How did YWF come to be?

In early 2005, several young widows met in a grief support group. When the group ended, the young widows wished to continue to meet in the spirit of the bonds that had formed. They expanded the group to include other widows and widowers they knew, and set up an email list to foster communication. In April of 2005 the Triangle Young Widowed Friends group was born when 9 young widows met for dinner at a local restaurant. Since then, the group has grown to over 25 men and women, ranging in age from their 20’s to their 60’s, and the group continues to grow.

Mission statement:

According to the 2000 US Census, the number of widowed persons between the ages of 20 and 60 was slightly over two million people nationwide, which amounts to less than 1% of the total US population. Young widows and widowers comprise a very small portion of the population and are unlikely to know many people of similar age who are also widowed. Yet, we as young widows and widowers ourselves know, first hand, how difficult the task of rebuilding our lives truly is and how important it is to have empathetic friends who understand the challenges of being widowed at a young age. We are committed first, to providing the means for young widows and widowers in the Triangle area of North Carolina to meet and second, to fostering a safe and supportive community in which young widowed friends may help one another.

Will I fit in?

We gladly welcome anyone regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or age, who has lost a spouse or life partner to death. If you feel young, you are young enough for us!

Disclaimer:

No one in the group is a trained grief or crisis counselor, and this group is not intended to be a replacement for grief counseling. For professional grief counseling, please see our links to other local resources.