Hi Kevin..it can be surprisingly painful to do that so good for you! For me the next big thing to get rid of that was MAureen's is her work desk. That will be hard for me to part company with. Another part of her life on earth that will be given away.
Take care Kevin
It has been almost 2 years now since my wife died and most of what was hers is gone. The last big piece is her desk.
For a long time I could not part with it as seeing it brought to memory her sitting there in all sorts of positions doing what she did, and when I entered her room she turned and smiled or laughed or asked for help. That small room is nearly finished becoming a guest room which, save for the desk, when gone, will be completely transformed. Nothing of her will remain there, other then my memory of what was.
There are many things still in the house that were hers. Her artwork, dishes, some furniture and the like for me to remember her and how they came about, but not so personal. Slowly, the house is becoming a statement of me as I continue in this new reality without her. While disposing of her things was difficult. As hard as it was, she wanted me to do it so that I could move along in my life.
After the pain of giving her stuff away passed, I found a peace of mind, a closure that did not change the love I had, and still have for her, it is just part of saying goodbye to one who will never return to this life.
When I meet my wife, she was a widow, she had to do what I also had to do. Had she not, then her life would have been still in the past and we would not have had the 28 good years we did.
I and others here are doing what she did, and in doing so hopefully will find in another what she and I found.
Oh, there still lives in the house a plant from her husband's funeral in 1979, and I tend to it as did she and in doing so continue to remember her.