I must confess that I have never met my namesake and that makes me sad. I was named after my Aunt, my mother’s sister. Her name was Marguerite May. I was named Marguerite Louise. Marguerite May died three years before I was born at the age of only 25. She was sickly all her life but got very sick in her early 20’s. She died as a consequence of having Coeliac disease. Unfortunately it was not until her autopsy that Coeliac disease was officially diagnosed. From what I’ve been told, I think there was suspicion of Coeliac disease because dietary changes had been in place for some time. Sadly though, in those days not much was known about Coeliac disease, or how to manage it, and the damage to her body had been done.
Marguerite May was born on 4 February 1936. She passed away on 28 April 1961. I was born on 31 May 1964. If Marguerite May were alive today she would be 79.
When it came to this weeks prompt over at My Home Truths for the I Must Confess link up – Do you have an item that you treasure? What does it mean to you and why? – though I have many items that I treasure, it was two items that immediately sprang to mind. I have a ring and a marquesite watch that belonged to Marguerite May. I love and treasure them very much. Marguerite May and I share a name, but having inherited these items makes me feel a stronger connection to this special Aunt who I never got to meet.
Marguerite May’s Marquesite Watch still with original ‘Prouds’ case
Marguerite May’s Black Onyx ring with her Marquesite watch behind
Marguerite May married the love of her life ‘Tom’ in 1957. They were married only a few short years before she passed away. Tom never remarried and visited her grave every day for the remainder of his life. He is now buried beside his wife.
Marguerite May & Tom on their wedding day
I know that one day we will meet and it will be like we have known each other all our lives. We will have so much to talk about! 🙂
Is there someone special in your life that you never got to meet?
Ciao for now,
Camera Settings for photography enthusiasts:
Photo 1: Lens 105mm (micro), Aperture F3, Shutter Speed 1/15s
Photo 2: Lens 105mm (micro), Aperture F11, Shutter Speed 1.30s
Photo 3: An old photo that has been scanned 🙂
Linking up with My Home Truths for #IMustConfess
and One Mother Hen for #OpenSlather
36 Comments
What a gorgeous ring and watch.
I suppose for me that special person was my late aunt (mother’s sister) who died two weeks before I was born at the age of 18. My daughter is named after my aunt and was recently gifted her watch when my grandmother died.
Wow – you have an aunt who was your mother’s sister who died before you were born too! So sad that she was only 18. It’s lovely that you named your daughter after her and that your daughter has her watch. I have two grandfathers that died before I was born too.
That’s so sad! Only 25. What a shame. I love that you received her name and keepsakes. xx
It’s very sad. I can’t image how hard the loss of Marguerite must have been for my Grandmother. Sadly, she also lost her husband not long after!
Such a gorgeous watch and ring and how special to receive her name .
I’m very grateful to my mother who named me after her sister and gifted me these two items that belonged to Marguerite May 🙂
Oh how beautiful is she… And that dress. Loved reading this.. Reminded me of my great aunt
Glad you enjoyed reading Natalie! 🙂
What a beautiful story and beautiful treasures you now possess!
Thanks Zita 🙂
Beautiful items, but what a sad story to go with them. And your Aunt’s husband, what devotion. Than you for sharing this story x
Thanks Kylie and yes it’s all very sad but it’s wonderful that we have keepsakes from her lifetime including photographs! 🙂
Oh what a sad story, poor Marguerite and Tom. I remember my mum had a marquisite watch like this one; but who knows what happened to it … perhaps my stepfather binned everything or gave it to his daughters after her death?!
Such a shame that you don’t know what happened to your Mum’s marquisite watch Janet! Marguerite May’s watch needs some TLC. I’ll get her all beautiful one day soon I think! 🙂
What an incredible, albeit sad, story. I have lots of things that belonged to my great grandmother who died when I was 19. I also have a few things that belonged to her dad as a child circa 1895 which are very special even though I never got to meet him.
It’s lovely to have things from our relatives to remember them by isn’t it! You are so lucky to have known your great grandmother Toni! Amazing to have some things that belonged to her Dad – just incredible.
I never got to meet my Uncle Wally (Dad’s brother) as he died of leukaemia when he was in his 20’s, about 10 years before I was born. Apparently he fell ill on his honeymoon and passed away 4 months later. It’s such a tragic story, similar to your aunt’s in some ways. So sad x
Oh that’s so sad that your Uncle Wally died young also Kirsty, and of course that you never got to meet him. His poor wife – such a short time married! Tragic 🙁 x
What a beautiful post Min. But so heartbreaking to read that your Aunt died at such a young age. The watch and ring are beautiful and I would treasure them too. xx
Thank you Bec! It is sad – it’s always been a ‘story’ as I grew up but I feel it more and more as I get older (if that makes sense). I can’t imagine how hard it was for my Grandparents and my Mum and her siblings to lose her back then, and of course for Tom.
Min,
what a bitter sweet story. The watch and ring are beautiful and so classical. How wonderful to have them to connect you with your aunt.
Even though we are the same age I was very fortunate to have my grand parents until relatively recently. I have several keepsakes from both of them, some precious books that my grandmother was awarded when she was in school, some of her text books from her teaching days, a red porcelain cat and a set of earthenware mugs so popular back in the 1980’s when I bought my first house. From my grandfather I have a set of his sergeants strips and shoulder epaulets from one of his combat uniforms that he wore during World War Two.
For me though my most precious keepsakes are my memories of them. I wish you had been able to collect the same sort of memories.
Thanks for opening your heart to share your memories and keepsakes with us.
Ciao,
Patrick
Yes I’m very lucky to have those two items and appreciating them more and more as I get older. You’re so lucky Patrick to have had your Grandparents until relatively recently. Sounds like you have some fabulous keepsakes to remind you of both which is wonderful! I never met either of my grandfathers (both passed away before I was born). I do have wonderful memories of both my grandmothers. I was 19 when they passed away – in the same month of the same year. It was March 1984 they both passed away – not a good year.
Wonderful to have those things from your aunt, true and beautiful treasures. Thanks for telling her story, such a shame she died so young xx
It sure is a shame Alicia! xo
What a lovely story to go with your treasured things. I don’t remember meeting my Great Grandfather as I was around 6months old when he died. His photo holding me held pride of place on my Great Grandmother’s mantle and still does on my Grandmothers as it was the last photo taken of him.
Hi there Anne! Isn’t that fabulous that a photo of your Great Grandfather holding you as a baby was captured. What a lovely image to have to pass down through generations! 🙂
Oh, that’s a sad, but also very beautiful story – and a beautiful watch.
Thanks Jo – yes so sad isn’t it? I can’t imagine how painful the loss of her was to my grandmother, and of course my mother and her other siblings. I love having her beautiful watch and ring, and of course … her name!
Hi Min, I have a small round box with an embroidered lid that I treasure. My cousin brought it back from China as a gift for my Mother probably in the late 70s. When my mother was going for her cancer treatment one day, she gave me the box and said she wanted me to have it. She never came home from hospital and must have known. I look at it regularly and think of my Mum and can’t believe she has been gone for almost 33 years. What a lovely gift for you to treasure from your Aunt.
Sue, how wonderful to have such a special item from your Mum and so good you know the story behind it. 33 years is such a long time to have been without your mother. The time sure goes quickly. It’s already been 15 months since we lost Dad. xo
What gorgeous treasures but what a sad story. That watch is just beautiful x
It is a sad story, but lovely to have some of her things that she wore and I know I’ll meet her one day. xo
What a sad but lovely story Min and beautiful mementoes of your aunt too. I have my great grandmother’s wedding ring which I now wear as my own wedding ring didn’t last the distance – luckily the marriage has though 🙂 . A very thoughtful and dear post. #lifethisweek
Thanks Deb! That’s pretty special to have your great grandmother’s wedding ring!
It was lovely to read this Min. It was a sad story but so full of love. As soon as I saw the watch it reminded me of my late Mum’s sister who died far too young at 62 or 63 and she wore a watch like this. You share the same birthday of 31 May as well!
Memories, treasured and kept like this are lovely.
Thank you for linking up for #LifeThisWeek Next week’s optional prompt: April Is About. Denyse
Thanks Denyse! What a coincidence that I share a birthday with your Aunt! xo