OUR CHERISHED KEEPSAKES

Even the simplest items can keep precious memories alive for a long time after someone has passed

- VERONIQUE HAWKSWORTH

Holding on to a sentimental item can help us feel closer to a loved one who has died. In fact, research has found humans have been keeping mementos of loved ones for at least 2,000 years, and even the most ordinary items can act as a reminder of a lasting bond. We take a look at the stories of three women and the special keepsakes that connect them to the ones they’ve lost.

‘Seemingly mundane objects became items of comfort’

Shilpa Bilimoria-Cherry, 39, lives in London with her husband David, two daughters and stepson.

It’s the little things that trigger memories of my sister Hina. Brushing my teeth, I hear her telling me not to leave the tap running. ‘It’s bad for the environment,’ she always used to say. When I’m opening a gift, it reminds me how she’d carefully fold the paper, never throwing it away. Wearing her clothes reminds me of her, too – worn-out with restitched seams, Hina’s pyjamas are among my most prized possessions.

HEARTBREAKING LOSS

Almost seven years older than me, Hina was my whole world, and we got closer as we grew up. As kids, I’d go to her for advice and we’d go shopping together. I remember beaming with pride after she let me choose her outfit for a neighbour’s party.

But suddenly, in 1996, when I was 13, Hina was in a car accident. She died aged just 18, leaving me, my parents and two younger sisters behind, heartbroken.