What Is Correct?

[10ClarionSt]

We ordered a headstone for my sisters' grave and among the wording we chose "...a loving wife of the late....." When they sent a proof of the template, they had changed it to "...a loving wife to the late....." Which of them would you say is correct?

[woofgang]

Doesn’t matter which (not what) is correct. What do you want it to say?

[Mamyalynne]

Tell them what you as a family prefer, both work fine really.

[-SharonA-]

I hate that word, late. I would have 'loving wife of XXX'

[elliemay1]

I would leave out the word 'a' and just say, 'Loving wife of ...'

[bhg481]

I was worried about the "a" - it implies he had more than one wife.

[elliemay1]

They probably changed it to, 'a loving wife to the late' because they felt that the 'a' didn't sound right

[murraymints]

to

[ferlew]

Loving wife of ......

[Barsel]

Just had a look at some photo's I have of family graves, and they all say 'Beloved wife of.....'

[Buenchico]

The use of 'to', in this context, indicates 'fulfilling a duty'. (e.g. as in "housekeeper to the bishop" or "butler to Lord and Lady Briggs").

While your sister may well have 'fulfilled her wifely duties' to her husband (if you accept such a rather old-fashioned concept anyway), its probably not what you really want to say. So I'd regard 'of' as better in this case.

[ABerrant]

^ That is one context to be presumed. Another presumed context may be that you have a relationship 'to' something/someone whereas you have ownership/possession 'of' something/someone.