And to be honest I feel terrible about it because 95% of the negative feedback is coming from widows who just lost their partner and have no desire to sell their house. 

Be mindful that they have lost a relative or a friend so you want to be courteous but just state that you understand that there may be a home left behind that you would be willing to pay cash for.Let them know the troubles of tryinig to sell a home the traditional way then tell the the positives of selling it to you.I personally don't go after widows because they may still live in the house and have some sentimental attachment to it. you want people who live across the country and don't even know the home exists.

I'm currently getting in touch with the widow for another potential deal.

I am the solace of the widow, the comfort of old age, the cornerstone of security against misfortune and want.

A widow from New York wanted to get out of the big city.

I wouldn't mind a single/widowed mother/father.

the note holder was a widow..her husband was the investor and it was her last note..she was well off and just didn't had the energy for it..just developed a rapport and she told me "you remind me of my husband when he was young"..funny story..she had me call her accountant to work out the details and that guy has referred me 2 short sales!

Those who ignored my adolescent protective nature of my widowed Mother's home added their signs to my collection. 

My tenant in the Lyndon House is a veteran's widow.

I know a lot of people who inherited money.Unless they are widows, or extremely elderly, they work hard at maintaining the family fortunes.If they do not, if they just lounge around spending the wealth, they very soon have nothing.