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October 10, 2003
Saying goodbye to home
Heirlooms helps people through a stressful process.
CYNTHIA RAMSAY SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
Are you facing the prospect of moving from your home into the Harry
and Jeanette Weinberg Residence? Do you have to deal with the painful
task of closing up your family home because your parent has passed
away? Perhaps you have a parent who's moving from a large home into
your own house. Two prominent Jewish community members have launched
a business that may be able to help you through the stressful and
complicated process of closing up a residence.
Judy Weinstein and Rosalind Karby came up with the idea of Heirlooms:
Home Closure Management Inc. about a year ago. Each woman had to
deal with the closure of the home of their inlaw. It was a difficult
experience and Weinstein said it would have been nice to have had
help. So, after many months of planning and consulting with legal,
accounting and geriatric professionals, Weinstein and Karby formed
a company to provide this service. Heirlooms has been up and running
since this summer.
When a parent dies or moves into a long-term care facility, said
Karby, it is a stressful time and letting someone else deal with
the nitty gritty can offer peace of mind.
"We would like to emphasize the personal, hands-on approach
that we take and the sensitivity we show to the client and their
needs," Karby told the Bulletin in an interview. "We
will be there for the family at a time that is difficult, bringing
a thoughtful, caring attitude to everything that we do."
Heirlooms will make an inventory of a home's contents and produce
a catalogue of the home's valuables; itemize, photograph and co-ordinate
the professional appraisal of art, antiques, gems and collectibles;
co-ordinate the sale of goods through auction, estate sale or consignment;
secure storage, delivery, packing and distribution of all goods;
and take care of the complete disposal of all unsold or undisbursed
articles.
"When families are closing up a home, they are often driven
to 'just get it done,' without thoroughly considering how to properly
dispose of unwanted items, especially those of some value,"
said Karby. "There is often not an organizational approach,
nor a full appreciation of what's in the home.
"We want to provide a systematic way for the family to recognize
what has to be done, execute it in a timely yet considered way and
leave the client feeling satisfied that we have had their 'best
interests at heart.' "
Weinstein and Karby have a long history of involvement in the Jewish
and general communities, both professionally and through volunteering.
Weintstein has served on the boards of the Jewish Community Fund
and Council and its successor, the Jewish Federation of Greater
Vancouver, as well as the Jewish Family Service Agency, B'nai B'rith
Hillel Foundation and Beth Israel Women's League for Conservative
Judaism. She was an elementary school teacher for 12 years, including
four years at Vancouver Talmud Torah, and she has worked as a peer
counsellor and trainer for the University of British Columbia Women's
Resources Centre.
Weinstein was assistant executive director of Federation until her
retirement in June of this year, after 13 years with the organization.
She is currently on the board of the Louis Brier Home and Hospital.
Karby has been actively involved in Vancouver Combined Jewish Appeal,
United Israel Appeal of Canada, Beth Israel Women's League for Conservative
Judaism, Beth Israel Synagogue and the International Women's League
for Conservative Judaism (WLCJ). She is the founding editor of Federation
magazine and worked as the features editor of WLCJ's Outlook
magazine.
Karby is a member of several Jewish community organizations and
she also volunteers for WISH (Women's Information Safe House), a
drop-in centre for the sex-trade workers in Vancouver's Downtown
Eastside. Karby was the director of the Jewish Community Foundation
of Greater Vancouver from 1995 to 2003.
Weinstein and Karby offer a free, one-hour consultation and provide
potential clients with a cost estimate based on the time and range
of services that will be required for the job. For more information
about Heirlooms, call 604-737-2551 or e-mail [email protected]
or [email protected].
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