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Memorial jewellery from ashes.

(106 Posts)
annsixty Wed 04-Jan-23 09:56:17

Have any of you had jewellery made containing ashes of loved ones?
Friends of mine very sadly lost their son to a massive and very unexpected heart attack a few months ago.

She told me that the females in the family were having rings or pendants made where the ashes are turned into stones of any. colour you choose.

I was very interested as I still have my H’s ashes ( waiting for mine to join them) and I thought how nice it would be to have rings made for my D and two GDs and myself.

I met up with her just before Christmas and she showed me the ring.
I was very underwhelmed, I know that it was expensive and it looked so cheap and frankly awful.

I went off the idea straightaway but then wondered if anyone had done the same with good results.
They also had had several teddy bears made from some of his very nice shirts.
These were really lovely, very well made and a super keepsake.

eazybee Sat 02-Nov-24 13:21:11

What an unnecessarily unpleasant post, Paddyann.

You may have cancelled God but I doubt He has cancelled you.

paddyann54 Sat 02-Nov-24 12:09:51

grammy grammy I find that attitude very offensive .I cancelled god many decades ago but I can assure you I have lived a good and useful life.I have cared for the sick,the old the vulnerable all my life which is a heck of a lot more than many so called “good Christian’s” do!
I can’t abide the Christian’s who think everyone else is beneath them just because they believe in fairytales in holy books that ARE ALL WRITTEN BY FLAWED HUMANS ,most of whom wrote these tomes or altered them over time to keep control of the peasants who were uneducated I for one hope there is no heaven where our loved ones look over us from…why would I want anyone I love to witness the mess the world is in now death and destruction widespread,and the eegits like Trump ruling over it? I,ll happily stay godless thank you and anyone who tries to convert me will get short shrift!

Franski Sat 02-Nov-24 10:31:01

My sister had a pendant made with a small amount of her hisbands ashes. It looks v tasteful. Only she knows and its a comfort to her. Each to their own x

rocketstop Sat 02-Nov-24 08:25:34

Not being flippant here, but an old friend who was childless and loved her dog, had a necklace with his teeth embedded into it when he died.I thought that was weird ..but each to their own !

Jeaniejam Fri 01-Nov-24 16:44:01

My family and I had did this but we didn't go down the jewellery route. We had an ornament piece made which also acts as a candle holder, with the ashes mixed inside the glass. We can now light a candle every evening and it's a beautiful Ashes Candle Holder.

janipans Fri 13-Jan-23 12:14:41

My brother committed suicide aged 40. He'd have been 64 now. I took a lock of his hair and wore it in a pendant with his photo in for many, many years and swore I would take him with me wherever I went in my life. When the chain broke, it seemed to me to be a sign that it was time for a change of necklace - I felt strong enough to carry him in my heart alone - (but I still keep the pendant safe and sound).

effalump Sun 08-Jan-23 12:49:16

I have cousins who had this done when their uncle died. I know they are very expensive. When my mum died, I had her fingerprint put on a silver keyring but I don't like to use it incase I lose it, which is probably the right thing to do as I have lost my main car key this week and I've turned the house upside down but I can't find it.

Mauriherb Sun 08-Jan-23 09:34:33

I'm not keen on the use of ashes , but the memory bears/ cushions I think are a lovely idea

Marydoll Sat 07-Jan-23 11:11:59

icanhandthemback, well said!

icanhandthemback Sat 07-Jan-23 11:03:52

Well said, StoneofDestiny (Fri 06-Jan-23 18:57:49). There are areas of Christianity which I feel might have been eroded but on the whole, Christianity is about a forgiving, loving God which doesn't sit well with Hell and Damnation!

happycatholicwife1 Fri 06-Jan-23 23:17:25

No. For all the people I have loved and lost, I have physical things which they used or gave me. I have recipes and rhymes from grandparents, pieces of furniture, etc. I'm not a fan of ashes in any form, scattered or not. Certainly wouldn't care to have them sitting on the mantle when there are so many lovely pictures to be had.

StoneofDestiny Fri 06-Jan-23 18:57:49

It is the very centre of traditional Christianity. It offends you but you don't get to change it to make it palatable to you. Ignore God (Jesus) in this life and he will ignore you in the next (Hell). Take it or leave it. That is the message of mainstream traditional Christianity

Firstly, this is not the message of mainstream Christian teaching. It is the belief of narrow minded, intolerant people who believe in their superiority over those with other religious beliefs or those with none. It is so scary and has been used to demonise and kill people of different beliefs as if they did not matter!
Secondly - some other religions teach this superiority too, this utter certainty they alone will be saved by their faith alone.
So - there may be many segregated private members 'Heavens' full of intolerant judgemental people that no sane good person would want to go to....................or you are, I am glad to say, completely wrong about what Christianity is teaching.

Bluedaisy Fri 06-Jan-23 18:09:19

When my DM passed away I had a small pendant made for myself and sister from ashes to glass and a beautiful paperweight made of her ashes for my son. I regret having them made now because although they only used a teaspoon of her ashes in each pendant etc I worry where they will end up when I pop off. I think I will leave instructions for my pendant to be added to my ashes when I pass away. The rest of her ashes have been interred in a plot along with her beloved dogs ashes that I mixed in with hers. As for my dogs my DS and DDL have strict instructions to mix all their ashes in with my own when I die.

rosemary55 Fri 06-Jan-23 17:30:18

I find my ring very comforting,

sandye Fri 06-Jan-23 17:13:54

My friend had some of her husbands ashes made into rings and necklace's for her and her 2 daughters and I must say they looked really nice. She used the company Ashes to Glass and they are nice and tasteful.

luluaugust Fri 06-Jan-23 16:58:43

A dear friend whose son died unexpectedly had a necklace made similar to flowerofthewest, it is dark blue and none of us would have realised if she hadn't told us. I don't know what I would do until the situation arises

Blondiescot Fri 06-Jan-23 16:45:36

GrammyGrammy

Blondiescot

GrammyGrammy

TerryM 'Grammy Grammy you are aware not everyone is Christian?'
You are aware not everyone is pagan?

You are aware that those aren't the only two options?

And as for the jewellery/ashes thing, everyone grieves in their own way, so if it brings comfort to someone, where's the harm in it? If you don't like it, fair enough - but some of the comments on here are a bit harsh, to say the least.

You are aware Christians are allowed a view on here too and should not be othered continually because their view is different to most?

Where did I suggest otherwise?

Hels001 Fri 06-Jan-23 16:29:56

I know a few folk who've had memorial jewellery made some nice some not so. My worry would be losing it I'd be devastated if I'd lost part of my loved ones ashes but each to their own. I much prefer the memory bears made from loved ones clothes. I've seen some lovely examples of these.

GrammyGrammy Fri 06-Jan-23 16:14:46

Blondiescot

GrammyGrammy

TerryM 'Grammy Grammy you are aware not everyone is Christian?'
You are aware not everyone is pagan?

You are aware that those aren't the only two options?

And as for the jewellery/ashes thing, everyone grieves in their own way, so if it brings comfort to someone, where's the harm in it? If you don't like it, fair enough - but some of the comments on here are a bit harsh, to say the least.

You are aware Christians are allowed a view on here too and should not be othered continually because their view is different to most?

lovebeigecardigans1955 Fri 06-Jan-23 15:52:20

My vet had some drop earrings made from her mother's ashes and they were very pretty if rather expensive.

silverlining48 Fri 06-Jan-23 15:06:52

Each to their own, whatever helps someone who is grieving is ok with me. I think your pendant is very pretty flowersofthewest.

Nanatoone Fri 06-Jan-23 15:05:08

Mollygo.
Thanks for the advice, it’s always helpful when someone advises a person to “scroll on by” when they’ve already read the posts. Remember that this post is essentially about bereavement and it would be helpful if anyone replying to it would consider those of us who are bereaved when they use words like “creepy” to describe the bodies of our loved ones. Of course I appreciate its not for everyone but this is one case when words matter.

4allweknow Fri 06-Jan-23 14:46:41

Not for me anything made from ashes of deceased person. I feel like the rest of 'stuff' accumulated in life, whoever is left to sort things out may consider items to be worthless and they end up in charity shops, local tips or if lucky and felt valuable being sold by the benefactors. Memories, pictures are of more value to remember the deceased than a constant reminder of ashes that they are dead.

Southdowns Fri 06-Jan-23 14:46:12

This is an interesting question.
Before my husband died ( 7 months ago ) I used to think that if and when the time came, I would happily scatter his ashes under our favourite seat which overlooks the beach and where we used to sit and both feel happy.
However, now I find that I’m really not ready yet to “ let him go”, and his ashes are still in the box in our bedroom. Previously I really would have found this creepy, but not now!
What I have found helpful is giving away most of his very nice clothes to my son, and I love seeing him wearing them. And I’ve kept back a few for myself, and just love snuggling up in his merino cardigan! I’m really gather surprised at all this, wearing his clothes was never on the agenda!

Blondiescot Fri 06-Jan-23 14:37:51

GrammyGrammy

TerryM 'Grammy Grammy you are aware not everyone is Christian?'
You are aware not everyone is pagan?

You are aware that those aren't the only two options?

And as for the jewellery/ashes thing, everyone grieves in their own way, so if it brings comfort to someone, where's the harm in it? If you don't like it, fair enough - but some of the comments on here are a bit harsh, to say the least.