By fypfeed in News On 15th August 2025
A Unique Memorial Choice
If West Virginia nurse Angelica Radevski lost her husband, TJ, in the spring of this year she was confronted with the same pain that millions of widows experience. ShockiWidow Preserves However, instead of opting for an traditional urn, locket or even a framed photo, Angelica made an extraordinary choice: she saved a portion of the tattooed skin of her husband and put it in a frame to create a lasting memorial.
Although it may seem for some people, is shocking. It has since become a viral phenomenon and has prompted international discussions on how grieving people think about and remember their loved family members.
Love Story That Spanned Decades
Angelica who is now 35 has known TJ since their childhood. They stayed in touch for many years as close friendships before their the relationship blossomed. In 2021, they got married and moved in together with their child Preston whom is now ten years old.
Tragically during March of in this calendar year TJ was suddenly killed at 55. The loss was devastating for the family and left Angelica seeking ways to ensure his continued presence.
“I didn’t want something generic,” she stated in an TikTok video which has been watched more than thirty million times. “We had discussed this prior to. I was aware of the way we would do.”
Choosing The Tattoo
TJ has collected over 70 tattoos on his body throughout his life. One tattoo stood out above other tattoos that was the Pittsburgh Steelers helmet design that was adorned with skulls, and sporting the iconic black and gold color scheme.
It was the first full-sleeve tattoo that which both TJ along with his son Preston were deeply in love with. When it was time to decide which part to keep, Preston was given the final decision.
“He looked at it and just said: ‘This is Dad,'” Angelica recalls.
The Preservation Process
Following the service, Angelica carefully traced the tattoo that was chosen on TJ’s right arm using the help of a marker. A mortician removed the skin layer and put it in an exclusive kit made available from The company Saving My Ink Forever, an Ohio-based firm that specialises in the preservation of tattoos.
The procedure was completed prior to TJ’s funeral, to ensure that the tattoo was saved in its original format.
The process of preserving the tattoo took approximately ninety days. When the tattoo was finally was delivered — placed beneath glass in a hefty wooden frame Angelica stated that the emotional response was overwhelming.
“When they handed it to us, I was shocked,” she said to the People. “But the shock was pleasant surprise. In a flash, all things that I was absent seemed to return.”
More Than Ink On Skin
Contrary to the image or a replica, the tattoo that was preserved was a visual representation of the textures it exhibited: wrinkles, lines, or even hairs on TJ’s arms.
“This isn’t a copy,” Angelica said on TikTok. “You are able to see the hair wrinkles, his wrinkles, and the ink that I kissed goodnight with. It’s real. It’s him.”
The pair of Angelica and Preston the framed tattoo has become a deeply soothing object. “When we hold the frame, it feels like holding him,” she told me. “It does so much more than a picture ever could.”
Social Media Reaction
Angelica’s TikTok posts about the process went viral, receiving thousands of views and millions of comments. The decision was praised by many as a fitting tribute to Angelica, and critics called it disturbing.
Some have even compared the crime to the notorious serial murderer Jeffrey Dahmer who was famously known for collecting body parts.
Angelica However, she isn’t regretful. “Just because it’s not what you would do doesn’t mean it’s wrong,” she replied with conviction. “People grieve in different ways. My family members needed.”
Save My Ink Forever
The company based in Ohio Saving My Ink Forever has been in operation since the year 2016 and gives families the possibility of keeping their loved ones’ tattoos to keep as a keepsake. The process involves taking off the skin tattooed during the embalming process or prior to cremation by chemically treating it and afterwards framing it for a the long-term display.
According to the company, demand has increased quickly, with customers from all over the world wanting to preserve tattoos that range from small initials up to full covers and even backpieces.
“Every tattoo has a story,” the company says on their website. “Preserving that story can bring comfort and keep memories alive for generations.”
Cultural And Historical Context
Preservation of tattoos, though uncommon in contemporary America but it’s not completely new. The history of the world shows that tattooed skin was often collected as artifacts of the anthropological, especially in Pacific Islander and Indigenous communities.
In Japan The tattoos that have been preserved by Yakuza members are kept within museums for display as treasures. But, in the present, the tattoos are not viewed as a display but rather as a deeply personal art of memorialization.
Family’s Ongoing Journey
Outside of the tattoo Angelica is open and honest about the emotional and financial difficulties her family endured following TJ’s death. Without life insurance in place it was a burden to pay funeral expenses as well as everyday expenses has been overwhelming.
She is now making use of her platform to inspire others to discuss the end of life planning process — not only physically, but also financially.
“Instead of spending a year planning a wedding, why not also plan for death?” she asked. “We should make it less controversial. Be ready for what you’d like to see in your body and ensure your family doesn’t suffer.”
Experts Weigh In
The choice of Angelica’s family members is a sign of a wider change in the way families honor their loved relatives. The doctor. Katherine Meyers an expert psychologist in grief, describes:
“People nowadays want more personal ceremonies. Funerals and urns that are traditional do not always fulfill the demands of grieving families. Through the preservation of a tattoo Angelica has created a memorial which represents her husband’s name in a tangible fashion.”
Funeral directors also point out that families are more likely to request distinctive memorials ranging from ashes transformed into diamonds to memorial tattoos inked using cremation the ashes. Preservation of tattoos is the latest advancement in this rapidly growing field.
Viral Debate On Grief And Boundaries
On social media the story has generated an intense debate. People who support Angelica’s actions describe her as “beautiful,” “powerful,” and “deeply moving.” Others feel that it is disturbing.
“I could never imagine having skin framed in my living room,” one TikTok user wrote. Another replied: “If it helps her heal, who are we to judge?”
The viral response demonstrates how individual grieving rituals can be a challenge to social norms, making society face what is acceptable in the rituals of mourning.
A Son’s Healing Connection
For the young Preston the tattoo framed provides a sense of security to the grief loss of his father. “He touches the glass and says, ‘This is Dad,'” Angelica told me. “It gives him comfort, and that’s what matters most to me.”
In the meantime, as Angelica continues to post updates on her blog, her story resonates with many widows or widowers as well as children who are also dealing with similar loss.
“This piece is proof that he was here, that he lived,” she declared. “And now he will never be forgotten.”
