Juell Kadet, a ‘Lifelong Pillar’ of Rogers & Hollands, Dies at 96

Chicago—Juell Kadet, former executive vice president of Rogers & Hollands and a pioneer among women in the jewelry industry, died Nov. 9.

She was 96. 

Born Juell Friedman on Feb. 18, 1929, Juell was the daughter of Bernard Friedman, who, alongside Herbert Goldstone, opened Rogers Jewelers (later Rogers & Hollands and then Rogers Enterprises Inc.) in Harvey, Illinois, in 1945.

She followed her father into the jewelry business.   

Juell became a “lifelong pillar” of the family-owned jewelry store and alongside her husband, the late Alan Kadet, helped grow the business across the Chicago area and beyond.

She was the second woman inducted into the National Jeweler Retailer Hall of Fame, Class of 1994. (The late Helene Fortunoff was the first in 1990.)

The company said Juell and Alan shaped the jeweler into “a trusted household name built on tradition, craftsmanship, personal service, and the belief that jewelry celebrates life’s most meaningful moments.”

Today, it operates as Rogers Enterprises Inc. and has about 70 stores in 15 states under the banners Rogers & Hollands Jewelers and Ashcroft & Oak Jewelers.

The company stands at No. 16 on National Jeweler’s 2025 Top 50 Specialty Jewelers list, which ranks retailers by store count. 

David Bonaparte, president and CEO of Jewelers of America, described Juell as a “consummate professional.”

“She was sharp and witty and very approachable, and she always shared her opinions,” Bonaparte said.

“Juell was one of the first people I met when I entered the jewelry business, and I will always appreciate her guidance, professionalism, and enormous personality. She was truly one of a kind.”

She also was resilient.

After surviving breast cancer, Juell founded the Kadet Cancer Research Foundation at the UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital, which has raised more than $1 million to date to support oncology research.

In her later years, she faced a long and courageous journey with Alzheimer’s disease but continued to inspire those around her with her perseverance and determination to live.

Outside of jewelry, Juell loved to cook and design clothing, and was a gifted vocalist.

In addition to singing the famous Rogers & Hollands “jewelry created for now and forever” jingle for TV and radio, she recorded two albums, “My Kind of Town,” and “Juell of the Mile.”

One album benefited The Neediest Children’s Fund, and the other supported her cancer foundation.

Her grandson Brent Stern, the current president of Rogers Enterprises, called his grandmother “a force in every sense.”

“She broke barriers with boldness and grace, lifted others with endless generosity, and led with both heart and conviction,” he said.

“Her influence helped shape our family, our company, and this industry. Her legacy will inspire us for generations.”

Services for Juell were private.

A celebration of life is scheduled to take place in February.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Promise of Hope – UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital or the Alzheimer’s Association’s Rita Hayworth Gala.