I had a similar experience with my mom who I didn't had too much contact last years. I moved to another country and we talked less frequently that we should. She was an active writer, mostly on facebook and blog (she was blogging consistently since 2001). Now those are the media that I'm using to keep my mom image alive to my kids. She passed on January. I sent her a package for Christmas with some pictures and texts produced by me and my kids. The package came back, probably because it arrived after she was already dead. Now the package is seating near my computer untouched since weeks.