When my wife and I left in the mid 1960's ....you just left. There was no punishment for becoming disassociated. No standing shunning rules unless you were DF.
We discussed our feelings with close family members. Most couldn't grasp the issues we discussed. They really didn't want to know.
Many family members understood what bothered us about the WTBTS. Eventually as time passed those family relationships became less and less interested in us. We returned the favor. Over the years the religion became harsher with ex JW's.
At some point in time the Society encouraged shunning one and all who separated from the religion no matter if they had sinned or simply no longer wanted to partake.
Our policy was to shun those who shunned us.
We have outlived our JW parents, Aunts, and all but two JW cousins. Both of whom have elected to shun us over their life time.
One cousin was born 7 years after we had left the JW's. She's totally living in shunsville. The other could not exist if he got tossed out of Bethel.
We have our own family complete with grand kids. We Celebrate the holidays and birthdays, have a Sunday dinner tradition. And I don't think about the two remaining family at all.