The Words We Never Got to Say: Writing a Letter to Someone You’ve Lost

By Jordan Colton, Founder of Cherished Emblems
Helping over 17,000 families find healing through memorial jewelry since 2018

Finding Healing Through the Power of Unspoken Words

Losing someone we love leaves behind more than just grief—it often leaves us with words we never got to say. Writing a letter to someone who has passed away can be a powerful, healing practice. In this post, we’ll explore why unspoken words linger, and how writing to a lost loved one can help you feel closer to them, even when they’re no longer here.

When someone we love passes away...

...grief can leave us searching for the right words—words we never got to say, thoughts that still echo in our hearts long after they're gone.

• Maybe it’s “I love you” just one more time.
• Maybe it’s “I forgive you” for something that no longer matters.
• Maybe it’s simply “I miss you,” whispered into the quiet night.

Even though we can’t send that letter, the words still matter. Because love never stops speaking, even when they’re no longer here to hear it.

Why Unspoken Words Stay With Us

When we lose someone, it's not just their presence we miss—it’s the conversations left unfinished. We replay moments in our minds, sometimes wishing we had said more:

• “Thank you” for all the little things we took for granted
• “I’m sorry” for an old argument
• “You meant everything to me,” said just a little more clearly

But often, the truth is… they already knew. They felt our love in the way we showed up, in the laughter we shared, in the quiet rituals of everyday life.

Writing the Letter Anyway

Even if they can’t read it, writing a letter can be healing. It’s a way to:

• Speak the words that live in your heart
• Keep their memory alive in a personal and meaningful way
• Feel close to them, even in their absence

Some keep these letters in a journal. Others leave them at a gravesite, place them in a keepsake box, or tuck them inside a cremation necklace—a way to hold their memory even closer.

Because even though they’re gone, the love we shared is still here.

How We Can Still Feel Connected

Love doesn’t need words to be real—but saying them can help us honor the bond we still carry.

Here are a few meaningful ways people stay connected:

• Writing letters in a Cherished Journal to preserve memories and express emotions
• Planting a tree or flower in their name, letting life bloom in their honor
• Wearing a cherished emblem—a quiet promise that their love is always with us

We don’t stop loving someone just because they’re gone. And they don’t stop being part of our story.

A Promise to Always Remember

You may never get to send that letter—but you can still write it.
You can still speak to them in quiet moments, carry them forward in the way you live, and cherish them every single day.

Because love doesn’t fade. It just finds new ways to be heard.

What Would You Say?

If you could write a letter to someone you’ve lost, what would you say?
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments—or write it down, just for you.

And if you're looking for a meaningful way to carry their memory with you, explore our collection of memorial jewelry—designed to hold a small amount of ashes or a heartfelt note, sealed close to your heart.

About the Author

Jordan Colton is the founder of Cherished Emblems, a memorial jewelry company dedicated to helping people honor the ones they love. Since 2018, Cherished Emblems has served over 17,000 families with compassion, care, and handcrafted keepsakes that tell a story of enduring love.