Emily: A study of grief and bereavement

The author's purpose in presenting this article is to describe and interpret the phenomena that contributed to a state of extended bereavement in an 83‐year‐old widow. The problem concerned a newly admitted nursing home resident who appeared to be experiencing profound grief at the loss of a husband who had died 12 years earlier. The method was qualitative, specifically, ethnographic. This case study focuses on the life history of one individual as she perceived it. The question posed for the study was what are the factors contributing to a grief reaction in an elderly widow 12 years after her husband's death? To answer this question a series of interviews were conducted with the informant. The data were then analyzed for meaning in light of current theory in grief and bereavement. The findings, presented in the informant's words, highlight the importance of suddenness, multiplicity of losses, relationship with the deceased spouse, and personal characteristics of the bereaved.