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Family heirloom mistakenly given to Goodwill after woman dies

Her daughters are offering a reward to get it back
Posted at 8:21 PM, Sep 20, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-21 05:42:45-04

A family heirloom was mistakenly given to a Goodwill donation center after a Hales Corners woman died at the end of August. 

To many people, the ring might just look like costume jewelry. But Tammie Figlinski says it's priceless to her and her sisters. 

"It's so sentimental, it was passed down from my grandma to my mom," said Figlinski. 

A few days after her mother's unexpected death, Figlinski says she found the ring in her mom's belongings. 

"My mom wore this all the time, it's the only ring we remember her wearing," said Figlinski. 

She decided to wear the ring while they packed up her mom's things. They ended up dropping off a truck full of stuff to the Goodwill Donation Center at 10909 W. Oklahoma Ave in West Allis. 

It wasn't until later that night that Figlinski realized it was gone. 

"I looked down at my hand and it was pure shock," she said. "I couldn't even talk. Oh my God, I lost my mom's ring." 

She says they triple checked everywhere they had been but believe it fell into one of the donation piles. 

The manager at the Goodwill said they'd keep an eye out for it, but by now it could be at any Goodwill location in southeast Wisconsin and possibly Chicago. It could also be on the store's website.

"That's why I was like I need help," said Figlinski. "I've been praying everyday. I hope this gives me a good ending to this story." 

She says they are offering a reward for the ring's return. You can contact TODAY'S TMJ4 Reporter Rikki Mitchell with information on the ring by emailing rikki.mitchell@tmj4.com or calling 414-238-1738.