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Oct 18, 2024

Link of kindness: Hartland woman loses her late grandmother’s bracelet, but local jeweler re-creates it for free | Waukesha Co. News | gmtoday.com

HARTLAND — A gold bracelet was the only item Elizabeth Dufek had to remember her nana Sylvia who died in 2000 at 96 years old. The bracelet was owned by Sylvia and given to Elizabeth when she started

HARTLAND — A gold bracelet was the only item Elizabeth Dufek had to remember her nana Sylvia who died in 2000 at 96 years old. The bracelet was owned by Sylvia and given to Elizabeth when she started college.

"She was kind of a second mom because before sixth grade she would pick me up from school. We would go shopping for an hour and bring me home. She was always with my mom and at our house. We were with her a ton," Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth’s nana moved into the home, and the family would have family dinners with grandpa and nana every night.

"She helped raise me and was always available to me," Elizabeth said.

She held onto the bracelet in a jewelry box and didn’t wear it often as she was afraid of losing it. One day Elizabeth’s daughter came down for dinner wearing the bracelet. Elizabeth told her daughter she couldn’t wear that piece of jewelry as it was so special. Elizabeth realized she was being silly and should wear it all the time.

"I thought I’m going to wear it everyday because that is what it was meant for," she said.

The only time Elizabeth takes off jewelry is when the family goes to Okauchee Lake. In late August, Elizabeth, husband and children went to the lake. When they later had lunch at Foolery’s, they noticed the bracelet wasn’t on her wrist.

The family searched around Foolery’s and the Golden Mast. Elizabeth also posted about the missing bracelet on social media, leading others to join in the search.

"No one came up with anything. We figured it was by the Golden Mast or in the water," she said.

Small miracle

Elizabeth was heartbroken over the bracelet not being recovered. She got an unexpected message from a Delafield jewelry store owner.

Chris Retzlaff of Skyline Gems asked for the status of the missing bracelet and mentioned that sometimes people find missing jewelry and turn it into his business. He said he would keep an eye out and asked for a photo of the bracelet.

"You couldn’t help but have her post pull at your heart strings. I could tell it was something that was important to her," Retzlaff said.

Chris mentioned a quote by Patricia Holland who said, "Coincidence is a small miracle in which God chooses to remain anonymous."

According to a message Chris sent to Elizabeth, he said he was a big believer in the quote and said he had something that her nana would approve of. Chris told Elizabeth to give him two weeks and he would have something for her.

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“I really don’t accept gifts. I didn’t know this person and felt uncomfortable. I was telling my friends who I walk with once a week about how this guy reached out, and I was nervous. One of the ladies asked for his name. She said she went to high school with him and he is a super nice guy,” Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth talked it over with her husband who reassured her that they could meet at a public place or he could go with her.

“My husband said instead of always saying no and being afraid, maybe it is OK to say yes and thank you,” she said.

On Thursday, Elizabeth met Chris at his office and opened a bag to see a beautiful gold bracelet with a safety lock on it and a charm that read “nana.”

“I started crying right there. He walked me out, and I was still crying,” Elizabeth said.

Chris told The Freeman that many people have a bond with their grandparents. His grandpa used to write sayings on a board at work called “Allan-isms.” After his grandfather died, Chris went to his office to retrieve the board. Unfortunately, the board wasn’t there but someone had written down his grandfather’s quotes on paper.

“I always say if there was ever a fire, I would grab my family and that pad of paper. It seemed like it was something like that to her,” Chris said.

Chris said with jewelry often times it is about the memory of it and what it represents.

“There is always a story behind every piece of jewelry. With the bracelet I wanted to replicate it as much as possible,” he said.

He added the nana charm because he hoped to add her spirit and with it being on the safety chain it symbolized keeping Elizabeth and her family safe.

Elizabeth was unsure about whether or not to share her story on social media.

“The community doesn’t hear good stories but hears all the bad stories. I think this is an important thing to share,” Elizabeth said.

Chris was also hesitant as he didn’t want to appear self-serving. It is his hope the story will make someone smile or lift someone’s mood.

(Do you have a random act of kindness story? Email Waukesha Freeman News Editor Karen Pilarski at [email protected].)

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