That's a good question. I'm sixty four and consider myself a young widower. I don't know how others would think of me. What do you think?

Any age is too young to lose a spouse. That being said, I know that I was considered the baby of my grief group at the age of 45.

I was 46 when I lost my husband. On Facebook there is a young widow/ers group and they define it as anyone under 60. Of course, that is just their definition. I actually feel pretty old on that group as a lot of the members are under 40.

Nessie from KY

Being youns is in an eye of the beholder.
Young person is someone inexperienced, naive, risk taker, energetic, enthusiastic etc... I cannot see a new widow being described with those adjectives...
Grief stricken, I was just a widow. Now , many years later, more or less healed from the broken heart, I am striving to be as young as I possibly can; especially being young in my heart meaning believing in life wonders, and possibilities.

I think its till 55 for women but lot more for guys,since women live longer ...so a 55 yeardold widower in my eyes is young,but a 55 year old widow i dont consider that young really....i think the average age for widowsis around 65,i read somewhere

In my opinion we are ALL too young to be widow / widowers. On the upside with that said, no matter the age . . . we still have enough "youth" to dream again and move forward with our lives. Be open to the infinite possibilities of the Universe! This too shall pass . . . xo, Dayna

I think you are a woung widow until the rest of your peer group has caught up with you and are widowed as well. I was 50 when I was widowed, and no one in my peer group was widowed. 7 years later, still no one. I joined the local women's organization here and our local chapter most of the women are over 70, and most of them still have their husbands!

I think that unless you are in your 70's and above, sooner or later some well-meaning but clueless person will give you the "you're young, you'll find somebody else" speech. If that is what is driving your question, just let it go. It's one of those standard, stupid things that people say to all (or almost all) of us. I got it at 50.

Is that why you were asking??

Love and Hugs,
Martha

When I went to the grief support group, they told me I was too young for their group, I was 63...?????

Okay, I'm looking at this from a different perspective. I didn't think of it as age, but in the time since you lost your mate. My time would be that until 2 years have passed you're a young widow/widower.

For some it would be less like one year and for others more, but I chose getting through the first holidays, birthdays and then doing it again was fair.

For those who have lost there is never a time for loss whatever the age. I remember telling the hospice worker that I only wanted to share one more cup of coffee together and he replied there's never enough cups of coffee to say goodbye. Sharon

I agree that it is sad at any age. I was 28 and maybe I define this as a widow of a young age.

Maggie

Not sure if age is what defines a young widow. Maybe its more a feeling. I think I'm too young to be a widow. Everyone I know who is married and older than me still have their spouses. I am the only one in my surrounding group of people who is without my spouse that is why its so hard for me, yet I feel I am too old to even think of finding someone else. The grief seems it will last at least 2 years and then I'm 2 years older yet.
I feel like I will be on my own forever and I don't like it one little bit.

I have been reluctant to join any support groups in my town, even if they are considered young widows groups. I completely agree that anyone under probably 70 is considered young. So where does that leave me? I'm 27 now, 6 days away from the one year anniversary of Brad's death. It's a strange feeling to be grieving the love of your life when your peer group is planning weddings and starting families. It's awefu no matter what age though, that's for sure!

FM God hold you ! 20's and widowed do NOT compute. That is just a TRAGEDY.

Am finally same age as my hubby ... 58. Would have killed me to lose him in his/my 20's. Am 1st among my friends now ...

Jesus, I Trust in You ! is the only thing getting me thru the past 3 years. Focusing on the BIG picture brings consolation FYI

http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/video/christmas-and-the-prologue-of-john/223/

There are few support groups in my area but there was a piece in the paper about some young widows' groups. When I asked them if I was too old (at 55) the response was that if I felt comfortable that was fine. So, I went out to dinner with 6 others from late 20s to my age and felt very accepted. I will go out with them again and in between we catch up on Facebook (in a closed group). It works for me as we can talk about similar issues - working, kids, how to get through the day and even laugh at stuff that people who haven't been here would find macabre or very dark (I'm sure some of you can relate). The other widows I know are all older and retired or not working and while they are lovely, it is nice to have another group more similar in circumstances to me.

I am 27 now too was widowed at 26 so I believe this is young but when my mum died dad was considered young widower in his 50s. Is there really an acceptable age to lose your spouse? I think at any age you would consider yourself young and it would be to early to lose someone.