When Kassidy learned that her grandmother had passed away, she immediately reached for a necklace she had been told not to wear until that moment. The winged cross necklace had been given to her years earlier by her grandparents, with instructions from her grandmother to save it until after her death. Nearly a decade later, Kassidy still wears it every day. The necklace serves as a reminder of both her grandmother and her father, demonstrating how ordinary objects can become powerful carriers of memory, identity, and family stories.
Personal Memory
The necklace began as a planned keepsake. While Kassidy’s grandfather was in hospice, her grandmother prepared gifts for her grandchildren. Kassidy received the winged cross pendant and was told she could choose a chain from her grandmother’s jewelry box after her passing.
When that day came, Kassidy said she immediately put it on.
“I remember I got the call when she did pass and I immediately ran to go put it on.”
Since then, the necklace has become more than jewelry. Kassidy wears it every day and often holds it when she feels anxious. The wing carries special meaning because she associates both her grandmother and her father with birds.
“I see her in birds a lot and I also see my dad in birds a lot.”
What began as a gift has become a daily reminder of the people and memories she hopes to keep close.
Family Memory
Kassidy’s experience is not unique. Meaningful objects often become reminders of important people, relationships, and moments in our lives. Over time, these keepsakes can become part of a family’s history, carrying stories from one generation to the next. Many families continue this tradition by passing meaningful objects down through the generations.
For more than 30 years, Mark has worn a ring made from a family belt buckle. Originally passed from grandfather to father, the buckle was later melted down and transformed into two rings—one for Mark and one for his brother, Mike. Rather than passing the keepsake to only one child, their father chose to share it with both sons. Mark received his ring when he learned he was going to become a father himself, and he has worn it ever since.
Like Kassidy’s necklace, the ring’s value comes not from the material itself but from the family story it carries. Objects such as jewelry, photographs, and heirlooms often outlive the people connected to them, becoming reminders of relationships, milestones, and shared experiences. In many cases, their significance far exceeds their monetary value.
Carrying Stories Forward
Nearly a decade later, Kassidy’s necklace remains part of her daily life. She still wears it every day and hopes to one day pass it on to her future children.
“I definitely see myself passing it down.”
The same intention can be found in other families. Mark and his brother also hope to pass their rings on to future generations, ensuring that the family story continues.
For Kassidy, that story lives in a winged cross necklace. For others, it may be a ring, a photograph, or another treasured keepsake. Whether worn around a neck, carried on a finger, or tucked safely away for the next generation, these objects demonstrate how stories, relationships, and memories can be preserved and passed forward long after the moments that gave them meaning have faded.
References
- Pollard, M. (2026, May). Personal communication.
- Sopko, K. (2026, May). Personal interview conducted by author.