Introduction Video

If you are new to the Butterfly of Life, here is an information video featuring Rita Willaert and Sarah Person.

SALE 20% OFF ALL JEWELRY

All Butterfly of Life jewelry is now 20% off for a limited time! This includes all pendants, pins, earrings and charms. Be sure to check it out at www.butterflyoflife.com

Mary Ann's Story

I want to share one of my life’s greatest accomplishments, being a 17 year survivor of breast cancer. It has been a long hard journey, one that I don’t want to travel through again, but along the way I have had many positive experiences.

My journey began with me finding a lump in my breast, being diagnosed with cancer, having a mastectomy in December of 1989 followed by 6 sessions of chemo therapy. Telling my family that I had breast cancer was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. The look of fear in their eyes is something that I will always remember. In January of 1990 I began chemo which consisted of two treatments a week apart and then three weeks off before the next session began for a total of twelve treatments. The treatments were hard, I would get sick, depressed, I was tried all of the time and just when I was starting to get better it was time for another treatment. The children were scared and wondering what life would be like without me. Ryan at 15 grew quiet and always had a frightened look in his eyes. Paul, age 8 was angry, scared and worried about who would take care of him. He told his teacher, “At least my dad can cook so we won’t starve.” During this time I decided we needed a diversion so that our attention could be focused on something happier than my health. It was a time in my life when I could have anything I asked for and I was dumb enough to ask for a dog. We got a buff colored cocker spaniel puppy that lifted everyone’s spirits. It felt good to hear laughter and see the boys smile. She became an integral part of our family and gave us many years of enjoyment.

I could not have made it through this ordeal without the love, prayers, and support of my wonderful family and friends. They drove me to treatments, provided meals after treatments, and were there for help and support in any need that arose. I became close friends with two people that were also going through treatments for breast cancer at the same time. We would get together once a week for coffee or lunch and share our feelings, fears, laughter, and experiences. This was the beginning of a support group that still meets today. Our group has grown through the years. We never want new members, but we always welcome them and share a special bond. Cancer survivors are like a sorority in that we belong to a club that brings you together because of a common entity. We have lost some good friends along the way who will always be remembered and have met many new friends whom we treasure.

As the months turn into years since that fateful day, I can say that breast cancer has taught me many things. You start to evaluate your life in terms of other misfortunes and realize how lucky you are. For the first few years, I couldn’t have a headache without worrying that I had a brain tumor or wondering when the cancer would come back. At some point I realized that I wasn’t in control and would have to take things as they come. My family is also a survivor. My children learned during this time that THINGS are not important. That was a good lesson for them to learn, I just wish it hadn’t been under the circumstances that it was. Watching both of them graduate from high school, college, and become responsible adults was a thrill I never thought I would be able to enjoy. When people make comments about me getting old, I thank God that I am getting old. I have always felt lucky that I only had cancer. I did not need to worry about my job, about paying bills, or insurance. I had the love and support of family and friends to carry me through. Many people have to keep working because of insurance and their insurance does not cover well. They are unable to take a paid leave from work. I was able to use accumulated sick leave. My job would be waiting for me. I had a strong support system that I could count on. Looking at your own mortality changes your perspective of life. You think about how you will be remembered and what is really important in life. That is a good thing.

Many people have been touched by cancer in some way. We each have our own story. My story is no different, I am just very fortunate it has a happy ending.

All Butterfly Earrings 20% off!

Check out The Butterfly of Life® earring collection Strength. Everything is 20% off right now!

The Strength design was inspired by Sharon to encompass a gentle symbol of endurance through unwavering spirit. These 14kt yellow gold butterfly silhouettes are each accented with a diamond or gemstone.

Sharon's Story

I am a nine-year cancer survivor of breast cancer, and yet sometimes, it seems like it was just yesterday that the doctor said, "I'm sorry but the biopsy was positive."

As an elementary school principal facing surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, I was concerned about how the diagnosis would impact my professional life as well as my personal life. Young children have many questions and use their personal experiences as a filter to understand new information. I didn't want the children to be frightened by the word cancer. I wanted to make sure that the students and their families had accurate information about my diagnosis to prevent rumors. On the other hand, I needed to balance that with my need for privacy. A difficult balance to find but every day I put on my best smile and my wig and answered their questions as simply and honestly as I could. Secretly, I worried that the children might make jokes about my wig; they didn't. Children were amazing - once you answer their questions, they don't dwell on the, "what if's", they accept it and shift their focus to the next thing happening in their young lives.

I proudly wear my Butterfly of Life, designed by my friend and support group member, Rita Willaert. It serves as a reminder to me to be vigilant about my health, and hopefully, it others about the need to support on-going efforts to find a cure.

Birthday Presents (guest post by Anna Kate Nolan)

My 13th birthday was 10 days ago, and as a birthday present my dad bought me a Butterfly of Life necklace. Being the age that I am the first reaction that went through my mind was "pretty butterfly necklace" but after all the guests left, my dad sat me down and told me what this necklace stood for. "The Butterfly stands for cancer awareness" he told me. "10 percent of every butterfly necklace, pendant, pin, charm or earring sold goes to fighting cancer".

Now cancer has affected my life as well as the thousands of other people on this earth. I lost my Grandma to cancer, and my aunt was just recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I understand what this necklace stands for. Not only does it remind me of what my dad does, it connects me to my grandmother who passed away. It also keeps me thinking of the toll that cancer has taken from my life as well as so may others. Thank you Butterfly of Life.

Anna Kate Nolan

Signs of Life after Death

For years there was a lilac bush that Rita Willaert loved to sit by in the summers. She would enjoy days outside, sitting in her chair and admiring her garden while enjoying the fragrance. She would always comment that although the bush was beautiful, she had yet to have a year where the entire bush would fully bloom.

The day after Rita passed away her husband looked outside their window and realized that the bush she loved so much was in full bloom and filled with violet lilacs! He ran outside to take a photograph of the bush when noticed there was a monarch butterfly resting on the blooming flower. After he took his photograph, the butterfly fluttered past the bush and sat in Rita’s chair.

Rita suffered from ovarian cancer for over eight years. She was diagnosed in February, 2000 and immediately decided that she was not going to let cancer run her life. She was an advocate and leader for so many cancer survivors and supports. She was passionate about empowering women to be vigilant about their bodies, seeking medical tests and advice.

In 2005 Rita was sitting in her chair next to her not-in-full-bloom lilac bush when a butterfly flew past her. She was so moved and inspired that she in time created a design for a pendant. Rita worked in sales at an independent jewelry store for over 10 years and anyone that knew her could describe in detail her passion for fine jewelry. She had seen all the ribbons, crystal cancer awareness jewelry but never had she seen a piece of fine jewelry for cancer awareness. She created The Butterfly of Life® with a goal to support awareness, raise money for cancer research and education and offer support to those who purchased the butterfly.

She did just that for the last three years of her life. Her goal was to raise $1 million and is available online at www.butterflyoflife.com. Cancer survivors and supporters all over the U.S. have purchased this symbol for strength, courage, support and most of all hope, while donating to cancer research and education.

Rita’s zest for life and sense of humor always made her the life of the party. She always lived each day to the fullest and appreciated her time with close friends and family. She would always joke that when it was her time and she went to Heaven, she would be sending signs to her loved ones to remind them of her.

Rita passed away on June 12, 2008 in a nursing home surrounded by friends and family. She is greatly missed and her legacy lives on through The Butterfly of Life®. When a butterfly whispers past its Rita checking in, just to make sure we continue to fight for her dream. She is still enjoying her garden and finally got to see that lilac bush in full bloom.

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Butterfly of Life® supports Breast Cancer

Butterfly of Live® supports Breast Cancer with a pink sapphire.





Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts from cells of the breast. The disease occurs mostly in women, but men can get breast cancer too. Experts don’t know exactly what causes breast cancer, but they do know that certain risk factors are linked to the disease. Some risk factors, such as smoking, drinking and diet are linked to things a person does. Others, like a person's age, race, or family history, can't be changed. But having a risk factor, or even many, doesn’t mean that a person will get the disease.

Learn more from The American Cancer Society

Shirley's Story

"I was diagnosed with breast cancer ten years ago at the age of 34. The cancer was aggressive, and had already spread extensively in my lymph nodes. At the time, my daughter was just four years old.

While the past ten years have been filled with many treatments, surgeries and anxious moments, they have mainly been filled with life and hope. Cancer teaches many things, from how precious each moment is, to how to make tough choices and assert our needs and rights. I’ve come to admire the courage and determination of many survivors I’ve met along the way.

To me, the Butterfly of Life represents the freedom and beauty of hope that transcends cancer. I am honored to know Rita (the designer) and am grateful that she’s designed this beautiful symbol of life."

NEWEST Design from The Butterfly of Life®

Check out the Triumph Pendant from the Butterfly of Life® collection.

The Triumph collection was inspired by Deb to reflect the sincere conversations and poetry that supporters and survivors can share. In sterling silver with 14kt yellow gold, the circular outline has the words “The Butterfly of Life - Live, Love, Laugh” with the butterfly silhouette suspended in the circle. The silhouette is accented with a diamond. On the back side of the circle the words “A symbol of hope for lives touched by cancer” are engraved.