Part I. Death of Spouse Directions: Rank the items below in order of importance, using 1 as highest and 5 as lowest. 1. What was your understanding about your husband's death? Passing was imminent Illness was progressive and incurable Sudden death from health issue Accidental death Refused to accept 2. How prepared were you for his passing? Emotionally prepared Financially prepared Spiritually prepared Other. Please specify: 3. Who assisted you with burial arrangements? Funeral staff Family members Friends Church members Sorority or club members Other. Please specify: 4. Who did you turn to for support during your bereavement? Sister Brother Friend Church members Parent Sorority or club members Other. Please specify: Part II. Your Marriage 1. How many years were you married? 2. How many years has it been since your husband passed? 3. How would you describe your marriage? 50-50 Partnership 40-60 Partnership with husband as lead 30-70 Partnership with husband as lead 40-60 Partnership with me as lead Other. Please specify: Decline to answer 4. Did you take a job after your husband passed? No. I was already working No. I am not working at this time. No. I am retired. Yes. I took a full time job. Yes. I took a part time job. Reason for taking a job: Part III. New Roles Directions: Please rank from 1 - 12, using 1 to show highest importance. 1. New tasks that you were required to perform as a widow but were not required to perform while your husband was alive. Buying Insurance.          Select type(s): homeowners automobile long term care life Organizing affairs Obtaining credit Managing bank accounts Caring for automobiles Clearing debts Processing medical claims Changing beneficiaries Managing investments Changing titles: deeds, autos, policies Making a new will Other. Please specify: 2. What strategies did you use to address the challenges in carrying out the responsibilities for any of the above? 3. Please rank in order of importance additional household tasks which you must perform since becoming a widow (using 1 through 5): Paying Bills Balancing the checkbook Lawn Care Household maintenance Other. Please specify: Part IV. Survival Strategies Directions: Rank in order from 1 to 5 the items that provided the biggest challenge for you as you tried to regain your balance. 1. What strategies did you use to help regain your balance after your husband's death? Joined a mutual support network Accepted widow(oneness) Redefined interests Established a new identity Other. Please specify: 2. What obstacles did you encounter in trying to regain your balance? Stereotypes toward widows Loss of identity Releasing your past Establishing a new personal identity Developing new friends Other. Please specify: 3. What satisfactions have you experienced since regaining your balance? Overcame feelings of being a widow Managing my affairs Handling bank accounts At peace as a single person Other. Please specify: 4. What is the experience with which you can identify when you realized that you had regained your balance? Stopped crying; laughing more Began socializing Making plans for my future Disposing of his possessions Making my own decisions Accepted widowhood/oneness Comfortable in new roles Other. Please specify: 5. Indicate any mutual support network which you joined as a widow and your reasons for joining: 6. Indicate support networks which you elected not to join and your reasons for not joining: 7. What new strengths have you discovered about yourself? 8. What new talents have you developed since your husband's death? Part V. Mentoring Others 1. What advice would you give other women who are in long time marriages? 2. What advice would you give other widows who are going through bereavement? 3. What advice would you give to younger married women? 4. What programs or services would you like to see in place to benefit new widows? 5. Please use this opportunity to write any comments that you feel are pertinent to this type of study: Part VI. Your Story Please tell us your story or any part of it that you feel moved to write about. You should be guided by what you want to talk about and the fact the information that you provide may be useful to other widows. A list of themes has been included only to give you some ideas: family and other relationships (new and old), burial issues, financial issues, responsibilities before and after, spirituality, faith and hope, support networks, counseling or psychotherapy, great challenges, organizing affairs, relocating, negotiating insurance policies and wills, self-concept, self reliance, accepting that life is different, developing a plan for getting your life in order, moving on. If you have thoughts about related issues that have not been included, feel free to include them in your story. Part VII. Demographics 1. What is your age? 2. Number of children? 3. Number of dependent children? 4. What is your religion? 5. What is your highest educational level? Select one: High School Bachelors Masters Doctorate Professional Other. Please specify: 6. In which section of the U.S. do you live? South North East West Northeast Mid-Atlantic Please give us information so that we may contact you should we wish to use specific quotes in the final report. Name: Address: City: State: Zip Code: Telephone number: Best time to call: Email address: Please send me a copy of the final report. I would like to be contacted to participate in an oral interview. I would like to be contacted to join a support network. I would like to be notified and given an opportunity to contribute to a newsletter.