Sue Anderson
The first thing I did was buy this cabinet to keep the things I knew I would never part with. Steve’s ashes are in the basket, and this had become kind of Stevie shrine. We plan to bury Steve in the memorial garden at our church, but I have not felt like tucking him in there yet.
Steve’s wife, Robin, has let me know as she felt ready to part with things. The first thing to go was his car, and after that, his shoes. Before we took the shoes to KARM, I made this book.
The shoe pile is just the way Steve left it, but then I took a picture of each pair of shoes in a different setting. Here are a few examples.
Steve had 14 shirts that he work for work. From that, came one twin-sized and five throw-sized quilts for family members.
Steve had 18 ties. I put two in each box and gave them to the men in our family. I found the personalized labels on ETSY.
When Robin and I were ready to part with Steve’s trophies, my mom said, “You mean Steve kept them all these years, and now you’re going to throw them away?” To which I said, “Do you want one?” She said, “Yes!” So, she and everyone else in our family got one for Christmas this year. But, of course, I took pictures first!
Dear Sue,
The way you dispersed Steve’s belongings was so memorable & clever.
You are really “working” with your grief.
May his memory live on with many.
Lee Ann Christ
I love your memorial ideas. Thank you so much for sharing.