In the heat of the moment, you may want to get rid of boxes of old photos, especially if you don’t recognize everyone in them. Yet, these snapshots are often windows onto several generations.

Rather than throwing them away, set them aside and, why not, organize a memory afternoon with older family members. They’ll be able to identify faces, tell anecdotes, and thus share a part of the family history you may not have known.

Why it’s important to choose carefully
After a funeral, the desire to “make space” can be a way to bring closure or ease grief. But some mementos, however small, can become landmarks in moments of nostalgia.

Don’t force yourself to sort through everything immediately. Let a little time pass, and keep close at hand what seems precious to you, even if it seems insignificant today.