Heartbroken-greedy aunt wwyd

She has no children of her own and has been a great help with babysitting, lending the car, etc. To whom do you think she will leave this silver together with the house and all other belongings when she dies? Well, correction, would have left had you not behaved in the same grabby way? Granted, she is grabby, but so are you.

Your children may miss her, (but as they grow older they will be less interested in her anyway, that's just life), so I would just cut her out - not with a big scene, just by letting her go, iyswim. She's gone behind your back to take something that had been left to your mother, and which your mother would have wanted you and your siblings to have. She's literally stolen the family silver! A cliché but true!

Let her enjoy sitting looking at it all on her own.

This. Reading updates I wonder whether your aunt was concerned that the cutlery would be taken by your Dad's new partner if he died and thus would be out of the family's possession. It's not a reasonable thing to do (to take the silver) but emotional attachment to items can lead people to act irrationally. Talk to her, this may all resolve with a calm conversation.

how can hand knitted socks lack warmth?
there is plenty of warmth in knitting someone socks

Presumably your dad inherited from your mum, did he know you wanted them? Is there any chance your mum and aunt ever spoke about the silver? She may also have had fond memories with them and may see them still as your GP's more than your mum's which would make it hard to see them go to your dad. I'm not excusing it, she knew you also wanted the silver and it's not fair to demand them or to be nasty now. She's 100% in the wrong, only you know the specific dynamics of your relationships with each other and your mum/GPs to decide if you can forgive, but the 'she'd be dead to me' comments take it too far imo. It sounds like you had an otherwise good relationship and it could be worth a proper in person chat about how the silverware has come to be such an issue.

This is why WILLS are so important.
To absolutely be certain that future ownership is adhered to.

Because @adorablecat the sentimental value is what concerns the Op, not the money. I'm sure the Op could find £300 for new silver if that's what she wanted

Why would anyone bother to 'play the long game' over an item valued at possibly £200? The really sad thing would be to give it headspace.

What's she's done is very wrong.

Try not to dwell on it today. You can work out your next move in a couple of days.

She's still your good aunt. Yes, she made a bad decision, however, sometimes we just don't realise to what extent. Speak to her when you're calm and, hopefully, you can work it out.

Maybe your Aunt thinks the Silver won't have same sentimental value to your Dad and his new Girlfriend. As it has been your Aunts Parent's and Sister's so probably feels should be with her. Don't worry you'll get it back in her will. And then you will have a deeper connection as it belonged to your Grandparents, DM and Aunt.
What you have written about your Aunt being there for you after your DM passed away I wouldn't want to lose that over this.

I would let your other aunts/uncles (her siblings) know what she's done.

She's a thief, who has stolen your mother's inheritance for herself, rather than see it pass down to her sister's own children.

Scum.

That's awful. I'd be annoyed with the person who just let her take it. Tell her it's stealing and you will forgive and forget if she returns them and agrees never to mention it again. If she refuses then tell her your relationship will be over, permanently. She can't just take stuff like that?! Without it being offered. What a horrible person.

I feel a lot of posters are on here to whip everyone up to a frenzy
I agree let the dust settle and speak to her when you are in a calmer state of mind
Let her know what the cutlery means to you and how she has made you feel by her actions.

Yes, I see your point, and this aunt has obviously been kind to OP in lots of ways, but she will have had her own items which belonged to OP's grandparents.
OP says that her mum, aunt, and 3 other siblings were able to share their GPs' belongings amongst themselves.
What isn't mentioned, however, is how it was decided who gets what?

@Noihin you're being rather foolish here, if you cut your Aunt out you will never see the family silver again. If you talk to her and say you understand it's value to her but would she please will it too you, then you could get it back later. What do you want most, the silver or to be outraged by your Aunt? Sometimes you have to play the long game

If you inherited from your mother, and she owned the silver as part of her inheritance from her parents, then technically she has taken your belongings. I good solicitor woukd be able to write a well worded letter threatening her legal action if she does not return it.

She's sneaky and selfish. Inheritance can really bring out the worst in people. Keep her muted and cut her out. She will need you one day when she is older and maybe she will realise it wasn't worth it.

Jeezo.
So many posters focusing on the cutlery.

OP you need to try to speak calmly, or write, to your aunt explaining how you feel and why.
Tell her you're now not interested in getting the cutlery back but you're very upset by what she did.
Give her the chance to understand your point of view.

Are you OK?

PPs saying OP will get it back anyway are completely missing the point.
OP had specifically said when asked that she wanted to keep the silver and why. Aunt has taken them anyway and didn’t care about OP’s feelings.

She is a duplicitous thief and she doesn’t deserve the love and company of your kids regardless of any favours she has done. It doesn’t work like that 😏

@Fargo79 someone else said her aunt should rot in hell!

As it's not worth much, isn't it most likely that her parents' wedding silver is sa big deal to her as it was to your mum? Are you totally discounting that possibility?

She has more to lose than you do by being cut off. I would just go low contact. She needs to realise how much she has hurt you.

What a needlessly nasty comment to someone in distress. And on Christmas day.

OP you don't sound entitled at all. The silverware belonged to you and your family, and clearly should not have been taken by your aunt. It's bizarre and just plain incorrect to label your objection to this as "entitled'. How silly.

Of course you are upset, not only at the loss of a sentimental item that had a strong connection to both your GPs and your mum, but also at the underhanded and selfish behaviour of your aunt who you have now lost a close bond with.

I'm not sure how you get over this. I'm in a similar situation myself currently having been deeply hurt by a family member I thought I was very close with. I think maybe it's just a bit of distance from them and the passage of time that will make it feel more bearable for us.

Your dad has really let you down here and in your shoes I would be having a very open conversation with him about my feelings, same with your aunt. All because he wanted a quiet life.