How to address for a widow?

MartinAston · June 2012

We are sending announcements to those not invited so I'm not sure if the addressing still has to be 'formal.' But how do I address one to a widow? If details matter: the husband passed away 3 years ago and to my knowledge she isn't dating. I also got an invitation to her daughter's wedding and her return labels where just her first and last(married) name. So I couldn't get any clues there either. So should I go ahead and use Mrs. or just Miss? Or would it just be better and safe to just lable it her first and last name? I feel like using Miss would put lemon on the wound. But so could using Mrs.

aragx6 · June 2012

Traditonally it should be Mrs. Jack Sparrow

I think that's a little antiquated so we're doing Mrs. Jane Sparrow

I would definitely not do Miss, but if you wanted Ms. would be perfectly appropriate.

AbbeyS2011 · June 2012

I would address her invite as it reads on her return address label.

Mrs. or Ms. is appropriate for a woman who has been married.

MartinAston · June 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_how-to-address-for-a-widow?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:407591b0-bee8-4350-8498-55743bc4d0e4Post:09f07398-efe1-4d3f-b4b6-0a5642749aa9">Re: How to address for a widow?</a>:
[QUOTE]Traditonally it should be Mrs. Jack Sparrow I think that's a little antiquated so we're doing Mrs. Jane Sparrow I would definitely not do Miss, but if you wanted Ms. would be perfectly appropriate.
Posted by aragx6[/QUOTE]

Ok, call me ignorant, but is Miss just for children then? I thought it looked a little juvenile.

MyUserName1 · June 2012

Miss is technically for any female who has never been married. But I'd only use it for a child under 18.

[Deleted User] · June 2012

My mom was a young widow. She went by Mrs. Jane Doe.

aragx6 · June 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_how-to-address-for-a-widow?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:407591b0-bee8-4350-8498-55743bc4d0e4Post:0cc2cc39-57cf-42ad-99a8-f87587095e27">Re: How to address for a widow?</a>:
[QUOTE]Miss is technically for any female who has never been married. But I'd only use it for a child under 18.
Posted by MyUserName1[/QUOTE]

I agree with this.

Ms. is to be used for any woman -- it's like Mr. in that it doesn't designate a woman's marital status from moment one. It's more modern and less likely to offend.

But a widow is never a Miss again so Mrs. or Ms. are your options.

TheNick · June 2012

I used Ms. with both my grandmothers and some of my great-aunts. My family is very verbal, so if I messed up, I think someone would have told me.

ootmother2 · June 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_how-to-address-for-a-widow?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:407591b0-bee8-4350-8498-55743bc4d0e4Post:87e46873-2300-4286-af50-33e52256543a">Re: How to address for a widow?</a>:
[QUOTE]Most older ladies (over age 60) don't really like Ms. Mrs. Jack Sparrow (giggle) is the correct traditional address for a widow. Ms. Jane Sparrow is also OK. Miss means unmarried female. There is nothing demeaning about that title.
Posted by CMGr[/QUOTE]

I would as before using Mrs Jack Sparrow (no giggle)

Most women don't consider themselves just as extensions of their dead or alive spouse

How to address for a widow?

Re: How to address for a widow?

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