International Women’s Day: Finding strength and friendship in widowhood

March 2025

International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate female resilience, strength and solidarity. For many widowed women, the death of their life partner presents an unimaginable challenge – but overcoming these challenges has also revealed their inner power and the unbreakable bonds of female friendship. 

To mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, WAY members share their reflections on strength, survival and the support that has carried them through widowhood.

“There really is nothing you can’t do!”

WAY volunteer Ruba told us: “Women are often made to feel incapable or less than, but if there’s anything I’ve learned since being widowed it’s that being a woman isn’t a weakness at all. If you can survive a traumatic event like the death of your partner and build something out of the darkness, you are a force to behold. There is really nothing you can’t do.”

She also highlighted the value of support from the women in her life as she navigates life as a widowed mother:

“I rely so heavily on my mum, mother-in-law, sisters and sisters in law since being widowed, especially as part of the village that helps me raise my daughter,” Ruba added. “Even though they are not widowed, they have been by my side on my widowhood journey showing the power of female friendship and solidarity in all aspects of our lives.”  

For many WAY members, widowhood has led to new friendships that have provided comfort and understanding. Nicky told us how WAY’s peer support network has carried her through some of her darkest moments:

“I have met an incredible network of widow friends through WAY who have become lifelong best mates, travel buddies and got me through my darkest days,” she said. “They supported and believed in my crazy ideas, invested in my dreams, celebrated my successes, and helped me face challenges. When I spiralled in grief and alcoholism after losing Andy, these wonderful women (and men!) helped me through. WAY women literally saved my life and gave me purpose and meaning.”

Celebrating female friendship

Similarly, fellow WAY member Aimee found strength and solidarity through WAY’s peer support network: 

“Through tragic circumstances, I’ve met incredible women,” she said. “We now have an ambush (the collective term for widows) of five in our small hometown. We did bereavement work together and still meet regularly. They are a lifeline and about the only people I can speak openly with.”

Kelly added her thoughts: “I treasure my widow friends,” she said. “They are the only ones that I can really, truly be myself with. We have laughed together and cried together. They are my first go-to for opinions, my cheerleaders. Sometimes it’s the inappropriate humour that really gets us through.”

Nichola shared how the friendships she made through WAY helped her navigate her new life as a young widow: “My WAY friendships helped me survive the turmoil of losing my husband, Jon. We’ve talked about anything and everything, from the little wins we achieve to the darkest days. We’ve laughed at the darkest humour in the situations widowhood has brought us, thankful that we could say those things to someone who just got it. They’ve been there supporting, never judging through the worst times in my life. I love them with all my heart and, as awful as it was losing my darling Jon, out of tragedy came three of the best friends I could ever ask for. So I’ll be celebrating their incredible friendship this International Women’s Day.”