Widow Preserves Late Husband's Tattooed Skin As A Powerful Memorial: 'It Does So Much More Than A Picture'

When Angelica Radevski lost her husband earlier this year, the grief was overwhelming. But the West Virginia nurse and mother-of-one decided to honor him in a way that few would ever consider — she had a portion of his tattooed skin preserved and framed as a permanent keepsake.

Angelica, now 35, had known TJ for most of her life. They had been close friends long before marrying in 2021 and building a life together with their 10-year-old son, Preston.

Angelica Radevski’s husband and lifelong friend, TJ, passed away unexpectedly earlier this year. facebook/angelica.schultze

In March, TJ passed away suddenly at the age of 55. Angelica knew she didn’t want a standard memorial or a piece of jewelry. She wanted something that would truly feel like him — and so she chose to frame part of his tattooed skin.

"I knew we were going to do this because we had talked about it before." Angelica recalled in a TikTok video that has since gone viral.

Out of the more than 70 tattoos TJ had collected over the years, they decided on his Pittsburgh Steelers helmet design, a striking piece complete with skull details and the team’s iconic black and gold colors.

This tattoo was extra special — it was his very first sleeve and one he and Preston both loved deeply. In the end, it was Preston who gave the final approval.

"This is Dad." he told his mom with certainty.

After TJ died suddenly at 55, Angelica didn’t want a traditional keepsake. facebook/angelica.schultze

Following the funeral, Angelica carefully outlined the chosen design on TJ’s right arm with a marker so the exact piece could be preserved. A mortician then removed the skin with precision, placed it into a specialized preservation kit from the Ohio company Save My Ink Forever, and shipped it away before TJ’s cremation.

The preservation process took roughly 90 days from start to finish. When the framed tattoo — set under glass in a deep, dark wooden frame — arrived back, the emotional weight of the moment was undeniable.

"When he handed it to us, I was shocked." Angelica shared with People. "And it was a good shock — so many things you didn't know you were missing instantly felt better."

Of the more than 70 tattoos TJ had inked over his body, they chose to preserve his Pittsburgh Steelers helmet design. facebook/angelica.schultze

The piece still carried the natural texture of TJ’s skin, the fine lines of his wrinkles, and even tiny hairs that remained untouched.

"This isn't a replica. You can see his hair, his wrinkles, the ink I kissed goodnight." Angelica explained in a TikTok post.

For both Angelica and Preston, the framed tattoo offers a deep physical and emotional closeness that an urn or photograph simply could not replace.

She began documenting her journey of grief and preservation on TikTok, where the video about the tattoo has been watched nearly 30 million times.

The reactions have been mixed. Many people praised her choice as a touching tribute, while others criticized it as unsettling, with some even comparing her to notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.

Still, Angelica remains confident in her decision.

"Just because it's not what you want, you don't have to make me feel bad about it." she told People without hesitation.

"We feel him here a lot, spiritually and energetically." she continued. "But this is that piece that we really, really needed. When we want to know he's here, we can hold the frame, and it does so much more than a picture."

She also hopes her story inspires others to think ahead about end-of-life matters. After TJ’s death, her family faced heavy financial struggles because there was no life insurance in place. Now, she uses her platform to encourage open, honest conversations about death and personal wishes.

"Instead of planning for a wedding for a year, why don't we start planning and making it normal and not so ugly to talk about death." she suggested. "You can be prepared — both financially and with what you want for your body."