Donna Glover figures whoever stole the unmarked, solid koa box from her Hawaii Kai home Friday night didn’t realize that it was an urn containing the final remains of her late husband, William.

"To a kid, they might have thought it was a jewelry box," Glover said.

The 53-year-old crew scheduler for Hawaiian Airlines said the loss of the urn has left her stunned and disconcerted, and reminds her of the period when her husband died four years ago.

"It’s like I’m going through the grieving process all over again," she said.

The urn was among several items taken from the Koamano Street home that she shares with her cousin Bernard Kea Jr. and his teenage son. The break-in occurred when the family was at a function between 5:30 and 11:30 p.m. Friday.

Other items taken included two laptops and some jewelry.

Glover said she’d just like the urn returned, no questions asked.

"I just don’t want it dumped or trashed somewhere," she said. "Leave it on our doorstep, leave it on our tile wall, I don’t care."

The burglar or burglars broke in through the master bedroom sliding door, which may have been unlocked, Glover said.

The box measures roughly 5 by 5 by 7 inches. It’s heavier than it appears, which may have added to its appeal to the burglar, she said.

Glover said her family and neighbors think it may have been the act of youths because they had noticed young people unknown to the neighborhood hanging out suspiciously on the street about two weeks ago.

Glover asked that anyone with knowledge of the urn’s whereabouts call police or e-mail her at donnalee_glover @yahoo.com.

This is the second time in less than a year that the remains of a loved one have been stolen.

In November, thieves broke into the Waimanalo home of Jason and Kalani Mejia and stole an assortment of valuables, including a box containing the remains of their baby, Samson Makanaokahakuloa Mejia, who was born four months premature in 2006.

Following a public plea that the ashes be returned, Jason Mejia met several days later with a man whom the Mejias promised not to name or turn in. The man gave them back the box of ashes wrapped in ti leaves.

The man told the Mejias he found the box along the road in Waianae and called them after hearing of their story.

Glover said yesterday that she had been told of the Mejias’ story and that she is hoping for a similarly happy ending.