A vast body of research has established that losing a spouse or partner leads to significant declines in health and an increased risk of mortality. This effect, commonly referred to as the widowhood or bereavement effect, is most pronounced right after the loss but often continues over time. However, the extent of this impact varies considerably with factors such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status, as well as varying across cultural and regional contexts. Despite the importance of these factors, their role in moderating the relationship between bereavement and mortality them factors has rarely been systematically examined. In Italy, a country with a rapidly aging population, widowhood affects a significant portion of older adults, yet research on both its short and long-term consequences remains limited. This study utilizes the most recent Italian social security register data from 2014 to 2022, sourced from the National Institute of Social Security (INPS), to provide the first comprehensive analysis of the differential impact of bereavement on mortality among Italian old age pensioners aged 65 and above. Using logistic regression models, we identify variations in the odds of dying by gender, region, and socioeconomic status, offering fresh insights into the complexities of the widowhood effect.