Lunch With the Widows: What I Learned About Living After My Husband Died

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Grief and loss are an inescapable part of mortality. In one form or another, they will touch all our lives. Yet, despite being so common, the path of grief and loss can be unbearably lonely, and healing can seem to be an unreachable destination. 

When I lost my husband of 43 years during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, I found myself quarantined and completely alone, both physically and emotionally. Hundreds of miles away from my children and grandchildren, I had to find a way to navigate life as a single woman. Unsure of how to move forward, I reached out to other widows to set up individual conversations about their experiences, what they had learned and what advice they could offer.  Many of these conversations took place over Zoom, and often over lunch.  

Lunch With the Widows: What I Learned About Living After My Husband Died weaves together the insights of women who have endured profound loss and found a way forward. Their stories offer encouragement, perspective, Christ-centered hope and practical counsel for navigating grief—especially when it feels isolating and overwhelming.

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  • “My dear, brave friend Susan Walton has shared her private grief to write a precious handbook that will help other grieving widows move forward and live their best lives as their departed loved ones would wish. Susan’s advice rings true! Her compassionate, loving heart and academic rigor have enabled her to write a book that is intellectually sound, practical and attuned to the needs of widows in varying stages of grief and incapacitation. Lunch With the Widows is also a tremendous resource for those wanting to provide thoughtful support to a recent widow. Thank you, Susan, for always caring about others, even in your most challenging times. I know that your beloved, late husband of 43 years, Mark Walton, is beaming with pride.”

    —Patrice Tanaka, Founder & Chief Joy Officer, Joyful Planet LLC and Joyful Planet Foundation

  • “Susan broaches the sometimes-taboo topic of widowhood with warmth, wisdom and unflinching honesty, transforming this lonely journey into one of community and hope. Her ‘Lunch With the Widows’ conversations offer more than comfort—they offer a roadmap forward. Susan masterfully converts those conversations into concrete wisdom on everything from making solo decisions to building a ‘third playlist’ for the rest of your life. Each chapter concludes with poignant guidance for the widow and those supporting her through this transformative time. This is essential reading for anyone navigating loss or supporting someone who is.”

    —Jen Brewer, speaker, global humanitarian consultant and author

  • “Reading Lunch With the Widows was a powerful reminder of what is most meaningful and sacred in life. Through Susan’s experiences and the stories of her friends, I found a new appreciation for the preciousness of the present moment and the relationships I hold closest. Though written for those who have experienced loss, its wisdom is universal, offering insights that resonate across many seasons and circumstances of life.”

    —Chris Thomas, author, “Unexpected: The Backstory of Finding Elizabeth Smart and Growing Up in the Culture of an American Religion”

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