Was the old woman who lived in a shoe married?

Question

I never heard anything about the father of all those children.

Was she a single mom? A widow? A divorce, what?

Thanks.

Answer 1

That aspect of her life was never elucidated in the piece.

So, she can be whatever we want her to be.

Answer 2

She had been married twice (first to Wayne Dilbertson and then, after a 5yr affair, to Dwayne Gilbertson, who later died of a mild earache) but when the story/rhyme was written about her, she was a widow and struggling to look after the kids. All the kids were from Dwayne.

Answer 3

she had children so i think she was a widow