Anne,

Your situation is unfortunate and very touching. Apparently you have no hope of getting anything monetary from your father's estate. That's sad, but you seem to be accepting it better than many people would. I hope his widow will at least let you go through his things and take items which are of sentimental value. In the long run they may be more important than the money.

I have a gold-plated monogramed golf divit tool which was given to my father my his golfing buddies on his 75th birthday. It probably didn't cost more than $20. I've carried it with me and used it for 26 years. I think of him often as I slip it into my pocket. I think I might be more upset if I lost it than if I lost the $7K diamond ring I also inherited from him.