My mom rarely spoke about the grandmother I never met. Family heirlooms finally opened a door to our family's past.

The writer never met her grandmother (shown with her husband before they married), but was able to ask her mom questions about her after she inherited family heirlooms.

Courtesy of Isobella Jade.

• I grew up not knowing much about my family history, but was always curious to know more.
• I inherrited some items from a grandmother I never met, including a jewelry and a photo album.
• I used these items as a way to start conversations with my mother about the past.

I never met my grandma Marie...