Wedding Ring Found in Donated Armoire

ORLAND PARK, IL - A gold wedding band was found recently in an armoire an Orland Hills woman bought at a Goodwill store months ago. Tracy Roti says she purchased the item that was “in perfect condition” from the Goodwill on 159th Street in Orland Park in November. It was then stored in her family garage for months as they were making room for it in her son’s bedroom.

But last week, when Roti and her family began moving the piece of furniture into the room, they noticed something wedged in a drawer that would prevent it from closing.

“It was a gold wedding band,” Roti said. “It was inside the rail of the drawer stuck in the back. It has a phrase on it and a date believed to be the date the owner’s marriage took place.”

Roti says she will keep the ring until the rightful owner contacts her with the phrase that is on it and the month, day and year of the wedding.

Since the find, Roti has been determined to find the band’s rightful owner. She called Goodwill, but unfortunately they said there are no records of who brings in which items and that there would be no way to track the person who donated it to the store.

The armoire itself is in stellar condition and has the brand “Thomasville” stamped on the back of it. When the Rotis first bought it, Tracy remembers that there was a newsletter from Andrew High School in the drawer.

She doesn’t remember the year of the newsletter as it was tossed well before the ring was found, but does recall something about sports being featured in it. She believes the owner of the lost ring has a connection to the Tinley Park high school.

Roti has taken a significant amount of time reaching out to find the owner through social media.

“It’s the right thing to do,” said Roti, who herself lost her wedding band for a time.

“I remember how I felt when I lost my wedding ring in my house for a month,” she said. “It was a lost feeling I had every day until I found it.”

Photo submitted by Tracy Roti