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This major transition can be an emotional time for the family, and having a plan for managing belongings can alleviate many difficult situations. Managing memorabilia can be an emotional process; family members may disagree on what happens to it, and sometimes, we don’t see the value but feel the need to honour that it had meaning to others. 

Below are some suggestions for dealing with memorabilia. The first step is creating a list of items to be disbursed, including photos. Gather the family together or email the list so that disbursement can begin. Establish a date and time for people to pick up the items.

• Photographs can be professionally transferred to CDs or albums so each family member has a copy. Yes, there are professionals who do this for a living! 
• Memorabilia like love letters or the Boy Scout jacket are cherished items that should be honoured. You can decide whether to frame these items, photograph them to include on the CD or pass them along to other family members who would truly like them.
• Large furniture pieces can often be sold or reused. Many antique shops would be happy to sell your items. If it isn’t an antique shop piece, consider donating it to a university student who could use the furniture. 
• Collections such as train sets, baseball cards and teacups often have value for someone, inside or outside of the family. Never assume they are worthless simply because they aren’t your cup of tea. Run them past family members and look for an appraiser.
• Special clothing was meaningful to someone: a wedding dress, a fancy suit, even a favourite pair of jeans from their teen years. Reminisce over items with family members, then let them go. Older garments (even plain ones) may be sellable to collections for costume rentals or vintage clothing stores. If not, donations and textile recycling are good options to help keep clothing out of landfill.

A brilliant place to sell wedding dresses is Gina’s Closet. They significantly reduce the cost of bridal and other formal wear without compromising style.

Working with a Professional Organizer is helpful because they are experienced, informative, and objective. They have resources and connections to help you figure out what to do with items not going with family members. Professional Organizers are also compassionate and know how to work with people in difficult times, making them the calming, organized source of strength that is needed to assist a family in achieving a peaceful transition.

If your loved one is still with you, it’s a great opportunity to learn why items are meaningful to them and what they hope will happen with them. 

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