Sorry for your loss.
If you spouse passed away in 2017, you can still file jointly in 2017 and benefit from the larger standard deduction and exemptions.
This is an extract from an IRS document:
If your spouse died
in 2017, you can use married filing jointly as your filing status for 2017 if
you otherwise qualify to use that status. The year of death is the last year
for which you can file jointly with your deceased spouse.
You may be eligible
to use qualifying widow(er) with dependent child as your filing status for 2
years following the year your spouse died. For example, if your spouse died in
2016 and you haven't remarried, you may be able to use this filing status for 2017
and 2018. The rules for using this filing status are explained in detail here.
This filing status
entitles you to use joint return tax rates and the highest standard deduction
amount (if you don't itemize deductions). It doesn't entitle you to file a
joint return.
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