Widower Grieves Every Christmas after Wife’s Death So Strangers Sent Him 15,000 Cards to Cheer Him Up

There was once a time when an elderly man looked forward to Christmas, but that changed when he experienced an unexpected and heart-wrenching loss. To lift his low spirits, his daughter came up with a brilliant idea that became an annual holiday tradition.

People wait all year to welcome the festive season and spend a wonderful time with their loved ones. No matter how sad they've been, the onset of December fills their hearts with warmth, love, and light. The same was true for the Dowling family, at least once upon a time.

George and Lucille Dowling from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, were a happily married couple known for their holiday spirit and cheer. Christmas their favorite time of the year—an occasion they wholeheartedly celebrated and cherished while it lasted.

Waiting for December

Every year, George anxiously waited for December, the time when he sees his wife's face light up like never before. Lucille's Christmas preparations would start right after Thanksgiving, and her husband enjoyed watching her adorn the tree and decorate their home with holiday trimmings.

It wasn't hard to guess that the WWII Navy veteran spent that Christmas missing his wife and suffering in silence.

Describing His Wife

Mrs. Dowling lived for Christmas, and her husband lived to see her happy. It was a heartwarming bond that only became more profound over time. While describing the love of his life, his beloved life partner whom he had been married to for 70 years said:

"[Lucille] was Christmas."

Losing His Beloved & Calling off Christmas

In addition to filling their house with the true holiday spirit, George said his wife handled other departments, including cooking delicious food and baking wholesome goodies. The lovebirds hoped to celebrate many more festive seasons together; sadly, they were oblivious to fate's cruel intervention.

On December 1, 2013, Lucille died after a battle with Alzheimer's, leaving her loving husband forever broken. Unable to cope with the irreparable loss of his only true love, George and his daughter, Suzan Brito, didn't celebrate Christmas that year. The devastated man even took down the tree so as not to be reminded of his late wife.

Reeling from the Loss

Mrs. Dowling's untimely demise left a gaping hole in her husband's heart—a void he knew would never be filled. That same December he welcomed with open arms and a warm heart became the month he dreaded—a time that reminded him of his soul-consuming loss.

Since losing Lucille, Christmas became a season of sadness and spine-chilling pain for George. Brito explained that her mother was the only woman her father had been with and loved all his life, and a part of him couldn't accept a world where she didn't exist. She added:

"When December 1 hits, my dad gets really sad."

The Idea That Became an Annual Tradition

In 2014, Brito thought of an excellent idea to brighten her dad's low spirits and help him recover from his gloomy mood. Knowing how much he enjoyed receiving and reading mail, she reached out to friends and relatives on social media, requesting them to send some holiday cards for him.

That year, George received almost 30 cards that helped him survive the holiday blues. Seeing that they had served their purpose, Brito didn't ditch the idea and resorted to it each year before December started.

A Difficult Christmas

She penned a touching post on Facebook that included the Dowling residential address, asking her loved ones and even strangers to mail their Christmas wishes to her dad. Over the years, people continued to send their holiday greetings to George, and he always looked forward to reading each card and note.

Seeing her beloved dad place his extensive holiday collection on the walls around his home, Brito was relieved and happy. But in 2021, she was startled when only 14 letters arrived. It wasn't hard to guess that the WWII Navy veteran spent that Christmas missing his wife and suffering in silence.

The Mail Keeps Him Going

Determined to turn things around and cheer up her best friend, Brito vowed not to let that happen again. She not only created her own social media post but also asked her daughter, Charlene Fletcher, to accelerate the appeal on her Facebook account.

Thereafter, Fletcher, 45, penned a short and touching post where she asked her friends to remember her dear grandfather during the holiday season by sending in their heartfelt notes because it helped him survive the holiday season. She added:

"He goes on the porch [every day] and checks the mail."

The Appeal Gained Traction

Soon afterward, Brito and her daughter's posts gained traction on other platforms, such as TikTok, and was picked up by various media outlets in the U.S. On November 28, 2022, Fletcher turned to Facebook to share the total number of cards that had come in.

From only 73 cards in the beginning, the running total had catapulted to over 15,500 cards as of December 12, 2022. In an emotional post by Brito shared on December 10, she thanked everyone who had sent thoughtful notes for her father. She wrote:

"He is fascinated how far this reached...He perks right up every time he finds one. Thank you everyone for doing this. I can't even begin to tell you, how great full I am. thank you, for taking the time out of your busy lives to make my daddy smile (sic)."

Loving the Cards & His Favorite Present

In a subsequent post on December 11, Brito, her dad's primary carer, noted that he always "woke up reading cards. He loves the notes written (sic)." The 64-year-old woman revealed that her father had received greetings from all over the world, including Australia, Canada, the U.K., Europe, and Asia.

In addition to Christmas cards, George, a grandfather and great-grandfather, has welcomed goodies, such as stuffed toys, knitwear, ornaments, and candy. His favorite present came from a four-year-old girl, Nina, who sent him a lovely card and a Christmas tree. It read:

"I love you George. You're my best friend. Merry Christmas."

Her Efforts Paid Off

Although nothing will ever take away his pain, George, 95, has gratitude, love, and appreciation for everyone who sends him a card and makes him feel less lonesome on Christmas. Seeing her father smile is a welcome respite for Brito and Fletcher, who want nothing but to see him happy.

Mr. Dowling's heartwarming story teaches us that while our grief can take a long time to heal, there's always something to be thankful for. His beloved wife will always live in his memories, and thanks to his daughter's efforts, he finally has something to look forward to every December—the Christmas mail.

If this lovely story warmed your soul, please share your feedback on Facebook. Click here to read another story about a dying widower who left 14 Christmas gifts for his two-year-old neighbor and a holiday tale to last for years.