A sporting hero's grave keeps being robbed. Now his widow begs the thieves to stop.

It’s a hard thing to comprehend, the death of a loved one.

And it’s something the widow of  All Black legend husband Jonah Lomu is struggling with – for all the wrong reasons.

Jonah Lomu died tragically last year from a heart attack. He was 40.

Watch the emotional haka performed for Lomu at his memorial below. Post continues after video.

Now, his wife Nadene has made a plea on her Facebook page, asking people to stop stealing from his grave. The stolen items include precious tokens left by Lomu’s two young sons.

“It saddens me that our sons things they choose for you keep being taken off & taken away from yr place of rest [sic],” the All Black’s widow wrote.

“I know u wouldn’t be happy they are being hurt, not just once not just twice, not even three or four times but more…I know you are watching over us and u see the pain they are being put through [sic].”

Lomu’s two sons, Brayley, 6, and Dhyreille, 5, were in tears after their ‘gifts of love’ were repeatedly removed, according to the post.

Nadene’s mother and grandmother to the two young boys added in the comment section, “Saddens me so much to see my beautiful grandsons working hard putting their decorations of flowers in ‘once again’ for their daddy and they keep being taken away.

“Seeing their crying makes my heart ache.”

With the passing of David Bowie and Alan Rickman in recent weeks, their families have chosen to keep their final resting places a secret, and with good reason, it seems.

Because shouldn’t our heroes be able to rest in peace?

You can read Nadene’s post in its entirety below:

To my love Jonah high up in the heavens. The greatest gift of all from you is our sons. A small family we are but strongly united, many will never like the love we shared, a love that not one not two nor an army can ever take away or destroy but it saddens me that our sons things they choose for you keep being taken off & taken away from yr place of rest…a child’s love is innocent & pure, I know u wouldn’t be happy they are being hurt, not just once not just twice, not even three or four times but more…I know you are watching over us and u see the pain they are being put through, the people out to make me look the fool, hun I know God knows too of the pain I’m going through & I must stay strong to endure all trials, as yr wife & mother of our sons I will stand strong like you told me too no matter what. I will continue to be a good example so they know there is much good to be thankful for & to hold them close every time they cry wanting you back because how upsetting it is seeing their gifts of love for you keep being removed since you departed this earth…daddy we miss you every single day & will always be thankful to family, friends & your great global family who are our family too for their kind hearts of love & support to us during such a sad & difficult time…if I had one wish you know what it would be…till we meet again, blowing kisses of love & pain high up into the heavens just for you.