I few comments:
I might have missed the time period that you’ve been widowed for, but if it’s been anything like 2-3 years or more. Make sure you mention the time frame as soon as the word “widowed” leaves your mouth.
Many people have never dealt with a dating widow - and don’t know how to handle it. Someone very close to me - when I asked her why she and “Bob” never worked out - he seemed so nice. She said that she wasn’t sure, but that bobs girlfriend had died when they were dating and she felt like she was being put up on a pedestal.
I’ve seen (I think we all have), people that look upon dead people as saints. Of course I don’t want to pick on your dead wife, but I’d make it clear to a prospective date that finds out - that she was a normal woman. If you talk like she can do now wrong - or anything like that - it would scare me off. I’m looking at this from meeting a woman.
Now I agree with one of the above posters - I’d actually rather have widowed vs divorced. I used to put single up there as #1, Widowed #2, and divorced #3.
It wouldn’t bother me in the least if a woman kept an urn of her dead husband. I would never dream of asking her to throw it away, but lots of people have trouble with death - even cremation. My mom died last year and donated her body to science - and the fact that she didn’t really have a final resting place seemed to bother some people - I’m pretty open minded - so I encouraged them to talk about it - and it didn’t offend me. But just the idea of cremation is weird to some people. I think it reminds them of their own mortality.
I can’t imagine asking someone when they planned on getting rid of their dead wife’s urn.
I think a lot would depend on the attitude you have about it. Is it “Mary, god rest her soul, she could never do anything wrong” or “Mary, we had some good times, and bad times like any other marriage - and I’m ready to move on with the rest of my life - don’t be shy - if your curious about anything - feel free to ask - it happened a while ago - I promise I’ll be ok”
Say stuff with some humor - although that is a fine line. I started getting enjoyment out of things like the woman who called slightly irritated that my mom missed her doctors appointment (which my mom never would do) and I let her go on about how important it was and they normally required 24/48 hours notice and just gently replied - almost humorously - “well I am sure she would have called, but being that she’s dead now and all - that makes it more difficult - I’m very sorry she inconvenienced you”. I said it somewhat with a joking matter, but some people didn’t seem to appreciate stuff like that.
Anyway - sorry to go off on a tangent there.
I think as long as you aren’t holding her up on a pedestal - you’ll find many women that will be happy to date you over someone with live baggage any day. Make it clear:
She won’t be competing with a saint
You are ready to move on
Some people probably just don’t know what to say. But at least your the marrying type - and your marriage didn’t “fail”.
If there is a space for widower – I would check that - and also write a short note saying. “I was going to put single, as that is what I consider myself, but I noticed an option for widower - so I just wanted to be up front - technically I am, but it happened X years ago and I really feel like I’m just like any other single guy out there.”
Or something better written than that.
People often say stuff like “Oh - and if the person has a problem with it - you are better off with out them.” In many cases - this is just said to be nice, but in this case I really think it is true.
Also - women (and men) sometimes are almost LOOKING for a reason for something to fail - so this might get mentioned to a mutual friend as part of the reason - when it could be something else completely.