When a friend passes away do you keep their text messages?

[lucas80]

I was talking to a buddy about this recently. We've both had friends pass away in the last few months, and I told him I have messages in my phone from friends and relatives that passed away years ago. I was thinking about this again last night as I struggled through an extra innings Cubs loss, and looked at the old messages from one of my friends who was a huge Cubs fan.
I guess I feel like if I clean the phone out part of our shared lives and the memories disappear.

 

[NDallasRuss]

I don't. I still have my dad's phone contact in my phone - he's been gone 11 years. My niece (no pics) has that phone number now and whenever she calls, it comes up as "dad", and I kinda like seeing that, even though I know it's not really him.

 

[McLovin32]

I was talking to a buddy about this recently. We've both had friends pass away in the last few months, and I told him I have messages in my phone from friends and relatives that passed away years ago. I was thinking about this again last night as I struggled through an extra innings Cubs loss, and looked at the old messages from one of my friends who was a huge Cubs fan.
I guess I feel like if I clean the phone out part of our shared lives and the memories disappear.

I've got texts from one friend still on my phone. IMO it's kinda like keeping letters from a friend. It's nice to be able to go back and read them sometimes.

 

[SF HAWKEYE]

Yes, I have lost a few really good friends over the past 5 years. Some due to cancer, I look back at the texts before they found out then the last texts I received from them. Sucks.
What's worse is on facebook memories when I look at comments and will see all 4 of them commenting on my photos. It's a real gut punch.

 

[SSG T]

Yes, I have texts from a couple of friends, but for specific reasons. Ex. one texted me a couple weeks before he was supposed to leave Afghanistan that he wanted to get together when he was on leave. He was killed the next day.

 

[fredjr82]

I heard you die twice, once when they bury you in the grave. And the second time is the last time that somebody mentions your name

-- Macklemore

 

[SolarHawk]

Yes, I have texts from a couple of friends, but for specific reasons. Ex. one texted me a couple weeks before he was supposed to leave Afghanistan that he wanted to get together when he was on leave. He was killed the next day.

Ugh, heart breaking

 

[Bobcat07]

Fortunate I haven't encountered this situation in my life yet, but I'm sure I will when it does occur...

 

[jonesy5960]

Why wouldn't you? If life after death is a real thing, then they should still be able to send and receive. Amiright?

 

[jonesy5960]

Yes, I have lost a few really good friends over the past 5 years. Some due to cancer, I look back at the texts before they found out then the last texts I received from them. Sucks.
What's worse is on facebook memories when I look at comments and will see all 4 of them commenting on my photos. It's a real gut punch.

Yeah. One of the reasons I'm off of the Facebook.

 

[hawkbirch]

I had a voice mail from my mother in law that I listened to when I missed her after she died. We got a new phone system at work and it got deleted. I was crushed. Some times we just need to hear their voice to be okay.

 

[Obviously Oblivious]

I never delete my deceased friends and relatives from my contacts, but I have to ask, am I the only OCD person on GIAOT who constantly deletes old text threads?

 

[stillh8unlv]

I have some lovely texts from Queen Elizabeth I plan on hanging on to

 

[OutbackBowl2017]

I had a voice mail from my mother in law that I listened to when I missed her after she died. We got a new phone system at work and it got deleted. I was crushed. Some times we just need to hear their voice to be okay.

No offense but you actually liked your MnL? JK.

 

[fezzador]

I heard you die twice, once when they bury you in the grave. And the second time is the last time that somebody mentions your name

-- Macklemore

For some, the latter happens before the former.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

I was talking to a buddy about this recently. We've both had friends pass away in the last few months, and I told him I have messages in my phone from friends and relatives that passed away years ago. I was thinking about this again last night as I struggled through an extra innings Cubs loss, and looked at the old messages from one of my friends who was a huge Cubs fan.
I guess I feel like if I clean the phone out part of our shared lives and the memories disappear.

Same.

Have a couple AF buddies who died way too early. Still have their texts, emails.

 

[beanerhawk]

I've never thought to go back and delete a text string in my phone ever. Dead or alive. What's the point of doing that?

 

[Woodycantjump55]

I've never thought to go back and delete a text string in my phone ever. Dead or alive. What's the point of doing that?

To clear up some data.

 

[hawkbirch]

No offense but you actually liked your MnL? JK.

She was a saint sent straight from heaven above. I hit the MIL jackpot which made losing her so quickly that much worse.

 

[HawCory]

Just spent a few minutes going through old texts from Mom. Thanks, OP.