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If your spouse passes away, when is it appropriate to take off the wedding ring? I realize that this is dependant on the specific individual, so if I may rephrase this:
How do you know when it's TIME to take off the wedding ring.. if there IS a such a "time"?
Only you will be able to tell when you are ready. There can never be a specific time limit. Everyone goes through the grieving process in different ways. My mom, for example, had been married to my dad for 26 years, and he died 4 years ago from brain cancer. The first year and a half after his death she wore the ring everday like she normally would when he was alive. After about 2 years I noticed her wearing it less, and switching her engagement ring with a different ring she had bought, but she still continued to wear the wedding band with it. Now she occasionally will wear her wedding band/engagement ring set, depending on her mood. Everyone handles grieving in different ways. Some people feel guilty if they don't wear their wedding rings after their spouse passes away, as if not wearing the ring is being disrespectful to the memory of their spouse. Other people feel that if they wear the wedding ring, that they are decieving other people around them, and not coping with their loss properly. Some people will wear their wedding rings around a necklace instead of on their finger, that way they can have it with them and not feel like they are disrespecting their spouse in any way. Other people will have their wedding rings buried with their spouse. It all just depends on how you feel about this and what you are comfortable doing. No one will say anything to you if they see you not wearing it. When you wear the ring, you are holding onto the memory of your spouse and the life that you both had. It helps you cope with their loss knowing that you have something left of their commitment to you when they were alive. Depending on how you grieve, this could be very comforting to you, having the ring still on your finger. If it hurts you to wear the ring, and reminds you too much of what you no longer have, then I suggest storing it in something special in your room, putting it on a necklace, or framing your rings with a special dedication poem or saying of some sort. Only you will know when you are truly ready to move on and discontinue wearing your wedding rings. Hope my advice helped. I wish you all the best. ~Sherah
(Rating: 5) Wow, thank you very much! I truly appreciate your time! You have some great points! Thank you! ♥