Lost ring finds way back to widow on anniversary of husband's death

Thanks to the wandering ways of a curious six-year-old, Brenda Shiels was reunited with her husband's lost ring Tuesday, four years to the day since he passed away.

"It's like it was meant to be put back on my finger," Shiels said."I know he's always still with me, even though he's not here."

Shielsmarried her husband in1969. She had been wearing the gold wedding band thatbelonged to her husband every day since he died.

She didn't notice right away thatit had fallen off at the annual Honey, Garlic and Maple Syrup Festival in Manitou,during theSept. 9-10 weekend.

"He's gone, and I still had his ringand I was really sad when I lost it," Shiels said.

I didn't think it would, but I was there with a hope.- Laura Greenfield

Shiels,wholives 110 kilometres fromManitou,contactedLaura Greenfield,an organizerofthe annual festival, hoping someone had turned in her ring.

It was aneedle-in-a-haystack scenario, but the reunion was made possible with help from Greenfieldand the aidof social media.

"I just thought, it's not going to hurt to try.If it's on land, before it gets covered by snowor feet or tire tracks, maybe, maybe it will be found," she said. "I didn't think it would, but I was there with a hope."

When Shiels discovered the ring was missing, shepanicked and contacted the Manitounewspaper to place an ad, urging anyone who might have found the ring to contact her.

In addition to posting the ad, the newspaper's editorsent anemailabout Shiels' pleato the fesitval'scommittee members. A pictureof the ring was included.

Lost ring finds way back to widow on anniversary of husband's death

8 years ago

Duration 1:31

Brenda Shiels lost her gold wedding band at a festival. Exactly four years to the day after her husband died, Shiels got her ring back.

Greenfield was moved and posted a message on her Facebook page, under the heading "I'm going to give this a shot." She explained the situation and added, "I am hoping that if everyone shares this, perhaps someone has picked it up and this will lead them to the hurting owner."

Greenfield said she felt compelled to help because she could relate to Shiels.

"I wear jewelry that belonged to my own momwho passed away [and] a necklace from my brother,who passed away," she said.

"And I, myself, lost a very precious ring that my husband had given me. However, I still have him, and she has lost her husband and the ring."

Boy found ring

Some days passed but then Greenfield got a tug on her line.

Melissa McKay, aManitouwoman, contacted Greenfieldto sayher six-year-old son mighthave found the ring. It had been on the groundclose to a portablehandwashingstation at the festival site.

McKay's son had stuffed it into his pocket, then remembered later and showed itto her. The newspaper ad and Greenfield's Facebook posting had not yet come out at that time.

His first comment was, 'She's not going to hug me, is she?' But I'm sure, by the time it's all said and done, yes, she will hug him.- Laura Greenfield

McKaysaid the ring was well worn and bent a bit. She didn't think anybody would be missing it, so she handed it back to her son.

But when she saw the noticesa couple of days later,McKaygot it back from her son.

Greenfielddidn't want to get too excited, afraid of crashing back down if the ring didn't match the one in the photo sent by the newspaper. She gotMcKay to takea photoand sure enough, it looked like the one.

So she called up Shiels, her heart racing.

"I was afraid to call her, for fear it wasn't the ring," Greenfield said.

Shiels asked Greenfield to texther the photo fromMcKay. ThenGreenfieldwaited for her call back.

"I paced the floor," she said, adding it was probably less than a minutebut felt like much longer beforeShielscalled, jubilantly saying"It's the ring!"

"And we both fell apart," Greenfield said.

The women met Tuesdayafternoon in Manitou, where McKay's son, Christian, presentedthe ring to Shiels.

While he said he wasfine with giving up his treasure, Christian does have one concern, Greenfield said.

"His first comment was, 'She's not going to hug me, is she?' But I'm sure, by the time it's all said and done, yes, she will hug him."

Schiels saidthe anniversary of her husband's death has always been a sad day for her family, but thanks to Christian she hada smile on her face.

"I couldn't believe it," Shiels said.