Sweet Vidalia by Lisa Sandlin

When Eliza Kratke's husband Robert dies unexpectedly, he leaves her in debt--and with a secret he was keeping from her. Forced to sell most of her possessions, Eliza finds refuge living at the Sweet Vidalia. With constant worries about money, Eliza knows she must get a job. What kind of job can a woman get in 1964--especially one in her 50's who's never worked? Sweet Vidalia chronicles Eliza's life in the year after Robert's passing. It's a tale of someone coming into their own and realizing the strength and value they have. For readers of Anne Tyler.