A woman was shocked to find out that her cousin was a hoarder when she inherited his home and saw the appalling condition it was in. Eileen Stukane, aged 80, learned about Bob Stukane’s passing nine months later by chance while exploring a family history website with her sister. Upon discovering she had inherited the suburban house in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Eileen was taken aback.
Upon entering the property, Eileen encountered years of decaying debris and filth covering every corner. Despite the overwhelming mess, the determined pensioner took charge of clearing out the three-bedroom, two-bathroom residence. She now urges other hoarders to address their difficulties.
Statistics indicate that over 19 million individuals in the US struggle with hoarding tendencies. Bob had been battling with hoarding for many years, triggered by an incident in a hotel during the 1980s and a severe car accident later on. Eileen had lost contact with him for over a year before his passing.
Reflecting on her experience, Eileen emphasized the isolation that comes with hoarding, stating, “Someone who is hoarding does not want to live that way.” In her new book, “The House that Held Everything,” Eileen vividly describes her efforts to clean up the Philadelphia home. At 71 years old, she felt a mix of anger and sorrow towards her cousin for shutting them out following his traumatic experiences.
Despite having ample funds in his accounts to hire a hoarding clearance company, Bob, who was unmarried and childless, left the task to Eileen. Overcoming her resentment, Eileen took charge and transformed the house, aiming to honor their family’s memory.
Eileen highlighted the significance of respecting Bob’s cherished possessions found in the house, including Christmas decorations and crafts donated to a thrift shop. She viewed these items as a way for Bob to seek joy and lift his spirits in times of loneliness.
Months after Bob’s passing, Eileen arranged for his burial at a Philadelphia church, where she described his “nomadic soul” finding peace beside his parents. She expressed relief and satisfaction in knowing that they had given Bob the dignity he deserved.
Recent estimates suggest that 2-5% of the UK population may struggle with hoarding disorder, recognized as a mental health condition by the World Health Organization in 2018. The NHS characterizes hoarding disorder as the excessive acquisition and storage of items in a disorganized manner, often leading to overwhelming clutter of little value.