When Steve Howle died, his wife Vanda was determined he wouldn’t be forgotten.
She had his ashes made into 11 necklaces - so all the members of the family could wear one as a permanent reminder of him.
The necklaces were designed by Steve himself before he died and Vanda has even had her husband made into a matching ring and earrings too.
In loving memory: When her husband Steve died, his wife Vanda had his ashes made into eleven necklaces - so all the members of the family could wear one as a permanent reminder of him
In loving memory: When her husband Steve died, his wife Vanda had his ashes made into 11 necklaces - so all the members of the family could wear one as a permanent reminder of him
Vanda, 49, who lives in Peterborough, said: ‘We all love the fact that we have a bit of Steve with us all the time.
‘We all wear our pendants - and it's such a comfort to us all.’
Steve, 53, a labourer, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in January 2008 after noticing he had been struggling with the grip in his right arm since the previous summer.
Former care worker Vanda, said: ‘Steve had always been really active before. We loved caravanning and we would take our tourer caravan all over, to Blackpool, Yarmouth and Skegness and we’d have so much fun on those holidays.
‘But suddenly Steve noticed that he couldn’t really grip properly with his right hand, and I noticed that he would rest it on his lap as he drove the caravan.’
Steve went to see his GP who referred him to Peterborough Hospital, where initially doctors thought he’d had a stroke or was suffering from a frozen shoulder.
Ashes to ashes: The necklaces were designed by Steve (left) himself before he died - and Vanda has even had her husband made into a matching ring and earrings too
But he was referred to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge for further tests, and it showed that he was suffering from motor neurone disease.
Doctors broke the devastating news to him that he had only two to five years to live.
Vanda said: ‘We were just heartbroken when Steve was diagnosed. We just couldn’t believe it. We had been together since I was 16.
‘We became a couple and since then we had never spent a single night apart. It was just devastating to hear.’
Steve’s health quickly started to deteriorate. By the spring of 2009 he had to use a wheelchair and he couldn’t cut up his meals.
Vanda said: ‘Steve was always so brave, he never complained. He knew that he wouldn’t see his grandchildren grow up, and he was determined to make the most of the time he had left.
‘We went to all our favourite holiday spots for one last visit in our camper van, but it was devastating to know that it was going to be our last time together.’
Steve was so determined to still be around for his family that when he and Vanda heard on a TV programme that it was possible to make jewellery out of the ashes of loved ones, Steve made a decision.
Vanda said: ‘It was Steve’s idea. He turned to me after we’d seen the programme and said that he’d like me to do that with his ashes.
Family affair: Steve was so determined to still be around for his family that when he and Vanda heard on a tv programme that it was possible to make jewellery out of the ashes of loved ones, Steve made a decision
Family affair: Steve was so determined to still be around for his family that when he and Vanda heard on a TV programme that it was possible to make jewellery out of the ashes of loved ones, Steve made a decision
‘He said that we would always have a piece of him with us.’
So the couple contacted the company, Sentimental Connections, in Nottingham to make arrangements.
Steve chose pendants for Vanda, their five children and grandchildren.
Vanda said: ‘The pendants were beautiful and Steve wanted me to have earrings and a ring too.
‘It was emotional choosing the jewellery, but Steve was determined that we were all going to have it as a memento of him.'
Steve finally lost his battle in August last year, and his ashes were made into the jewellery, costing £1,800.
Vanda added: ‘Not a day passes that we don’t miss Steve terribly. But we all wear his pendants. He was such a family man and he would love to see us all wearing his jewellery.
‘It is such a comfort to us all, having him around us all the time.’
Managing director of Sentimental Connections Nick Cranham said: 'Our memorial jewellery has become increasingly popular – but we have never been asked to make so many items for one family before.
'We visited Steve three times before he died and consulted him on the designs and styles – to make sure his wishes were fully carried out.'
Originally Posted by salth2o
