[Redliner]

My dad passed away at Christmas and we are in the middle of this process right now. Thankfully my parents have their affairs in order so it was just a matter of making sure my mom had the support she needed dealing with all the paperwork. The stuff is another matter. My mom is not really the sentimental type, but my dad was a borderline hoarder. Our weekends have been taken up sorting through the garage, garden sheds, and side yard. Tons (probably literally) of stuff has gone to the dump, and my mom is going to have a yard sale to get rid of whatever is left that she doesn’t want to keep.

The time commitment is enormous, and some of my siblings have really struggled with getting rid of things because to them it feels like we’re throwing my dad’s memory away. There has been a lot of stress and some tears but also laughter as we try to understand what anyone would need with some of the more unusual items. (30 year-old lawnmower parts, life jackets from 1962, and a heated combination ice scraper/flashlight that plugs into a car cigarette lighter) All I can say to anyone in the same situation is take your time and be patient with family members as they may not grieve the same way you do. It feels overwhelming at times but it’s a necessary part of the process.