The woman died after nine days in hospital but, as well as grieving for her, her family is struggling to come to terms with the theft.
Two wedding rings were stolen off the fingers of an elderly patient who died at a hospital in Essex, police have said.
The woman was in her 80s and was admitted to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford on 6 June.
She stayed in the Notley Ward, where her daughter saw the rings were taped over.
When hospital staff removed the tape, however, they saw the rings had been replaced with low-value "tin" bands.
Essex Police said the woman had died after nine days.
Her rings - a gold wedding ring and ruby and diamond eternity band - were not removed during her treatment, police added.
A police spokesman said: "The rings were of sentimental value and the family are understandably distraught that this has happened.
The rings signified happier times in the lady's life, but her family are now robbed of those precious memories
a ruby and diamond ring......
and a gold band similer to this one
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