i let it go. just like that disney princess song.

I just keep them, occasionally call the long dead numbers too which is kinda sad but whatever

The contact list is there to be used as such. For sentimentality, I have pictures and letters and stuff. Maybe their birthday on my calendar.

And the reality is that if it's a super important person, I won't forget them. Or I'll be senile, but by then it's a different story.

I delete it. For those people, I have more profound ways to contact them.

Apparently I delete them. I could think of one person I've had the phone number of that died 10 years ago or something. I don't have their contact details anymore.

I've not had any close family die the last decade so that answer may change.