From beyond the grave

In the throes of grief, would you be comforted by the words of loved ones after they have passed on? We’re not talking of séances or an unfortunate delay in the postal service (it has been known), but about receiving a letter that was written by the individual before he or she died specifically for the purpose of postdeath reassurance.

After personal experience, friends Jill Green and Angie Mills came up with the idea of an online service – www.leavealetter.com – which, for £11.99 a year, allows subscribers privately to write, store and update letters to be delivered to their loved ones in the event of their death.

Green was fortunate enough to receive a letter after her father’s death, and says: “The letter gave me great comfort and a way to remember our relationship.” Mills, however, wished that her late husband Phil had managed to put pen to paper for their family, and remarks: “Receiving a letter from him would have given our two sons guidance for their futures.”

It seems that quite a few of us would like to be heard long after we’re gone – according to research, 49 per cent of people are planning to leave a letter, although only 3 per cent ever manage it.

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