Dear Queenie,
A woman we know lost her husband a couple of months ago and already she has started dating a man we know too who also lost his wife although much longer ago. We think this is disrespectful to her late husband’s memory.
Queenie, how long should a widow wait before she starts looking for another man? And shouldn’t her late husband’s friends be off-limits?—Mourning Etty Ket
Dear Etty Ket,
There is no set time that I know of for a widow(er) to stay alone after the spouse’s death. It all depends on the individuals involved. It could even be that the deceased, before his death, told his wife he did not want her to stay alone too long and she is obeying his wishes.
As for the choice of new companion, as long as both are unattached I see nothing scandalous about the new arrangement. In fact, shared memories of their lost loved ones could be a very real comfort to both of them.
