Au sein de nos sociétés civiles on ne s’intéresse guère aux veuves des soldats tués pendant les guerres impérialistes de notre époque, pourtant c’est un sujet assez important. Ces femmes ont le droit de ne pas se sentir abandonnées par les antimilitaristes. Elle représentent une image de la femme qui figure parmi les plus traditionnelles qu’il faut systématiquement mettre en question. Ceci est davantage plus important quand on se rappelle que c’est le slogan
qui a largement contribué à mettre une fin à la guerre au Vietnam.
Recommençons alors à nous intéresser à une réalité réservée pour le moment au monde clos des militaires professionnels et de leur conjoint/e/s.
From the initial shock of preparing funeral arrangements to the never-ending checklist that follows, it seems there is always something for a widow to take care of. And once the whirlwind of tasks begins to calm, we find that there are many ‘normal’ things in our new lives that aren’t so normal anymore. I’ve often said during these hard months that I wish I had a guide-book, a manual of sorts that would tell me what to do, give me advice on how to do it, and tell me what to expect. You may be thinking the same thing.
Below I have compiled a list of websites, articles, books, organizations, and other resources that may help you along this journey, from day one to beyond. Some of these resources I am personally familiar with, some I am not. This list is not exhaustive by any means and is continually a work in progress, so if you know of a great resource out there please contact me and I will gladly share it.
[Disclaimer: I cannot personally endorse any of these websites, books, or organizations. I am not a mental health, legal, or financial professional. Please use these sources for information only and consult professionals as necessary. If necessary, resources are labeled by topic.]
Updated July 8, 2012
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In the Beginning — Checklists and Helpful Guides
A Survival Guide for Widows: a Blueprint for New Widows and their Friends
Losing Your Spouse
Losing Your Spouse (A Different Article)
Newly Widowed Checklist: Some Things to Consider
Widowed: What to Do When
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Your Grief Journey: Don’t Do It Alone — Widow Communities and Support
Bereaved Spouses — Grief Support at LegacyConnect
Camp Widow (a unique annual conference of widowed persons providing hope and community, highly encouraged!)
FINE Young Widows
Grief Net
Grief Share
Liz Logelin Foundation
My Spouse is Dead
Soaring Spirits Loss Foundation
WidowSource.com
Widows Speak Up!
Widowed Village
Widows Wear Stilettos
Widows and Widowers Support Group
Widows and Widowers Meetup Groups
Young Widow
Young Widow Bulletin Board
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Finding Your New Normal — Help for Your New Roles
American Widow Project — Do-It-Yourself
FINE Young Widows — FAQ’s
For the New Widow: Ten Tips to Help Her Survive…After the Funeral
Grief Journey — Do-It-Yourself
Stop the Loneliness — Life After Being Widowed Begins Now
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How to Help Friends/Family Help YOU — Links to Share with Loved Ones
10 Things NOT to Say to the Widowed
7 Tips to Help a Widow
A Christian Woman’s Guide to Grieving the Death of a Spouse (christian)
A Survival Guide for Widows: a Blueprint for New Widows and their Friends
How to Help a New Widow
How You Can Be a Good Friend to a New Widow
Supporting a Grieving Person
Widows and Widowers—What Do They Need, How Can You Help?
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Financial Matters — Things to Consider and Where to Look for Help
Death of a Spouse: Financial Steps You Should Take
Financial Planning Considerations for a Surviving Spouse
Financial Tips for Widows: How to Face Economic Challenges
Living On Your Own: Picking Up the Financial Pieces after Widowhood
Money Matters
Money Tips for Widows and Widowers
Social Security Online: Widows, Widowers, and Other Survivors
SSA: The Economic Consequences of a Husband’s Death
Who’s Responsible for a Deceased Spouse’s Card Debt?
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What About the Kids? — Parenting a Grieving Child
Fathers/Guardians: Parenting Maternally Grieving Children
Grieving Children: Helping Your Child Deal With Loss
Grieving Parents Accompanying Grieving Children
Helping a Grieving Child or Teen
Helping Your Child Deal With Death
Helping Your Grieving Child
How Grieving Children Behave
How to Help a Grieving Child
How to Help Your Child Grieve
Information for Parents Helping a Grieving Child
Raising Grieving Children
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Carrying on Their Legacy — Honoring Your Loved One in Your New Life
How to Honor Someone Who Has Died
How to Love a Dead Husband: Five Years Gone (blog)
Tips for Memorializing Your Loved Ones with Honor
Valentine’s Day Tips for Honoring the Memory of a Loved One
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Spiritual Matters
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Helpful Books — Literature to Help You Along Your Path
Being a Widow
Creative Interventions for Bereaved Children (child)
Experiencing Grief (christian)
Finding Your Way After Your Spouse Dies
From One Widow to Another: Conversations on the New You (christian)
From Sorrow to Dancing: The Recent Widow’s Handbook (christian)
Getting to the Other Side of Grief: Overcoming the Loss of a Spouse
Grace for the Widow: A Journey Through the Fog of Loss (christian)
Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations for Working Through Grief
Help Me Say Goodbye: Activities for Helping Kids Cope When a Special Person Dies (child)
How to Go On Living When Someone You Love Dies
I Miss You: A First Look at Death (child)
I Wasn’t Ready to Say Goodbye: Surviving, Coping, and Healing After the Sudden Death of a Loved One
I’m Grieving as Fast as I Can: How Young Widows and Widowers Can Cope and Heal
Living with Loss: Meditations for Grieving Widows
On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss
Parenting a Grieving Child: Helping Children Find Faith, Hope, and Healing After the Loss of a Loved One
Reflections of a Grieving Spouse: The Unexpected Journey from Loss to Renewed Hope (christian)
Sad Isn’t Bad: A Good-Grief Guidebook for Kids Dealing with Loss (child)
The Death of a Husband: Reflections for a Grieving Wife
Waterbugs and Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Children (child)
When Bad Things Happen to Good People
When Someone Very Special Dies: Children Can Learn to Cope with Grief (child)
When You Lose Someone You Love: Comfort for Those Who Grieve (christian)
When Your Spouse Dies: A Widow & Widowers Handbook
When Your Soul Aches: Hope and Help for Women Who Have Lost Their Husbands
When Your World Falls Apart (christian)
Where Are You? A Child’s Book About Loss (child)
Widowed Too Soon: A Young Widow’s Journey Through Grief, Healing, and Spiritual Transformation
Widows Wear Stilettos: A Practical and Emotional Guide for the Young Widow
Widow to Widow: Thoughtful, Practical Ideas for Rebuilding Your Life
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Specific Resources for Military Widows
Making Arrangements
Department of Defense Casualty Assistance Website
Air Force Casualty Services
Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operation Center
Army Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operation Center
Burial Benefits: We Honor Veterans
Marine Corps Casualty Assistance
Navy Casualty Assistance
Military Funeral Honors (Department of Defense)
Patriot Guard Riders
Benefits
A Survivor’s Guide to Benefits (Department of Defense) (PDF file)
Armed Forces Services Corporation (AFSC)
Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Survivors Assistance
Military OneSource
National Resource Directory
Social Security Survivor Benefits
Survivors and Dependants Benefits — Death After Active Service
TriCare Transitional Survivor Benefits
Understanding Survivor Benefits
With Honor and Respect: Veteran Death Benefits
Financial Assistance/Scholarships
Children of Fallen Soldier’s Relief Fund
Fallen Patriot Fund
Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund
Freedom is Not Free
Folds of Honor
Hope for the Warriors
Killed in Action Fund
Operation Family Fund
Scholarships for Military Children
The American Soldier Foundation
Organizations
American Widow Project
Gold Star Wives of America
Gold Star Families
Gold Star Family Support Group
Society of Military Widows
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)
Honoring Their Sacrifice
Honor and Remember
Iraq/Afghanistan War Heroes
Fallen Heroes Foundation
Fallen Heroes Memorial
US Fallen.Org
Giving Back
Soldiers Angels
Helpful Books
Military Widow: A Survival Guide