There are so many wonderfully different ways of remembering and honouring family members who have passed away.
When a loved one does die it is often their jewellery that is passed down through the generations, as a reminder of that person’s significance in the family’s history.
I never knew my great grandmother Joyce; however I wear a modified version of her engagement ring every day.
Joyce married my great grandfather Ronald in 1941. She had a beautiful engagement ring with five diamonds; however one fell out and was lost during every day wear.
Joyce passed away far too young and, years later when I was one, Ron also passed away.
The ring was left to one of their daughters who had it broken down. She had the four diamonds crafted into a piece of jewellery for each of Ron and Joyce’s four grandchildren.
My uncle Grant received his diamond in an earring.
One of my Mum's cousins, Jo-ann had hers put into the center of a ring.
Mum's youngest cousin Michelle had her diamond placed into a key pendant for her 21st birthday.
My mum received her diamond inset into a love heart pendant, crafted out of the ring’s gold.
Not one for jewellery, she had the necklace put away to give to me when I was older.
The necklace sat in a safe place for many years. I always knew it was there and loved to have a sneaky look when it was brought out among all the other treasured family heirlooms.
When I was 12 I was lucky enough to wear the necklace for the first time during my uncle’s wedding to his wonderful wife. At the end of the day, however, the necklace was packed away again.
I always assumed the necklace would be given to me on my 21st birthday. However, a few short months before my 21st birthday my go-to necklace, a silver dove pendant my twin brother had bought me for our 18th birthday, broke.
I was devastated and felt naked without a necklace. It was by chance that at this time the necklace was out of its safe place again.
It was a natural progression. The necklace went on and has only come off when required to avoid damage or loss.
I’ve received so many wonderful compliments from people who notice my necklace and when I tell them it was my great grandmother’s engagement ring they are visibly surprised, a look that quickly turns into one of true appreciation.
18 months on and it is such a small but significant part of who I am. I was named after Joyce, my name being Taylah Joyce – TJ to my family.
Having never known her, I take as many opportunities to learn about her from my grandmother – her daughter.
I can only hope that one day I have someone to pass this treasured necklace onto so the memory of my beautiful great grandmother and all the stories her daughters have told me live on for as long as possible.
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