Sue, my 2nd cousin once removed, asked me to convert this old necklace to a rosary. It belonged to her grandmother Catherine who passed away decades ago (Catherine was married to my great grandfather Florian LeGrave's brother Alexander). It turns out that there were enough beads to make two rosaries, so I did.

All of the beads are original from the necklace. One centerpiece features an image of the Holy Family while the other is the Miraculous Medal on a blue background. Both crucifixes match their centerpiece. The chain is silver-plated steel.

She's planning to pass rosaries down to her daughters.

About the whole project, Sue said:

"Grandma wore pearls. Grandma was a small feisty Belgian woman with a determination. Not sure how well she got along with my Mother but they coexisted. Even after having her in my first 19 years of my life, I can't remember her voice. I cannot remember how much English she knew and I still never learned Belgian, even after 19 years. Her and Grandpa lived in two rooms in our home. We shared a kitchen and ate together. She was great at frying potatoes (I know the Belgian word but can't spell it) and frying porkchops and side pork crispy.

"Every day I would play either rummy or solitaire with her. I would read and reread letters and cards they received and take naps across the foot of her bed when I was little. Oh and her little pink mints and after dinner mints were always in her cabinet. Occasionally we would go through her dresser and look at her pretty hankies and crocheting and her pearls. She wore them to church, weddings and funerals. That's the only jewelry I remember and her earrings.

"When she died Mom had some of the jewelry. The pearls were in an old box from some long gone business. After Mom died I gave my sister all Moms jewelry except the pearls. Anyone who has met me knows I wear no jewelry except special occasions, but not pearls. Maybe I should say, they are not authentic pearls. I did have jeweler check them out. What am I too do with said necklace? Who will someday inherit them, two daughters, one granddaughter. What a dilemma.

So having a distant relative who has a fantastic craft, Scott Crevier was willing to fulfill my wish and made two beautiful Rosaries from one old strand of pearls. It brought back so many memories of my feisty old friend, my Grandma."