When a parent passes, sorting through decades of belongings is daunting. Learn how to keep what matters most, share fairly, and let go of the rest.
Have you ever felt frozen when facing a house full of memories? When the parents of my clients pass away, they’re left with the heavy job of clearing the family home. It’s hard. The rooms are filled with love, memories, and items collected over the course of decades. It feels impossible to decide what stays, what goes, and who gets what.
I sat down with my friend and professional organizer, Bridget Flynn from Divine Organizing to talk about how to make this process easier.
The emotional weight of belongings. When a loved one passes, emotions run high. Every item has a story. An object that brings back a happy memory for one sibling might stir up a painful one for another. This emotional mix can make even the smallest decisions feel heavy. On top of that, there’s usually little time to sort through everything, and that pressure makes the job even harder.
"Start by picking one or two “anchor items” for each person in the immediate family."
The “anchor item” approach. Bridget shared a system that works. Start by picking one or two “anchor items” for each person in the immediate family. These are the most meaningful memories, the ones that bring back strong sights, smells, or feelings. Once those are set aside, it’s time to sort the rest.
The three-pile system. Once those items are set aside, everything else gets sorted into three categories:
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Things other family members may want
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Items to donate so they can be used again
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Trash or junk that needs to be discarded
This system gives every person something meaningful while moving the process forward.
Family first rule. Immediate family should choose first. Once those decisions are made, extended relatives can take part if appropriate. This prevents conflicts and keeps the process moving smoothly.
Sorting through a lifetime of belongings will never be easy. But with a clear plan, it becomes manageable. If you need expert help, Bridget is ready to help. You can contact her at (203) 644-6834 or visit her website, BridgetFlynn.com.
And when it comes time to real estate, I’m here for you. Call me at (203) 722-5445, send an email to [email protected] or linda-dunsmore.kw.com. Let’s take the next step together.
