Welcome to Widow University.

We’re truly sorry for the reason you’re here, but we’re very glad you found us.

WidowU was created to bring you, all in one place, a curated selection of essential and meaningful resources and support services for widows. These resources are offered by WidowU along with several carefully-chosen collaborators.

We invite you to spend time exploring our site to discover the wide range of impactful, indispensable resources and support services available to you.

No matter how long it’s been since you were widowed, we believe you’ll find something invaluable at WidowU.

There’s Lots for You to Explore

Browse below to learn more about the resources and support services offered by WidowU and our collaborators.

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Videos, E-Courses, Grief Coaching, and More

Every offering at WidowU is designed to help support you as you navigate grief, loss, and trauma and then, over time, commit to personal growth, begin your healing process, and ultimately blossom and flourish in your new life.

Book with flowers growing out of it

Reading List: Loss, Grief, Personal Growth, Memoirs

A hand-picked list of meaningful fiction and non-fiction titles. Every book on our list has been read and recommended by widows.

Small woman carrying a large wrench

Taking Care of Business: Where Do I Even Begin?

When you’re newly widowed, it can be hard to know where to even begin with all the things that need to be done. Our resources can help guide you through what comes next.

Women's hands writing in a journal

Writing for Emotional and Mental Wellness

Writing or journaling can help you process your loss by providing a safe space to reflect, express your emotions, focus on self-awareness, and deepen self-discovery.

Woman with a rose for a head sitting in a yoga pose

Self-Care is Crucial in Widowhood

Widowhood is a time to prioritize yourself. Self-care is vital for helping to ground you, reduce your stress and anxiety, foster resilience, and maintain your physical, mental, and emotional health.

Compass on an arrow indicating forward navigation

Navigating Solo Parenting as a Widow

Whether you’re the parent of a young child or an adult child, or any age in between, these resources can help support you.

Explore Your World and Find Healing Opportunities

When you’re ready, traveling in widowhood can be a powerful gateway to embracing new life experiences, creating new friends and community, and experiencing meaningful personal growth.

Woman with binoculars sitting on a magnifying glass

Looking to Connect with Others Who Get It?

In your new life, it’s important to create community and connections with others who truly understand your feelings, emotions, and experiences.

The Widow University Story

Widow University founder Laurie Rich shares a bit about who she is and how Widow University came to be.

Each person’s grief process is as individual as they are, so not everything on our site may resonate with you, or be the right words for you, or be the right approach for you, and that’s okay. Take what’s for you and leave the rest.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you define the word “widow”?

The dictionary defines a widow as "a woman who has lost her spouse by death and has not remarried." We feel this definition is extremely antiquated and non-inclusive. It defines a widow as a woman, which doesn’t accommodate other gender identities. We don’t believe someone must be married in order to become widowed. Regardless of your relationship status with your person, if you lost them, you might consider yourself widowed. And once you become widowed you will always be widowed, even if you remarry.

Widow University is here to be a support resource to you in your loss and grief, regardless of labels.

Is there a difference between Widow University and WidowU?

Widow University and WidowU are the same. WidowU is a shortened version, or nickname, for Widow University.

Do I need to create an account to use WidowU?

You don’t need to create an account to access many of the services and products at WidowU. For some, you’ll be asked to sign up for a free account.

Is there a charge to access services and products at WidowU?

Many of the services and products at WidowU are provided at no charge. For some, you’ll be asked to sign up for a free account. Some offerings, such as e-courses, may have an enrollment fee.

Is there something here for me if I’m grieving, but not widowed?

Although WidowU was developed with widows in mind, grief from loss is not limited to the loss of a spouse or partner. If you’re experiencing loss of any kind in your life, you’re likely to find information and resources here to help support you.

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About Our Logo

Our logo uses symbolism to tell the Widow University story. The word widow has five letters, represented in our logo by five groups of graphics composed of triangles and circles. The triangles imply transformation. The circles and overall logo shape refer to wholeness, visually providing a sense of interconnectedness, community, and collaborative organizations that contribute to a greater “whole.”

If you’re experiencing a mental health emergency, please dial 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to your local emergency room.

The information we provide on the Widow University website is for general informational purposes only, and comprises our views. It’s not counseling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, or mental health care, and does not constitute professional advice. If you’re seeking specific advice (for example, for mental or physical health care), please seek a professional who is licensed and/or knowledgeable in that area.