Nick died 5 months ago. His cell phone is just as he left it. His voice is still on our answering machine message for incoming calls. I just need to hear him every now and then. Thank you for bringing up this issue. I really helped me to read your comment and also what the others have shared. Thank you all.

Thanks to all for the many good hints on what to do about my husband's cell. It helps so much to know I am not alone with this endulgence. Thank you everyone! Jess

It was kind of emotional for me but I got it done a couple of weeks after my Wife passed. I still have the phone, thinking I could give it to someone but no one has needed one. All the kids have replaced their cell phones but they all upgraded to a smart phone.

Hi,

I had to wait to turn off his cell and other things, too. I could not walk into the house past where his coat was hanging without crying. And often when I had to call someone about changing something after he died, I will be crying on the phone with the rep. Like another widow from church said about being a widow, "It is the club that no one wants to be a member of."

Jess - As I've found with almost everything along this grief journey, there are no time tables. Mark has been gone for 16 months today and I just turned his cell phone off in July - a month and a half ago. Like you, everytime I tried to call customer service and explain why I wanted to turn it off, I couldn't get through the call. When I finally decided that it was time................I still choked up a little bit and after it was disconnected and I called it.......just hearing that it was not in service was difficult for me.
Take your time - unless it's a financial burden and you have to do it right away - you'll know when the time is right. Hugs to you,
Chris

It took me a good six to eight months before I could manage it. She loved that phone so much that turning it off was like turning part of her off. I also had to copy her voice message off of it so I wouldn't lose it. Hint: Don't bother asking any screenagers how to do that, they spend 24 hours a day staring at them but have no idea how they work.
Ken

I lost my husband only in August....and I can't bring myself to cancel his either. My son took over the family business and when he calls me from the office the caller ID still says "Andre". My heart skips a beat everytime he calls. My son wants me to change it....but I just can't:((((((

About three weeks before my wife had passed, I was sitting in my office at work and my wife sent me a real goofy picture of her, so I sent a really dorky one back to her. We did this for about 20 minutes or so just making each other laugh like we always do. At this point, I do not dare to even think about looking at those text. They are right there at my fingertips every day. As far as her phone goes, I gave it to my 12-year-old girl because it's just her and I now and I have to keep in contact with her when I'm not with her. I remember Tracey said over and over that Katey would not get her own phone until she was 15. I'm sure nobody here can tell you when or what to do with your husband's cell phone. Turn it off tomorrow, turn it off five years from now. On September 6th, it will be eight weeks for me. This last weekend was a nightmare, probably worse than it was a month ago. I swear, it just comes in on uncontrollable waves. We're all thinking about you. Dave

I lost my wife 7 months ago. I used to call her cell just to hear her voice. What you going through is normal. There is no bigger loss than a spouse. I still won't sleep on her side of the bed. I still keep the clothes she passed away in on her night stand. She was 54 and died of breast cancer. I will say it gets a bit easier as the days go on. Prayers are with you. Mike.