Mailboxes to Heaven Allow Grieving Familes to Feel Connected to Loved Ones

Many children happily write letters to Santa this time of year, sharing lists of desired toys and treats. But grieving families may find themselves writing a different kind of letter, addressed instead to their loved one. Throughout 2023, cemeteries throughout the UK joined in on a trend to install “mailboxes to heaven” that allow bereaved friends and family to write a letter to their loved one and put it in the mail.

The idea comes from ten-year-old Matilda Handy, whose beloved grandmother was a post office worker for years before her death five years ago. When she died, Matilda had the idea to continue sending her mail, but no idea how to implement it. When her grandfather Keith died last November, Matilda and her mother approached Gedling Crematorium in Nottingham about installing a mailbox onsite that would let grieving families have a place to mail letters to deceased loved ones. The crematorium was enthusiastic about the idea, and a white and gold mailbox labeled “Letters to Heaven” debuted in December 2022.

Matilda’s mother, Leanne, talked about the experience with Express: “We wanted to unveil (the mailbox) at Christmas. … A lot of people miss sending cards at Christmas time and that’s an important occasion for people in the community. I had a lady who said she really struggled as she couldn’t send her mum a Christmas card. The postbox had a big impact on her. It’s used every single day, whether its someone old or young. People find real comfort in sending something, whether it’s a child drawing a picture or an older person sending something to their loved ones. The art of writing something helps with the process.”

Within the first week, Matilda’s mailbox to heaven received 100 letters, and soon became adopted by 40 other sites throughout the UK. The idea became so popular that it crossed over the pond to be implemented by a cemetery in Michigan. A plaque next to the mailbox reads, “Send your love, prayers, and updates to those who have passed away. This correspondence is offered as a source  of comfort and peace  for you. No postage is necessary for your letter to reach your beloved departed.” 

While the intention for letters received in the mailbox is to keep them in a secure place, unread by anyone living, one of the mailboxes to heaven was sadly broken into in Staffordshire earlier this year. The mailbox had been placed outside the funeral director’s office in anticipation of Mother’s Day letters that families might want to post, but a thief drove up alongside it and stole the entire mailbox. Thankfully this experience of vandalism and theft has been uncommon in regards to these special mailboxes, and they are typically embraced by their local communities. Those in mourning this holiday season may find it healing to send a card to their loved one via a mailbox from heaven.