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After 15 years of marriage, Maryalene LaPonsie lost her high school sweetheart and husband to cancer. Today, she maintains the site The Mighty Widow where she chronicles life after love and the challenges of parenting through grief http://mightywidow.com. When not busy raising her and her late husband’s five children, Maryalene works as a personal finance writer and is a weekly contributor to U.S. News & World Report.

Latest Posts By Maryalene LaPonsie

12 months ago

10 Ways to Help a Friend Who Is a New Widow

Whether it comes unexpectedly or after a long illness, losing a spouse is traumatic at best. At worst it can be debilitating. I know because, at age 35, I became a widow myself. While many people want to help, it can be difficult to know how…

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1 year ago

10 Tips for Encouraging Resistant Elderly Parents to Accept Assistance

My aunt is like my third parent. She taught in schools around the world and spent every summer living with us. Always single and with no children of her own, she has been, in my mind, a part of our immediate – not extended – family. I love and adore her…

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3 years ago

Want to Add to Your Retirement Income by Renting a Property? Read These 5 Tips First!

Social security, pensions and annuities can all be dependable sources of monthly income. So too can real estate. But before you cash out your retirement fund and buy a rental property, here are five things you should know…

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4 years ago

Why You Need to Be Ready to Take Over Your Family Finances

My husband didn’t expect to be diagnosed with esophageal cancer at age 34. I didn’t expect to become a widow at age 35. While it’s hard to call it a silver-lining, we were fortunate in that I was always our family’s breadwinner…

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4 years ago

How to Find Home Maintenance Services Without Getting Ripped Off

It wasn’t until after my husband died that I realized how much I relied on him for home maintenance tasks. Whether it was unclogging the toilet or patching holes in the drywall, he did it all. Now that he’s gone, it’s fallen to me to get all…

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8 years ago

7 Practical Tips for Talking to Someone with Dementia

Growing up, it felt as though we spent most Sundays visiting my Grandma in a nursing home. Some days she would be angry and combative. Others times she appeared listless and disinterested. Read More

9 years ago

Social Security Benefits for Widows and Divorcees

Your husband may be out of the picture, but his Social Security could still be a part of your life. Whether you’re widowed or divorced, U.S. law may allow you to collect benefits based upon your former spouse’s work history. Read More