When a Loved One Passes Away and You Can't Face Going Back: We'll Go for You

Brie Grant • February 13, 2026

When a Loved One Passes Away and You Can't Face Going Back: We'll Go for You

There are moments in life that no one prepares you for. One of the hardest is losing someone you love — and then being asked to go through their things.

Maybe your parent passed away in an assisted living facility two hours away. Maybe your spouse was in a nursing home, and walking back into that room feels unbearable. Maybe distance, health, work, or simply the weight of grief makes it impossible for you to be the one who packs up their belongings and brings them home.

You don't have to be.

This Is What We Do — And Who We Are

At S.B. Taylor Moving, we aren't just movers. I spent 20 years as a CNA working in memory care, hospice, and veteran facilities. I've held hands at bedsides. I've helped families navigate some of the most emotional transitions of their lives. I understand what these belongings represent — they're not just "stuff." They're the last physical connection to someone you loved deeply.

When a family calls us and says, "I just can't go in there," we understand. There's no judgment. There's no rush. There's only compassion.

How We Help When You Can't Be There

We work for you — completely. We coordinate with facilities, family members, and estate contacts to handle everything with care and dignity so you don't have to. Here's what that looks like:

We coordinate with the facility. Whether it's an assisted living community, nursing home, or hospital, we communicate with staff to schedule the retrieval and understand any specific protocols or timelines.

We sort through every item for you. You don't have to decide anything in the middle of your grief. Our team carefully goes through each item — every photo, every keepsake, every piece of clothing — and organizes it all so you can make decisions on your own time, in your own space, when you're ready.

We treat every item like it matters — because it does. Your mom's quilt. Your dad's military medals. The photos on the nightstand. We carefully pack each item so nothing is overlooked.

We deliver their belongings to you. Whether that's your home here in Southern Maine, a family member's house, or a storage unit, we bring their things wherever you need them to be.

If you can't keep it, we make sure it doesn't end up in a landfill. Not every item can come home with you, and that's okay. For the things your family doesn't need, we connect with local donation resources to make sure your loved one's belongings go somewhere meaningful. Their favorite chair ends up in someone's living room, not on the side of the road. We provide a resource that honors their memory — the same way you'd care for their things if they were still here.

We communicate with you every step of the way. You'll know exactly what we're doing and when. We can send photos and check in with you throughout the process. You're never left wondering.

What Most Families Don't Know: The Clock Is Already Ticking

Here's something many families aren't prepared for — when a loved one passes away in a facility, rent doesn't stop. Many assisted living communities and nursing homes continue charging daily until the room is cleared. That means on top of your grief, there's a financial clock ticking, and the last thing you should have to think about after losing someone you love is moving.

That pressure is real, and it's unfair. But you don't have to carry it alone. We can step in quickly, handle the cleanout on your timeline, and take that weight off your shoulders so you can focus on your family.

Let Us Be Part of Your Plan Before You Need Us

If your loved one is currently in a facility and you know this day is coming — even if it's not today — we can be part of your plan now. Having a team you trust already in place means one less impossible decision during the hardest time of your life.

Families need time to grieve. They need space to breathe. And they need a team they can trust to get the job done with the same care and compassion they'd give if they could be there themselves. That's exactly what we provide.

You're Not Failing Them by Not Going

One of the most important things I can tell you is this: choosing not to walk into that room doesn't mean you loved them any less. Grief shows up differently for everyone, and protecting your heart during an impossible time is not weakness — it's wisdom.

Letting someone you trust handle this part allows you to focus on what matters most: your family, your healing, and honoring your loved one's memory in the way that feels right to you.

A Service Built on 20 Years of Care

This isn't a service we added to a menu. It's who we've always been. My background in hospice and memory care taught me that transitions — all transitions — deserve tenderness. That's why we call ourselves caregivers who happen to move furniture.

If you've recently lost a loved one and need help retrieving their belongings from a facility, a home, or anywhere in York or Cumberland County, please reach out. And if you're planning ahead for a loved one who's still with you, we'd be honored to be part of that plan too. There's no timeline on grief, and there's no wrong time to ask for help.

Call or text us at 207-502-4035 or visit www.sbtaylortransport.com to get in touch. We're here when you're ready.

S.B. Taylor Moving is a women-owned, trauma-informed moving company based in South Portland, Maine, specializing in compassionate moves for seniors and families in transition. Because every move tells a story — and every story matters.

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Overwhelmed by Packing? You Don't Have to Do It Alone

By Brie Grant • January 31, 2026

Moving is stressful enough. Packing doesn't have to be. We've heard it countless times: "I know I should start packing, but every time I look at my closet, I just freeze." Or "I'm working full-time, managing kids' schedules, and now I have to pack an entire house in three weeks?" Here's what we want you to know: You don't have to pack your own boxes. It's Okay to Ask for Help There's this unspoken expectation that packing is just something you should do yourself. Like somehow you're not a capable adult if you can't manage to wrap every dish, fold every piece of clothing, and label every box while juggling everything else in your life. Let us be clear: that's nonsense. Packing an entire household is physically exhausting and emotionally draining. You're handling memories with every item. You're making a thousand tiny decisions about what goes where. You're doing this while probably also managing work, family obligations, and the million other details that come with moving. Asking for help isn't a luxury—it's smart planning. What Professional Packing Actually Looks Like When you work with S.B. Taylor Moving for packing services, you're not just hiring people to throw things in boxes. You're working with a team trained in the art of careful, thoughtful packing. Our team approaches packing the same way we approach moving: with care, compassion, and respect for your belongings and your story. Here's what we can help with: Full packing services - We pack everything, room by room, with systematic labeling so you know exactly where things are when you arrive at your new home Partial packing - Maybe you want to pack personal items yourself but need help with the kitchen, garage, or those overwhelming "everything" rooms. We work alongside you. Unpacking and setup - Moving day is exhausting. We can unpack boxes, put dishes in cabinets, hang clothes in closets, and help you settle in so you can actually sleep in a functional bedroom that first night. Organization as we go - With my 20 years of experience as a CNA working with seniors and families in transition, I understand how overwhelming it feels when you can't find anything. We organize as we unpack so your new space is actually livable from day one. Why Our Packing Services Are Different Before I started S.B. Taylor Moving, I spent two decades as a Certified Nursing Assistant. I worked in memory care, hospice, and with veterans. I learned how to handle people's most precious belongings during vulnerable moments. I learned patience. I learned how to read what someone needs even when they can't articulate it. That background shapes everything we do. Our team isn't just trained in proper packing techniques (though we absolutely know how to wrap a wine glass so it arrives intact). We're trained to see you as a whole person, not just another job on the schedule. We understand that the box of photo albums isn't just heavy—it's your entire family history. We know that packing up a nursery when you're downsizing hits differently than packing up a garage. We get that sometimes you need us to just quietly work while you process, and sometimes you need us to chat and keep things light. We're caregivers who happen to pack boxes. When Packing Help Makes the Most Sense You might benefit from professional packing if: You're moving on a tight timeline and there aren't enough hours in the day You have mobility limitations or health concerns that make packing physically difficult You're managing a household move while working full-time or caring for family members You're downsizing from a long-term home and feeling overwhelmed by decades of belongings You have valuable or fragile items that need specialized packing You're already emotionally exhausted and need someone else to handle the logistics You simply don't want to pack and would rather spend your limited time on other priorities That last one? Completely valid. How It Works: The Three-Day Process Day Before Moving Day: Packing Our team arrives with all supplies and packs your entire home systematically. We use detailed box labeling—not just "kitchen" but "kitchen - everyday dishes and coffee mugs." This makes unpacking SO much easier. Moving Day: Strategic Placement We load everything, transport it to your new home, and here's the key: we set up your bed first and place every box in its correct room. No mountain of boxes in the garage. No digging through the living room to find your kids' school clothes. Everything goes where it belongs from the start. Day After Move: Unpacking With our detailed labeling system, we know exactly which boxes need unpacking first. We unpack strategically—kitchen essentials, bathrooms, bedrooms—so your home is functional, not just full of empty boxes. You can cook dinner and shower in a space that feels like home, not a storage unit. This three-day approach means you go from packed and ready to settled and living in your new space in 72 hours. Real Talk About Cost Yes, professional packing is an additional cost. We're transparent about that. But here's what we've seen time and again: people who try to do everything themselves often end up: Taking time off work (lost wages) Buying supplies piecemeal at retail prices (expensive and inefficient) Packing poorly in a rush (leading to damaged items) Arriving at their new home completely exhausted and unable to function Taking weeks to unpack because they're overwhelmed When you factor in your time, energy, and peace of mind, professional packing often makes financial sense—especially during an already expensive and stressful life transition. You Deserve Support Moving is ranked as one of life's most stressful events, right up there with loss of a loved one and divorce. You're not being dramatic if it feels hard—it is hard. At S.B. Taylor Moving, we built our entire business on a simple idea: people deserve compassionate support during life transitions. Whether you need us to pack three boxes or three thousand, we're here. Whether you're moving across town or across the state, whether you're upsizing, downsizing, or just sizing differently—we've got you. You don't have to do this alone. Ready to take packing off your plate? Call S.B. Taylor Moving at 207-502-4035 or visit www.sbtaylortransport.com to schedule a free packing consultation. Serving York and Cumberland counties with the care you deserve.