Viral Pawtucket man’s family still receiving Christmas cards two years later

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — George Dowling died back in March, but his family said they still receive Christmas cards addressed to him after a viral video hit close to home for people all over the world.

Dowling was a Pawtucket native and Navy veteran who was 96-years-old.

“He was a great dad, and a good grandfather; he was just an amazing person,” his daughter Suzan Brito said.

Brito said that in 2022, Dowling fell victim to a “blue Christmas” after his wife’s death.

His grand-daughter then made a TikTok video asking for people to send him Christmas cards. and since then, people have not stopped sending cards.

“He was getting so many presents from all over the world,” Brito said. People from China, people from Guam. I have not gone one day without getting a card.”

As of Friday, two Christmases later, 32,027 cards have been sent.

Brito said since she has been continuously receiving cards, she did post a video to social media letting people know her father had passed.

Since that post, some of the cards now have sympathy messages.

“It’s amazing,” Brito added. “It’s the never-ending Christmas. It just never stops and I hope it never stops.”