A woman in West Virginia has turned to a unique and deeply personal form of memorial after the unexpected death of her husband earlier this year. Angelica Radevski, a nurse and mother, chose tattoo preservation to honor her late spouse, TJ, by having one of his tattoos professionally preserved and framed.
Radevski, 35, and her husband were lifelong friends before marrying in 2021. After TJ passed away suddenly at age 55 in March, she decided against a traditional keepsake. Instead, she selected a tattoo from his right arm — a Pittsburgh Steelers helmet design — to undergo the tattoo preservation process. The design, which included skull imagery and was inked in the team’s black and gold colors, was a favorite of both TJ and their 10-year-old son, Preston.
Following the funeral, Radevski marked the specific area of the tattoo, and a mortician carefully removed the skin for preservation. The process was carried out by Save My Ink Forever, an Ohio-based company specializing in tattoo preservation. TJ’s body was then cremated.
The preservation took approximately 90 days. When returned, the tattoo was encased in glass and set in a dark wooden frame. According to Radevski, the piece still contained the natural texture of TJ’s skin, including fine wrinkles and visible hairs, offering a physical connection that a photograph or urn could not.
“This isn’t a replica,” Radevski shared on TikTok, where she has documented her grieving process. “You can see his hair, his wrinkles, the ink I kissed goodnight.”
Her decision has sparked widespread discussion online, with her TikTok video gaining nearly 30 million views. While some viewers praised the act as meaningful and powerful, others criticized it as macabre. Despite the mixed reactions, Radevski stands by her choice, emphasizing the comfort it brings to her and her son.
In addition to promoting open conversations about grief, she has used her platform to advocate for financial and end-of-life planning. The family faced serious financial strain following TJ’s death, having not secured life insurance beforehand.
Radevski now encourages others to consider both practical and personal planning for death, including the option of tattoo preservation as a lasting memorial.
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