Some people dread the holiday season, even though many people love it.
After Suzan Brito’s mother died, her father had a hard time during the holidays. His wife always looked forward to Christmas, and when she died, everyone was sad.
Brito knew just what to do to cheer up her father: send him a lot of Christmas cards.
George Dowling has had a hard time getting through life during the month of December for the past nine years. In 2013, his wife Lucille died after a long fight with Alzheimer’s. They had been married for 70 years.
She loved Christmas, and not being with her at her favorite time of year was heartbreaking for her.
Dowling, who is 95 years old, said to The Washington Post, “She was Christmas.” “She did all the big things, like cooking and baking.”
The holiday was canceled the first year Lucille, Brito, and Dowling weren’t there.
They took down their Christmas tree, which Lucille always decorated the day after Thanksgiving, and didn’t do anything for the holiday.
She said, “My father couldn’t handle it.”
Brito lives with her father, who is a veteran of World War II. She takes care of him the most.
When December 1 came around the next year, she tried to think of ways to cheer up her father. Since her father liked getting mail, she asked her friends and family on Facebook to send him a Christmas card.
About 30 were given to him.
“It helped him get through all of December.”
Since then, she has kept putting out calls for cards.
Brito told WJAR that his friends and family sent him a few every year, which he loved. “It was 14 last year, and he was sad then. It wasn’t enough to get him through the holidays.”
After last year’s less-than-stellar turnout, Brito used social media a little earlier than usual. Her daughter also helped by telling the story of her grandfather on TikTok.
On the first day, he got a few cards, but then he got a lot of them at his Rhode Island home.
Brito’s daughter, Charlene Fletcher, says that as of December 12, Dowling has received more than 15,000 cards.
“It warms my heart,” she said.
“I don’t know how to thank these people enough. Brito said of her father, “He gets so sad, and this cheers him up.” “It’s just amazing.”
“I appreciate everything. “Thank you for writing,” Dowling said to everyone who sent him a card. “People are helpful, and they are nice.”
You can send cards to:
George Dowling’s address is 64 Harris Street, Pawtucket, RI 02861.
It’s important to remember that the holidays aren’t always a happy time, but it makes me happy to see how many people have gone out of their way to make someone else happy this holiday season.