Widow Elaine Bowen was gifted a beautiful bracelet one Christmas by her late husband Pa, but unfortunately the sentimental item has been lost.
44-yr-old Pa was tragically killed in October 2015 in a freak accident when he was helping to construct the lighting system for his mother’s funeral.
Pa’s passing was another tragedy which befell the family. In August 2014, Elaine underwent surgery to remove a brain tumour, which thankfully was successful.
Pa is survived by his wife Elaine and their two young children.
Elaine told TodayFM’s Anton Savage that it has been a harrowing number of years and that the missing bracelet has really set her back.
“It’s been tough but I have to keep going and be strong and do everything I can… but losing this bracelet has really set me back,” Elaine said.
“I’d been in the town centre, Golden Island and Woodie’s that day.”
Elaine noticed the bracelet was missing when she was halfway to Roscommon.
She rang her sister-in-law who retraced Elaine’s steps in an effort to find the bracelet but was unable.
“I had to pull in at the side of the road. I was so upset, I hardly ever wore the bracelet. I just had it on that weekend.”, Elaine said.
“Everyone was so helpful when they found out how devastated I was. My sister-in-law rang all the shops. People were so kind,”
Elaine shared the below image on Facebook of an exact same bracelet and she has appealed for social media help in locating the beautiful bracelet that Pa gave her for Christmas.
“It’s very distinctive. It’s 14 carat gold and encircled by semicircles within a diamond. It’s not vastly valuable… it would only be worth a couple of hundred euro.
“I will give a reward for anyone who can help me,” she said.
“Pa was an organ donor,” revealed Elaine.
“He carried an organ donor card for years in his wallet. It’s great for us to know that there’s at least two lives saved through him.”
“We received a Christmas card through the hospital from one of the organ recipients and it brought us great comfort.”
“He’s gone but at least two lives go on,” Elaine said.
“I feel so bad about losing the bracelet because I’m never going to get anything from him again. I feel stupid”, Elaine concluded.
The below image is what the lost bracelet looks like:
Can everyone do me a massive favour. I lost a bracelet today in Athlone similar to this. It had round diamonds. My late…
Posted by Elaine Stritch Bowens on Wednesday, 30 March 2016