What do you call a significant other who passes away?? ?

Question

If you are married and your spouse dies, you are either a widow or widower. And you refer to them as your deceased spouse. Even when you remarry, you call them your deceased spouse.

So what would you call a significant other who passes away while you are in a committed relationship?

It just seems wrong to refer to them as an EX since there was no breakup.. I mean you would call your dead husband an ex.

ps.. not personal experience, just wondering.

Answer 1

dead

Answer 2

deceased love or deceased gf/bf

Answer 3

I've searched extensively and can find no antonym for widow or widower.  That being said, "former spouse" and "ex" are the obviously alternatives.  An ex is a former spouse, and though implied, these terms do not actually indicate a breakup.  Traditional wedding vows include the phrase "till death do we part".  Marriage law also supports this.  Thus, the death of a spouse ends a marriage, and the dead spouse is a former spouse, an ex.  In conclusion, it is appropriate to refer to ones dead spouse as "ex" and "former spouse"  However, maybe it should be expounded upon by the widow or widower in certain circumstances.