Sorry for your loss Peter and welcome to GoY, looks like one of the indoor palms to me and seriously in need of a drink. If you are a total novice and your wife had a lot of houseplants it might be worth investing in a book on their care. One with a picture of each plant so that you can i.d. If there are just a few ask away here and we will do our best to help you.

In general to test if a plant in a pot needs watering push your finger down into the soil about and inch, if it feels dry water from the bottom. BUT that is just a very general rule there are plants that need dry periods, plants that need to be quite wet and in a humid place... You get my drift :-)

Welcome from me too,Peter,and also sorry for your loss..Good advice from Mg.It does look a bit like a Parlour palm,but not certain.Maybe you could cut the brown dried bits off,as then it would look a bit better for you,as they won't revive.You could also Google them.Good luck:o)

So sorry to hear your sad news Peter....Welcome to GOY..:>)

Thanks Moon grower and Bloomer. I will trim off the brown fronds, and give it a good drink - I was afraid to overwater in the wintertime, in case that was the wrong thing to do.

Thanks again, Peter

I think this plant is salvagable! It will look so much better if you trim off the brown leaves. Don't over-water it during winter. And give it a little food in spring (try those food sticks that you push into the soil. by Miracle-Gro I think)

The brown leaves are snipped off, she has had a good drink and is feeling much better already!
Thanks to all. Peter

welcome to GoY Peter.

A lot of plant growing, especially plants in pots, is trial and error. Bulbaholic and I have killed or hundreds of plants one way and another... overwatering, under watering, wrong soil ph, too much sun, not enough sun — you get the picture. Sadly killing plants is part of learning how to grow them :-(

Very well put MG ---- we've all been there !
Welcome to GoY Peter.