A local woman is hoping to retrieve a family heirloom she carelessly gave away not knowing its history.
Debi Sammartino Gare was clearing out her mother鈥檚 condo after her passing in October 2017.
Louise 鈥淭hup鈥� Sammartino lived at Regency Court and had a deep love for her family, her Trinity United family and for her communities of Armstrong and Vernon.
鈥淚 had visitors come and go and I always encouraged them to take something of mom鈥檚 in her memory as I filled boxes to be donated to different charities,鈥� said Gare. 鈥淥n one such visit I offered a four leaf clover brooch to someone.鈥�
She remembers the conversation but can鈥檛 recall who it was with.
鈥淲hen the person said they couldn鈥檛 take it as it was my mom鈥檚 I remember I responded with 鈥楾his is Irish and I am Italian and English so please take it.鈥欌��
It turns out, Gare was wrong.
鈥淟ittle did I know then but through Ancestry.com and while going through mom鈥檚 many personal boxes I discovered that the brooch was a gift from my grandpa Art Marshall (in Armstrong) to my granny Lillian Cary on the occasion of their wedding in 1916.鈥�
Gare even has the original clipping from the Armstrong paper of the June 10 wedding, which reads: 鈥淪he wore a brooch of Shamrock design, set solidly with pearls and emeralds which was the gift of her bridegroom.鈥�
Gare is beside herself for giving what she thought was worthless away.
鈥淚 thought it was junk,鈥� she admits.
鈥淣eedless to say I would love to find the special broach to hand down in our family.
鈥淚f anyone remembers this conversation or knows where the brooch is now it would be much appreciated.鈥�
Anyone with information can email Debiaway@hotmail.com.
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