.png)
.jpg "Sad-Woman5")
From the initial shock of preparing funeral arrangements to the never-ending checklist that follows, it seems there is always something for a widow to take care of. And once the whirlwind of tasks begins to calm, we find that there are many ‘normal’ things in our new lives that aren’t so normal anymore. I’ve often said during these hard months that I wish I had a guide-book, a manual of sorts that would tell me what to do, give me advice on how to do it, and tell me what to expect. You may be thinking the same thing.
Below I have compiled a list of websites, articles, books, organizations, and other resources that may help you along this journey, from day one to beyond. Some of these resources I am personally familiar with, some I am not. This list is not exhaustive by any means and is continually a work in progress, so if you know of a great resource out there please contact me and I will gladly share it.
[Disclaimer: I cannot personally endorse any of these websites, books, or organizations. I am not a mental health, legal, or financial professional. Please use these sources for information only and consult professionals as necessary. If necessary, resources are labeled by topic.]
Updated July 8, 2012
.
In the Beginning — Checklists and Helpful Guides
- A Survival Guide for Widows: a Blueprint for New Widows and their Friends
- Losing Your Spouse
- Losing Your Spouse (A Different Article)
- Newly Widowed Checklist: Some Things to Consider
- Widowed: What to Do When
–
Your Grief Journey: Don’t Do It Alone — Widow Communities and Support
- Bereaved Spouses — Grief Support at LegacyConnect
- Camp Widow (a unique annual conference of widowed persons providing hope and community, highly encouraged!)
- FINE Young Widows
- Grief Net
- Grief Share
- Liz Logelin Foundation
- My Spouse is Dead
- Soaring Spirits Loss Foundation
- WidowSource.com
- Widows Speak Up!
- Widowed Village
- Widows Wear Stilettos
- Widows and Widowers Support Group
- Widows and Widowers Meetup Groups
- Young Widow
- Young Widow Bulletin Board
–
Finding Your New Normal — Help for Your New Roles
- American Widow Project — Do-It-Yourself
- FINE Young Widows — FAQ’s
- For the New Widow: Ten Tips to Help Her Survive…After the Funeral
- Grief Journey — Do-It-Yourself
- Stop the Loneliness — Life After Being Widowed Begins Now
–
How to Help Friends/Family Help YOU — Links to Share with Loved Ones
- 10 Things NOT to Say to the Widowed
- 7 Tips to Help a Widow
- A Christian Woman’s Guide to Grieving the Death of a Spouse (christian)
- A Survival Guide for Widows: a Blueprint for New Widows and their Friends
- How to Help a New Widow
- How You Can Be a Good Friend to a New Widow
- Supporting a Grieving Person
- Widows and Widowers—What Do They Need, How Can You Help?
–
Financial Matters — Things to Consider and Where to Look for Help
- Death of a Spouse: Financial Steps You Should Take
- Financial Planning Considerations for a Surviving Spouse
- Financial Tips for Widows: How to Face Economic Challenges
- Living On Your Own: Picking Up the Financial Pieces after Widowhood
- Money Matters
- Money Tips for Widows and Widowers
- Social Security Online: Widows, Widowers, and Other Survivors
- SSA: The Economic Consequences of a Husband’s Death
- Who’s Responsible for a Deceased Spouse’s Card Debt?
–
What About the Kids? — Parenting a Grieving Child
- Fathers/Guardians: Parenting Maternally Grieving Children
- Grieving Children: Helping Your Child Deal With Loss
- Grieving Parents Accompanying Grieving Children
- Helping a Grieving Child or Teen
- Helping Your Child Deal With Death
- Helping Your Grieving Child
- How Grieving Children Behave
- How to Help a Grieving Child
- How to Help Your Child Grieve
- Information for Parents Helping a Grieving Child
- Raising Grieving Children
–
Carrying on Their Legacy — Honoring Your Loved One in Your New Life
- How to Honor Someone Who Has Died
- How to Love a Dead Husband: Five Years Gone (blog)
- Tips for Memorializing Your Loved Ones with Honor
- Valentine’s Day Tips for Honoring the Memory of a Loved One
–
Spiritual Matters
–
Helpful Books — Literature to Help You Along Your Path
- Being a Widow
- Creative Interventions for Bereaved Children (child)
- Experiencing Grief (christian)
- Finding Your Way After Your Spouse Dies
- From One Widow to Another: Conversations on the New You (christian)
- From Sorrow to Dancing: The Recent Widow’s Handbook (christian)
- Getting to the Other Side of Grief: Overcoming the Loss of a Spouse
- Grace for the Widow: A Journey Through the Fog of Loss (christian)
- Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations for Working Through Grief
- Help Me Say Goodbye: Activities for Helping Kids Cope When a Special Person Dies (child)
- How to Go On Living When Someone You Love Dies
- I Miss You: A First Look at Death (child)
- I Wasn’t Ready to Say Goodbye: Surviving, Coping, and Healing After the Sudden Death of a Loved One
- I’m Grieving as Fast as I Can: How Young Widows and Widowers Can Cope and Heal
- Living with Loss: Meditations for Grieving Widows
- On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss
- Parenting a Grieving Child: Helping Children Find Faith, Hope, and Healing After the Loss of a Loved One
- Reflections of a Grieving Spouse: The Unexpected Journey from Loss to Renewed Hope (christian)
- Sad Isn’t Bad: A Good-Grief Guidebook for Kids Dealing with Loss (child)
- The Death of a Husband: Reflections for a Grieving Wife
- Waterbugs and Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Children (child)
- When Bad Things Happen to Good People
- When Someone Very Special Dies: Children Can Learn to Cope with Grief (child)
- When You Lose Someone You Love: Comfort for Those Who Grieve (christian)
- When Your Spouse Dies: A Widow & Widowers Handbook
- When Your Soul Aches: Hope and Help for Women Who Have Lost Their Husbands
- When Your World Falls Apart (christian)
- Where Are You? A Child’s Book About Loss (child)
- Widowed Too Soon: A Young Widow’s Journey Through Grief, Healing, and Spiritual Transformation
- Widows Wear Stilettos: A Practical and Emotional Guide for the Young Widow
- Widow to Widow: Thoughtful, Practical Ideas for Rebuilding Your Life
–
Specific Resources for Military Widows
Making Arrangements
- Department of Defense Casualty Assistance Website
- Air Force Casualty Services
- Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operation Center
- Army Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operation Center
- Burial Benefits: We Honor Veterans
- Marine Corps Casualty Assistance
- Navy Casualty Assistance
- Military Funeral Honors (Department of Defense)
- Patriot Guard Riders
Benefits
- A Survivor’s Guide to Benefits (Department of Defense) (PDF file)
- Armed Forces Services Corporation (AFSC)
- Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Survivors Assistance
- Military OneSource
- National Resource Directory
- Social Security Survivor Benefits
- Survivors and Dependants Benefits — Death After Active Service
- TriCare Transitional Survivor Benefits
- Understanding Survivor Benefits
- With Honor and Respect: Veteran Death Benefits
Financial Assistance/Scholarships
- Children of Fallen Soldier’s Relief Fund
- Fallen Patriot Fund
- Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund
- Freedom is Not Free
- Folds of Honor
- Hope for the Warriors
- Killed in Action Fund
- Operation Family Fund
- Scholarships for Military Children
- The American Soldier Foundation
Organizations
- American Widow Project
- Gold Star Wives of America
- Gold Star Families
- Gold Star Family Support Group
- Society of Military Widows
- Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)
Honoring Their Sacrifice
- Honor and Remember
- Iraq/Afghanistan War Heroes
- Fallen Heroes Foundation
- Fallen Heroes Memorial
- US Fallen.Org
Giving Back
Helpful Books
