For more than 20 years, he had roses delivered to her grave three times a week

Joe DiMaggio’s devotion to Marilyn Monroe is one of the most moving and enduring stories in the world of celebrity relationships. Despite their marriage lasting only nine months, the bond between the legendary baseball player and the iconic actress left an indelible mark on both their lives.

Even after Monroe’s tragic death, DiMaggio maintained a deeply personal gesture of love that would span two decades.

Every week, for 20 years, he sent a bouquet of roses to her grave, a tribute that became a symbol of his undying affection for her.

DiMaggio and Monroe first crossed paths in 1952 and married in January 1954, after a brief courtship. Their relationship was intense, but marred by infidelities, personal issues, and the strains of their respective careers. While Monroe was rising to fame as a film star, her personal life was falling apart.

She faced struggles with mental health, addiction, and the overwhelming pressures of being in the public eye. DiMaggio, however, was one of the few men who truly cared for her, offering her a sense of protection and love during a turbulent time.

Their marriage ended in divorce just nine months later, but DiMaggio’s feelings for Monroe never faded.

When Monroe tragically passed away from a drug overdose in 1962, she was only 36 years old. DiMaggio, despite their separation, was devastated by her death. In the years that followed, he began sending weekly bouquets of red roses to her grave at Westwood Village Memorial Park in Los Angeles.

This act, which started shortly after her passing, continued for two decades until DiMaggio’s own death in 1999. The flowers were more than just a tribute; they were an expression of his love, grief, and guilt. The red roses symbolized the passion and affection that remained in his heart long after their marriage ended.

There are several reasons why DiMaggio kept this ritual alive for so long. In part, the flowers were a way for him to honor the woman he had loved and lost. Their marriage, while brief, had been marked by an intensity of feelings that never fully dissipated.

DiMaggio had always been protective of Monroe, and he likely felt a sense of responsibility for not being able to shield her from the public’s judgment, the pressures of fame, and her personal demons. The weekly deliveries of roses were his way of saying that he still cared, even though she was no longer alive.

Some of DiMaggio’s closest friends believe that he kept up the flower ritual because he wanted to preserve Monroe’s memory as something more than what the public and the media had often depicted her as.

To him, she was more than just the glamorous movie star or the tragic figure; she was a real person who deserved love and respect. The flowers represented his attempt to give her that recognition, even if the world had failed to see her that way.

To the public, the flowers became a symbol of unwavering love, a rare and beautiful expression of devotion in a world where celebrity relationships often end in bitterness or scandal. DiMaggio’s gesture was seen as a sign of the deep emotional connection that transcended the end of their marriage.

In a time when Hollywood was often filled with broken marriages and fleeting romances, DiMaggio’s weekly tribute was something that stood out — a reminder that love could endure even after death.

When Joe DiMaggio passed away in 1999, his son made the decision to continue the tradition of sending roses to Monroe’s grave. It was a fitting way to honor the memory of both his father and the woman who had been such an important part of his life. The flowers, once delivered by DiMaggio himself, continued to be a symbol of love and devotion long after his death.

The story of Joe DiMaggio’s flowers to Marilyn Monroe is one of the most touching and unforgettable tales of love in modern history. It speaks to the complexities of relationships, the pain of loss, and the enduring power of memory.

For two decades, DiMaggio’s simple act of sending roses to Monroe’s grave was a testament to a love that could not be erased, no matter the passage of time or the challenges they faced in life. Even in death, Monroe remained in his heart, and the flowers were his way of keeping her close.