Woman’s necklace containing father’s ashes returned following robbery

HALIFAX – Tammy Poirier made an emotional plea earlier this week to whoever stole her one-of-a-kind necklace to give it back.

“Just please, please, return the necklace,” Poirier told Global News on Wednesday. “It’s not even about the necklace, it’s what the necklace has.”

Poirier’s home in Mineville, N.S., was broken into Monday while she was working. Robbers stole a number of things, including money, electronics, and even her husband’s wedding ring.

READ MORE: ‘Just please, please return it’: Woman begs for return of necklace with father’s ashes

The culprits also took a necklace that was made for Poirier by her sister. It contains the ashes of their father, who suddenly passed away two months ago.

Her missing necklace created a firestorm on social media. People from one end of the Maritimes to the other were sharing her story and praying for the safe return of her father’s ashes.

“I was just kind of following it myself on Twitter and Facebook, watching the feeds and counting the likes and shares,” Poirier said. “It was just overwhelming.”

Poirier was starting to lose hope she would ever see her necklace again when the unimaginable happened: a couple walking through the Mineville area noticed the necklace on the side of the road.

They recognized the necklace from the news and online and contacted her.

She now has the necklace and her father’s ashes back around her neck.

“It wasn’t about the necklace. It was about what was in the necklace — the ashes,” she said. “Someone had my father’s ashes, so I’m just relieved that we have it back and it’s safe with us.”

Poirier says the other things she lost can be replaced over time. She is grateful to the couple who found her necklace and for everyone who shared her story.

Police say they are continuing to investigate the break and enter at Poirier’s home. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact RCMP or Crimestoppers.