Heritage Estate Sales offers compassionate service for families

Rehoboth Beach resident Sharyn Santel launched Heritage Estate Sales in 2012. However, her expertise in finding and appraising antiques and collectibles began many years ago. As a 19-year-old enduring a three-year recovery from a serious skiiing accident, she was taken under the wing of a family friend who ran an antique shop in New Jersey.

That friend taught Santel the art of picking as the two, traveling in an old pickup truck, scoured wealthy neighborhoods for discarded items, went through old barns and outbuildings, and refinished their finds in Santel's mother's garage.

Many years later, Santel has remained a collector of vintage items and showcases them in her booth at The Old Screen Door, 209 Monroe Ave. in Lewes. She also has had a long career as an art therapist. Most recently at Cadbury Rehabilitation in Lewes, Santel learned from residents and families just how traumatic it is to deal with the daunting task of selling a loved one's lifetime of possessions.

She also experienced death of her own mother in the past year. Santel and her sisters hired an estate sale expert to sell many items in that estate; Santel is a firm believer in having an objective person outside the family who can deal with the challenge and provide families with this much-needed service.

For more information on Heritage Estate Sales, contact Santel at 732-403-4362.