Lost gold watch a deathbed mystery

Mary Thornalley wore the watch for 60 years. Photo / Supplied

The daughter of an elderly woman is horrified a gold watch worth $2500 disappeared from her mother's wrist as she lay on her deathbed in an Auckland resthome.

Judith Sunderland said her mother Mary Thornalley, 84, had worn the watch every day for more than 60 years.

She had it on her wrist when she was bathed at the home the day before she died but the next day, when the family arrived to pay their final respects, it had disappeared.

"It's enormously distressing to know this happened to her as she lay in peace," said Sunderland, who is based in the UK. "Mum suffered from chronic arthritis, which would have prevented her from removing it."

Sunderland said her mother had passed most valuables on to family members before moving into Patrick Ferry House, Albany, last year. But she had wanted to hang on to the watch, which had been a gift from her late husband. "All her jewellery was from special occasions and anniversaries. It all had memories associated and a lot of sentimental value - especially after my father died 18 months ago," she said.

In a written statement, home manager Linda McFadyen said a thorough investigation had proved inconclusive. The home was searched and all staff and agency workers interviewed. "We do not believe any of our staff were involved."

In a letter to Sunderland, McFadyen suggested the watch was mislaid or stolen by a visitor or an agency's casual employee.

The response also pointed to the home's policy of keeping valuables in the manager's safe.

Sunderland said it was unrealistic to expect residents to leave valuables locked up, and lacked compassion.

"You cannot expect people in the final episode of their lives, when they have to suffer the loss of independence and dignity, to divest themselves of every personal item they hold dear and await death in the anonymity of a nursing home bed."

McFadyen said staff were "extremely distressed" the watch had disappeared and were deeply sorry about the upset it had caused. She said they prided themselves on having a well-run, secure environment.

Security included the safe, cameras, door alarms and automatic lockdown of gates after hours. There was also a lockable drawer in each room. All staff were police-vetted.

She said she had tried to report the incident to police, but they had said Thornalley's family needed to make the complaint.

Sunderland has laid a complaint with the Health and Disability Commission.

celeste.anstiss@hos.co.nz