I know exactly what you mean. I have every single thing my Grandmother has ever given to me, and some of the things she's owned herself. I have a pair of Nike sandals she gave me when I was in the seventh grade, they're all tore up, but I still wear them to this day. I also have a purse she gave me as a child, and many other things. I won't even throw out broken tore up coffee cups she once owned because they remind me of her.

My mom had a garage sale only a couple months after my Grandmother passed with a lot of my Grandmothers stuff. I'll be honest I was very pissed and threw a little fit. My mom wanted the money for drugs, that's what pissed me off the most. Later, before anything was sold, I asked my mom if I could go through and have the things I wanted that reminded me of my Grandma. Of course she said no because she needed drugs, but when she wasn't looking I got everything I wanted anyway.

Make sure you get the things that are dear to you. I mean it's not necessary to keep every single thing, although painful. But I think it is important to keep whats dear and hold important memories. Ask your brother if you can have those things, if it's not to late to get them. He may understand.