When burglars broke into Mavis Avery's Lower Hunter home and stole her jewellery, they took a small piece that was not worth much money but had immeasurable sentimental value to her family.
The silver ring with a moulded skull on it belonged to Ms Avery's son Rodney, who died of a drug overdose 20 years ago.
Ms Avery has treasured the ring - the last link to her son - for the past two decades.
The theft, which has left the 69-year-old devastated, has been reported and the family is appealing for anyone who knows anything that could lead to the ring being found to contact police.
Ms Avery was at her daughter's house on Sunday night taking care of her grandson when the robbery took place. She said her partner Norm arrived home just after 9pm to find that someone had broken in through the back of the house.
Nothing aside from Ms Avery's jewellery was taken, which has led to the belief that Norm may have arrived at the property while the thieves were still in the house.
"I reckon that he's disturbed them," Ms Avery told the Newcastle Herald.
Several precious items were taken that Ms Avery had collected over her life - including gifts and pieces she bought in the hope of having something to leave to her family at the end of her life.
"They've got nothing now," she said. "I worked my guts out to get [the jewellery]."
But none of the pieces that were taken had as much significance as her son's ring, which looks similar to the piece famously worn by The Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards.
Rodney died in Victoria and his body was kept at a morgue in St Kilda for about six months until his mother - who was living in Rutherford at the time - was eventually notified. She was given his remaining possessions - the skull ring and his bank cards.
"I haven't got anything of his any more," she said.
"My youngest daughter, she got married two years ago and my grandson wore it on her wedding day so her brother could be near her."
The family believes the ring may turn up for sale online or at a pawn shop, if the burglars try to turn their loot into cash. Unfortunately, they do not have a picture of the ring to help with their search.
Ms Avery's daughter Kathy said the theft of her brother's ring was "like losing him all over again".
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