Helping your aunt's what?

Wait wait wait! You inherited this stuff, right? You inherited it legally? From her will? You can bring legal action against them if you did. Get a lawyer and sue them for money at least. I know it won't do much to ease the pain, but at the very least you'll be able to make them pay for what they've done against you and your mother. I'm so sorry this had to happen, no one deserves this. Hopefully you can grab her stuff now and stick it just anywhere for now. Do you have any siblings or friends you know you can trust? I don't know what to tell you, but getting your mother's remaining items out of there is very important now. Hopefully, you can at least get a lawyer and make them pay you money. I think it will work since that's all they seem to care about.

Why would you hold onto a relish tray, anyway? I mean, I understand that your mother has died, but there's no reason to keep all of her old stuff. Sell it! Keep the sentimental stuff (good china, pictures, etc), but don't cling to every little thing like a baby blanket.

My brother opened up my mother's house (while she was still alive, but too sick to live alone) and let everyone who wanted her stuff come and get it, and threw the rest of her belongings away. I was on the other side of the country at the time. He never told me. Now, she's dead, and not only do I not have any of my mother's old treasures (books, newspaper articles, personal items) but my childhood treasures (books, scrapbooks, high school and college diplomas, etc.) are gone as well. Sometimes people can be completely insensitive and really selfish. I'm sorry for your loss.

Not being funny here, but did you really want the relish tray? :S

My former step dad's parents did the same thing. They sold all my mom's jewelry when she died before I was able to get it from them. They even called my mom's ex to see if he had any jewelry or valuables.

If there was a will, go to the attorney who drafted it. Especially if you were names as the Executor. ( not the kind that kills people on death row, the kind that follows the directives in the will.) and let him know. I mean, either it's up to them to retrieve the items they've sold, or they have done something totally illegal and insensitive and unethical and need to get some kind of consequence. (I know, it's always funny when I talk about people being insensitive.)

Your aunt's a dumbass bitch. FYL.

Is the OP thinking what i'm thinking? Yeaaah treasure hunt! *Bounces around in a merry fashion.*

it's just stuff you will drag around and pay to store forever. Materialism won't bring your mom back only burden you and sentimentality is in your head where it really matters and junk is only a representation.