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<div>Tragedy struck the Heirloom community on August 7th, 2020 with the sudden passing of Chelsea Carr Rectanus, its founder. <strong>Heirloom Books (6239 N. Clark, Chicago)</strong> was where she felt happiest and most at home. She spent her days tending it: receiving and shelving books, decorating in her inimitably cozy style, and organizing events, but also thoughtfully attending to and caring for her customers and many friends. Chelsea was a generous listener in a loquacious world; a beautiful, compassionate soul. We deeply mourn her loss.
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<div><strong>This fundraiser aims to keep Chelsea's home--Heirloom Books--running, to maintain her vision for it far into the future.</strong> While we cannot get her back, we can work to continue her Heirloom as a legacy of which she would be proud.
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<div><strong>Donations will be used to secure Heirlooms' future as a legacy to Chelsea and a community service to its neighborhood. We invite your financial contributions (which, as of March 2023, are tax deductible). </strong>There are many basic needs to manage from utilities to rent, to toilet paper and hand sanitizer. <strong>We also invite you to share this appeal far and wide on social media or otherwise.</strong> Used bookshops are rare treasures in our increasingly commercial world. Every little bit helps.
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<div>Heirloom is being run on an all-volunteer basis. It is managed day-to-day by Erik Graff and Erik Badger, with help from a host of others who loved Chelsea as we did. We are in regular contact with Chelsea's parents, without whose approval no significant decisions are taken.
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<div><strong>Lastly, we invite you to visit, enjoy the atmosphere, browse our many books, and participate in the diverse and accepting community that Chelsea built. We are currently open Tuesday through Sunday Noon-7pm.</strong>
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</div><img alt="50513050_1597798946774223_r.jpeg" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/50513050_1597798946774223_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div>Chelsea in front of Heirloom with her parents, Colleen &amp; Earl
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<div>~~~
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<div><strong>More on Chelsea and Heirloom Books:</strong>
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<div>- <a href="https://www.facebook.com/heirloombookschicago/photos/a.1799980156934703/2614634918802552/?type=3&amp;theater" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Announcement</a> of Chelsea's passing by her father, Earl Rectanus
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<div>- <a href="https://www.instagram.com/heirloombooksofficial/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Block Club Chicago article</a> , August 2020
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<div>- <a href="https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/chelsea-rectanus-heirloom-books/Content?oid=41009046" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chicago Reader article</a> , February 2018
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<div>- <a href="https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/chelsea-rectanus-heirloom-books/Content?oid=41009046" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Literary Chicagoland article</a> , September 2019
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<div>- <a href="https://youtu.be/CFW-BIVGaAQ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Video Intro to Heirloom</a> by Andreas Brimmer, November 2019
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<div>- <a href="https://www.facebook.com/heirloombookschicago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Heirloom Facebook page</a>
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<div>- <a href="https://www.instagram.com/heirloombooksofficial/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Heirloom Instagram page</a>
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Anonymous

Patricia Skaja

Larry Coble

Amy Ryan

Rebe Brown

Kay Rosen

Finn Halpern

Erik Graff

antonia skelton

Kelly Thomashefski

Adam Schreck

G Bettencourt

Robert Remer

Steve Wiest

Mark Stein

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