A 71-year-old Deerfield Beach woman who said she suddenly lost her life savings to Bernie Madoff's investment scheme is putting retirement off.
DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. -- A 71-year-old Deerfield Beach woman who said she suddenly lost her life savings to Bernie Madoff's investment scheme is putting retirement off.
Bette Greenfield is trying to stay upbeat, but it's easy.
"What else can you do but kind of laugh at this thing because if you don't, you could cry an awful lot," she said.
In March, she retired from her job in New Jersey and moved to Deerfield Beach last summer.
"I thought I was going to be very comfortable," Greenfield said.
WPBF News 25's Ted White reported that the Bernie Madoff scandal hit too close to home. Before his death, Greenfield's father was an accountant who dealt with Madoff for years. He left a trust for Greenfield and her two brothers.
"It's not the billions and billions, but $400,000 would have been just right for us to live off and then have some retirement funds," Greenfield said.
Greenfield may never see that money. She now needs an income to supplement her Social Security. So, she got to thinking and came up with a plan.
"I guess it's in the genes," she said.
Greenfield's retirement was short-lived: She hopes to survive by making and selling handmade, beaded bracelets and watchbands.
"I don't do bead stringing. I do what they call bead weaving so that it's strong, you can't break it," she said.
Greenfield, who works out of her home, said she plans to hold jewelry parties and her Web site is under construction.
"I wouldn't say (I'm) bitter as much as I'm angry -- angry at Bernie Madoff and angry at the government," she said. "He should be in jail right now. I mean, there's no question about it. (He should be in) solitary (confinement) because he shouldn't be near anybody that might hurt him because we need to get all that information out. After that, I don't care."
Greenfield said she has to laugh to keep from crying. She plans to include the now infamous name on some of her jewelry.
"It's going to be called the Madoff collection. You know, it's very special. It's a steal," Greenfield said with a laugh.
Greenfield has an attorney who is pursuing the case through the courts.
Madoff remains under house arrest in his $7 million Manhattan penthouse pending his trial
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