Yvonne has faced more sadness than many people experience in a lifetime. Her fifth child, Jessica, passed away unexpectedly at just 18 months old.
“We went to bed and woke up the next morning and she was dead. It was ruled a cot death. It completely changed my life, it is something that never leaves you. It takes decades, if ever, to move on from that heartache,” Yvonne says.
In the years that followed, Yvonne also lost her sister and niece in a car accident, and later her mother-in-law to breast cancer. “It was a traumatic few years for me. Those experiences changed the way I see life and love forever.”
Despite so much sorrow, Yvonne found strength in helping others heal. In 2016, she and her daughter Cassie started a personalised gift business on the NSW Central Coast. But soon after, tragedy struck again. Yvonne’s niece, Hannah—who was the same age Jessica would have been—lost her baby in a stillbirth.
“My heart just broke for her. We have a very special relationship, and she is such a beautiful person and I know how absolutely devastating it is to lose a child and go through that pain,” Yvonne said.
Wanting to comfort her niece, Yvonne created a keepsake box and memorial plaques.
“It made me feel good to be able to give her something physical to help ease her pain at losing her baby, Darcy. I feel an affinity with people who have lost a loved one. So, we decided our calling was to create personalised memorial gifts.”
And that’s how Chain Valley Gifts was born.
A family business helping families heal
Today, Chain Valley Gifts is run by Yvonne and her daughters Cassie and Brigette. Their mission is to offer Australia’s largest range of personalised memorial gifts—more than 300 products, all made in Australia.
Kids and families can find all sorts of comforting items, including:
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Soft cushions and blankets
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Photo keepsakes
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Wind chimes
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Candles and garden plaques
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Keepsake boxes and guest books
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Statues and Christmas ornaments
They’ve sold tens of thousands of meaningful items and are always creating new designs to help people feel connected to loved ones they’ve lost.
As Yvonne explains, “It’s something that people need, whether they’ve lost someone themselves or a friend or family member is experiencing grief. It’s a way to show that you care and leave them with a tangible reminder of their loved one.”
They even offer a Pet Memorial range for families who want to remember their furry friends.
A heart for helping others
To better support grieving families, Yvonne has studied NLP, Life Coaching, and recently completed a Grief Counselling course.
“I take the enquiry calls, and I feel like I am truly able to help people through a challenging time. We do go out of our way to try and make something as close to what the customer wants as possible,” she says.
“It fills my soul when I can help other people and know what we are creating is soothing for them.”
Through love, creativity, and compassion, Yvonne and her family have turned their own heartbreak into a beautiful way to help others heal.
For more information visit chainvalleygifts.com.au
