A widow from West Virginia framed her husband’s tattooed skin after his death — and the internet is divided

TikTok has some of the most remarkable examples of human stories. At the core of one woman’s journey through her husband’s funeral, a question emerged: is there a right way to grieve? For West Virginia native Angelica Radevski, she chose to do it by framing a portion of her husband’s tattooed skin — and, as you can imagine, the internet had plenty to say.

Let’s just burst the bubble quickly: there’s no universal way to honor the dead — unless they come back to life. In that case, the solution would be strangely simple after the initial shock. Across countless cultures, people have their own unique ways of saying their final goodbyes. Some late fashion icons have even turned their funerals into runway shows. As long as a funeral home isn’t engaging in anything unethical, there’s no reason the bereaved shouldn’t be granted whatever they need to say goodbye with dignity.

According to the New York Post, Radevski and her late husband, TJ, were lifelong friends raising a ten-year-old son. They married in 2021, and his death wasn’t due to illness or anything predictable. The family was completely shocked by the loss of their patriarch.

As the story gained traction online, Radevski took to TikTok to address it directly. In the now-viral clip, she explained that she had nothing to apologize for or feel ashamed about. Instead, she hoped to give others the courage to ask for exactly what they need during a funeral to help them heal.

From the beginning, Radevski made it clear to those handling TJ’s funeral that she wasn’t asking for permission. She knew exactly what she wanted and wasn’t interested in alternatives or judgment — though she certainly received plenty of the latter online. She explained that the tattoo was deeply personal, meaningful in a way only her family could understand.

One user commented, “I am a mortician. This is not a common request, but it’s totally doable. If you want it, get it done! You can make gems out of bones, beautiful stones for a rock garden, and many other things. I think it’s a creative and beautiful way to tangibly preserve and honor a loved one.” It just goes to show how much is possible when people ask for what they truly want.

In her TikTok video, Radevski shed tears — but she insisted they were tears of joy. The procedure was carried out by an Ohio-based company called Save My Ink, which, as the name suggests, specializes in preserving tattooed skin that holds special meaning for families.

Angelica responded to the online commentary about her decision, saying, “Just because it’s not what you would want doesn’t mean you have to make me feel bad about it. We feel him here a lot — spiritually and energetically — but this is the piece we really, truly needed. When we want to feel that he’s here, we can hold the frame, and it does so much more than a picture.”

The process reportedly took three months, with Save My Ink updating Radevski every step of the way. Now, the framed tattoo hangs in their living room. And if that’s what her family needed to say goodbye with dignity, then no mean comment on the internet truly matters.