jewelry. It was a big no-no as an electronics tech and subsequent engineering jobs working with high voltages 15 to 50 kV.

[SaxxonWoods]

An addition to the “it’s normal” which I agree about: I know men who worn their wedding bands on their right hand for years afterward too.

[left that other site]

I didn’t take mine off for a couple of years. (Widowed by Suicide) Tomorrow is the 13th anniversary.

Hang in there, Brother.

Trust in the Lord.

[Georgia Girl 2]

My mother wore her ring til the day she died.

[wbarmy]

I have always loved the George Jones song “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and that is exactly the day I will stop loving my wife. You wear that ring in proud memory of a love that transcends what other people think.

God bless you.

[JosephW]

Wear it as long as you wish. It isn’t for the surviving spouse to change hands upon which the ring is located. Move it from left hand to right hand and leave it there forever.

If my wife should predeceased me, I would move my wedding ring from my right hand (traditional for Orthodox Christians although many follow local custom and wear on the left) and move it to my left. I would take my family ring and move it to my right (started wearing a family ring to keep locals from thinking I’m a widower). My wedding ring would stay on me through death and on my finger in a casket. The only change I might have done is to swap rings at death.

Wear the ring. It reminds you of her. May her memory be eternal

[verum ago]

I’m never going to remarry or get into a relationship again. i can’t do this loss twice

If you intend to honor her, her memory, and the bond you share into eternity, then it would be odd for you to remove the ring.

Wear it with pride. Wear it to comfort you in your grief, even as it reminds you of it. Wear it for her. Wear it for the two of you. Wear it in celebration of every moment you had together, and every moment you'll share upon being reunited.

In case it matters, I say this as probably one of the youngest and most unusual demographics on this website- an unmarried millenial.

Should you ever find yourself in a place where you might consider remarriage (and there's a whole host of factors we needn't delve into here), only then would I say is a time you should even consider removing that ring.

But for now- a now which may be forever- if you don't feel like removing that ring, that's fine. Better than fine- it's a reminder of the best of not one but two lives, and a commitment on High. Honor those things, FRiend.