Rather than just expressing her emotions, she turned to a more tangible way of honoring her husband.
Angelica Radevsky faced a profound loss when her husband passed away unexpectedly this year, leading her and many in West Virginia to make surprising decisions that caught the attention of countless people online.
At 35, Angelica had married TJ in 2021, and they had been close friends long before becoming spouses, raising her 10-year-old son, Preston, together.
Following TJ’s sudden death at age 55 in March, Angelica sought something different from conventional keepsakes. Instead, she aimed to preserve a piece of her husband’s skin to showcase his favorite tattoo for her son.
“We had talked about this idea previously, so it felt right,” Angelica mentioned in a TikTok video.
Out of the more than 70 tattoos TJ had, they decided to keep his Pittsburgh Steelers helmet design, which was his first sleeve tattoo and a shared favorite of his and Preston’s. Ultimately, it was Preston who made the final decision.
“This represents dad,” he told Angelica.
After the funeral, Angelica used a marker to outline the tattoo she wanted to keep on TJ’s right arm. The process for preservation involved carefully removing the skin and placing it in a special storage kit from an Ohio company called Save My Ink, which needed it before TJ was cremated.
The preservation took about 90 days. When the company returned a framed version of the tattoo, the moment felt overwhelming as it was beautifully encased in glass within a dark wooden frame.
“I was in awe when he handed it to us,” Angelica recalled. “It was a good kind of shock. It made me feel better sooner than I expected.”
The framed tattoo still bore the texture of TJ’s skin, complete with fine details like the wrinkles and even his hair.
“This isn’t a replica. You can see the hair, the wrinkles, and the ink I once kissed goodnight,” Angelica shared.
Both she and Preston feel that this piece offers a deeper connection to TJ than traditional memorials ever could.
Angelica later shared her journey of grief and preservation on TikTok, where her stories about the tattoos have drawn nearly 30 million views.
Reactions were mixed; while many offered support and admiration, others likened her choice to something from a horror movie.
Yet, Angelica stands firm.
“You don’t need to judge me for my choices just because you wouldn’t make the same ones,” she expressed.
“We feel him strongly here, both mentally and energetically. But this piece is something we really need. When we want to connect with him, holding the frame feels so much more meaningful than just a photograph.”
Additionally, Angelica hopes her story encourages others to engage in conversations about death and prepare for it in advance. Without life insurance, her family faced significant financial challenges after TJ’s passing, prompting her to advocate for open discussions on end-of-life wishes.
“Instead of spending a year planning a wedding, why can’t we have honest discussions about death?” she suggested. “You can plan ahead—both financially and in terms of what you want for your body.”
