A WIDOWED mum claims she has been shunned by friends and family members because she began dating just EIGHT WEEKS after her husband died.

Natalie Drury lost her husband Tim Madeley, 50, on New Year's Day 2015, following a short battle with brain cancer.

13 Natalie, pictured with Tim and their son Oliver Credit: Kennedy News and Media

Eight weeks later, the 42-year-old nursery cook went on her first date since he died.

Although it didn't progress into a relationship, she later met new husband Paul - with the couple marrying in May of last year.

However Natalie claims the criticism she faced then and still faces today has been devastating.

Despite receiving support from most of her family, she claims she was shunned or condemned by some family members, friends and work colleagues.

13 Natalie and her new husband Paul, who she married in May Credit: Kennedy News and Media

The mum-of-one even claims when she joined Plenty of Fish two years after Tim's death she was forced to ask pals if they wanted her 'sat on the sofa wearing black' as many said it was too soon.

Now Natalie is speaking out about love after bereavement to encourage others to stop being so judgemental.

Natalie, from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, said: "When Tim took ill in August 2015, they told me pretty early on what the outcome was going to be.

"I did my grieving in those four months while he was still here. I knew what was coming and I had to stay strong for our son Oliver.

"When the time came it was a release and when you lose someone, you lose your friends."

"When Tim died, some of my friends didn't call because they didn't know what to say, so they didn't say anything at all. I was in shock and so lonely," she continued.

13 Natalie with her husband Tim who died on new Year's Day 2015 Credit: Kennedy News and Media

"Eventually I got to the point where I did want to go out and so I went on a date with a local man.

"It didn't go anywhere but it caused people to say I had disrespected my husband.

"I had every respect for him - but I knew he was never coming back.

"I couldn't sit alone in my house crying. I went out and enjoyed myself for a few weeks.

"People avoid you when a loved one dies. Soon after Tim passed away I was walking down the street and people would cross over because they didn't know what to say. You do feel isolated.

"If you haven't been through it you can never understand. [Finding love again] doesn't mean I've no respect for Tim."

13 Natalie and Oliver at Tim's bedside Credit: Kennedy News and Media

13 Natalie, pictured with her and Tim's boy Oliver Credit: Kennedy News and Media

"Some people were judgemental, especially at work. I had got a job after he passed," she added.

"People would say 'it's only been two years'. Exactly. Do you want me to sit on the sofa wearing black and never go out?'

She continued: "People are so quick to judge. It's not right."

In the summer prior to his death, Tim and Natalie had been on holiday to Spain with their four-year-old son Oliver while Tim did some painting work.

The couple were away for a week but days into the trip, Natalie noticed her husband was 'behaving really weird' and had been acting 'daft'.

People would say, 'it's only been two years'. Exactly. Do you want me to sit on the sofa wearing black and never go out? People are so quick to judge. It's not right. Natalie Drury

A desperate Natalie even called her dad saying she wanted to come home and when the family returned to the UK, Tim visited the doctors.

Natalie said: "We went on holiday in 2014 to Spain which is when Tim started behaving really weird.

"He'd be walking with his head on the side or if I gave him his lunch on a plate, he'd looked at me and tip it all on the floor.

"We'd gone over there because he'd agree to do some work on a villa.

"As the week went on, he hadn't done any painting and was just behaving really daft.

"I began to notice something wasn't right.

13 Natalie and Paul on their wedding day in 2018 Credit: Kennedy News and Media

"When we got back, I took him straight to the doctors and they thought he'd had a stroke.

"He went into hospital that night and he was soon diagnosed with a brain tumour.

"The specialists said that because we'd been on holiday the air pressure on the plane had accelerated the tumour.

"He went to The Christie in Manchester but there was nothing they could do.

"They gave him chemotherapy but it wasn't doing anything at all.

"I did mourn. From getting the brain tumour, each of the words that came out Tim's mouth you couldn't take seriously. It was like talking to an older person with dementia.

"He wanted me to be happy and move on."

13 Natalie, pictured the day before her wedding to her second husband, Paul Credit: Kennedy News and Media

That December, Natalie scrambled around to afford Christmas presents for Oliver as her husband lay in his hospice bed.

During what should have been a happy time of year, she agonised over how to tell her little boy that his dad might not make it through the month.

Natalie said: "It was horrendous, especially during that Christmas. I was trying to keep things jolly for Oliver but I was struggling for money.

She continued: "Sadly Tim was soon transferred to a hospice.

He couldn't speak or move around. It was just terrible.

13 Natalie and Paul celebrate their wedding in May last year Credit: Kennedy News and Media

"Oliver understood what was happening. He asked me 'is my daddy going to die?'.

"I could have lied and said no.

"But I sat him down and explained in terms a four-year-old would be able to understand.

"Tim had been the breadwinner and I'd been at home with Oliver, so people rallied round us to make sure he got some Christmas presents.

"Tim survived through Christmas but the week later he went downhill. On New Year's Day 2015 he passed away."

13 Natalie, Paul and her son Oliver Credit: Kennedy News and Media

13 Tim pictured with his son Oliver Credit: Kennedy News and Media

Suffering with the crippling loneliness and grief, Natalie decided to begin dating again just eight weeks later.

However when her first dates didn't come to anything, she focused on helping her son Oliver come to terms with losing his dad.

By 2016 Natalie decided to get out there once again and started dating again.

Although it was almost two years since Tim had died Natalie claims she was still judged - even after her she married Paul 18 months later.

Natalie said: "At the end of 2016 I joined Plenty of Fish and that's where I met Paul.

"It was a happy ending. Paul is a lovely man and from the start I told him the whole story.

I did mourn. From getting the brain tumour, each of the words that came out Tim's mouth you couldn't take seriously. It was like talking to an older person with dementia. He wanted me to be happy and move on. Natalie Drury

"I explained I had a son and he might be sensitive to the situation, but Oliver took to him straight away. It just progressed from there and soon it became our new normal.

"When we got married it was really sweet.

"At the wedding reception looked up at us and said 'can I play out?' He ran over to Paul and said 'Daddy, can we play out?'.

"Oliver still talks about Tim. He has his watch and we speak about him every day - night and day.

"Oliver is now eight years old. A lot of people, especially family, we don't speak to.

"Tim had older children - he was 14 years older than me. He had five, including Oliver.

"I'm still in contact with two of them now."

13 Natalie on her wedding day to Tim in 2010 Credit: Kennedy News and Media

She continued: "They were really supportive from the beginning and came to my wedding in the evening.”

When Natalie got a new job as a nursery cook, she was also questioned about how quickly she had found a new partner.

Despite losing some friends and family, Natalie claimed her own family were there for her and believes Oliver was helped by seeing her smile again.

Natalie said: "I just feel like [those that criticised me about starting to date again] need to take a step back and think. God forbid if they were in that position. You just can't say that."

13 Natalie and Oliver at Tim's memorial tree Credit: Kennedy News and Media

13 Oliver, now eight, by his dad's memorial tree Credit: Kennedy News and Media

She added: "I did join Plenty of Fish but I didn't go out looking for love.

"I still post about him. I posted on Facebook on New Year's Day last year 'It's been nearly three years since you passed and I hope that you're looking down on me on my wedding day.'"

I got a lot of comments - none to my face.

"My family were so supportive.

"The teachers got concerned about Oliver and he had to take a teddy into school for six months. He communicated through the teddy.

"I think it's helped Oliver to see his mum happy again."

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