Sorry for your loss.

The other important fact: ANYONE can request that an account be memorialized. It does not have to be an immediate family member. Once FB is notified AND confirms that the account holder is deceased, I believe it is their policy to memorialize the account. I requested the memorialization of the account, but did not receive confirmation that it was done — I just saw the changes on our pages after a few days.

Thank you for posting about this subject. Even though FB spells it out, it is unclear exactly how it is executed and how it affects relationship status.

I think that’s a pretty fair solution and shouldn’t prevent anyone from memorializing a spouse’s page.

I think I’ll write an update to this post and add this information to make it easier for people to find. Does anyone else have anything to add to it?

On my timeline, it no longer says “Married to XXXX XXXXX” — it simply says “Married.” I restrict access to my personal information, so only my friends can click on the “About” link and see anything about me. On that page, my relationship status still says “Married to XXXX XXXXX.”

On his timeline, it still says “Married to XXXX XXXXX” to anyone who was his FB friend.

For FB friends who were friends with both of us, it still shows us as “Married to XXXX.” For FB friends who were only friends with me, it says “Married.”

My relationship status did not automatically change when I memorialized my late husband’s account. If at some point in the future I choose to change my relationship status, my only option is “Widowed” and I will no longer be linked to my husband’s FB page.