When a family member dies, never throw away these four things after their funeral

In the whirlwind of grief, we may be tempted to put everything away, to throw it all away. But these notes are often the most intimate testaments to how they loved us, encouraged us, or simply thought of us. Slip them into a memory box, even if you’re not ready to read them again right away.

Their voice: a memory that warms the heart
With our cell phones, we now have the ability to preserve voice recordings like we keep photos. A simple “Call me back when you can” or a “Big hug” can, over time, become a memory of great emotional value.

These recordings contain much more than a message: there’s their intonation, their laughter, their breathing… so many details that bring their presence back to life. So, before reflexively deleting a voicemail, save it somewhere, even if you don’t listen to it often.

Everyday objects that bore their mark