SASKATOON – A diamond-studded anniversary ring that was stolen from a Saskatoon man’s hospital room has been recovered by police in a pawn shop. But just minutes after his wife put it back on his finger Saturday, Larry Beaucage died of cancer.
Beaucage removed the ring because of concerns his hands could swell from his medication, and his wife, Gail, put in her purse.
Earlier this week, she left the purse on a window ledge at St. Paul’s Hospital while she helped her husband in the washroom, and when she returned it was gone.
Their son, Darcey Beaucage, told radio station CKOM that he thinks his father may have been waiting for the ring before he died.
The couple had been married almost 60 years.
“My mother put it on him and said, ‘See, we have your ring, it’s on your hand.’ She squeezed his hand tight and he didn’t respond. It was only approximately 15 minutes later and he stopped breathing,” Darcey Beaucage said.
“It was either a very great coincidence that he did last long enough to get it back, or that he was waiting for the ring in order to leave us.”
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The ring was a gift from Gail to Larry for their 50th wedding anniversary. It is made of white gold and has nine diamonds in a centre cluster.
Gail Beaucage plans to wear the ring on a chain.
Police said they haven’t laid any charges in the case but that they’re still investigating.
Darcey Beaucage thanked Const. Richards with the Saskatoon Police Service as well as all the officers who worked on the case.
“We’d like to send a heartfelt thanks to all people who were thinking of us, who were praying for us that the ring would make a safe return to us.”
Larry Beaucage’s funeral will be held in Saskatoon at the end of March.
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