Janelle Stone Estate Services LLC is not your typical estate sale company. It’s a family-run operation with roots that run deep, both in the business and personal lives of its founder, Janelle Stone, who has a passion for helping others.
Janelle grew up in University Park, attended Highland Park High School (HPHS), and graduated from Baylor University with a degree in fashion merchandising. She later studied interior design in Houston. It was at a Young Life camp in Colorado, just after high school, that Janelle met Bill, her future husband. Both were bound for Baylor, and their paths crossed again on the first day of college. They dated for three years and married after their junior year. Bill pursued a career in law, while Janelle followed her passion for design.
Janelle’s career in estate sales began in the 1980s in Houston. She became an Accredited Member of International Society of Appraisers (ISA) in the 1990s but found her true calling in staging estate sales. Her talent for transforming homes into polished showcases, similar to designer showhouses or Neiman Marcus displays, set her apart in the industry.
Wen Stone, Janelle’s son, grew up immersed in the world of estate sales. While attending HPHS he discovered his love for the estate sale business while he and his siblings helped with sales on weekends. Wen earned a business degree from the University of Oklahoma (OU) in Norman, but after a stint in sales and logistics, he realized his true calling was with the family business. A chance encounter with Joe Crafton and Bubba Wood at one of his mother’s estate sales led him to work at Collectors Covey, an art and gun gallery, before joining Janelle full-time. For the past seven years, Wen has been a key player in the company, finding joy in the diversity of projects and the personal stories of their clients.
The Stones’ family history is as interesting as their careers. Janelle’s maternal grandparents were both orphans. Her grandfather, born in 1899, grew up in the Masonic home in Cleburne, Texas, which inspired the story “12 Mighty Orphans.” Her grandmother, who lost her parents young, moved to Dallas to be a chaperone for a car dealership owner’s daughter. Janelle’s parents met at Bradfield Elementary and church in Dallas. Her family’s roots in the city run deep.
Janelle and Bill’s own family journey is heartwarming. They have four children: Elissa, 37, Wes and Wen, both 31, who were adopted just a week apart from each other, and Llewellyn. “After having adopted Elissa six years earlier, we got a call one day from an adoption agency in Oklahoma City asking if we wanted a baby boy” explained Janelle. “Bill came running up to me in the carpool line at Bradfield asking me. Literally 24 hours later, the same scenario occurred again. We said ‘yes’ to both, and we ended up getting our boys a week apart.” After adopting three children, Janelle got the surprise of her life and became pregnant with daughter Llewellyn who is 29. Janelle embraces her role as tiger, fiercely protective and proud of her kids.
Estate sales with Janelle and Wen are more than just transactions; they are meticulously planned events. The Stones take pride in transforming spaces and offering a wide range of items, from workout equipment to fine art and jewelry and designer clothing. They have a keen eye for detail and a knack for recognizing the value in overlooked items, like the rare one of a kind pair of sconces they sold for more than many people pay for their home.
Working closely with a dedicated team, including Sarah Barerra, Molly March, Carlos Barerra, and Westin Brown, the Stones create an environment that feels more like family than a business. Their core group of six has been together for years, each member bringing unique skills to the table.
One of the more challenging aspects of their work is helping families through the emotional process of selling a loved one’s estate. They approach each sale with empathy and professionalism, often spending weeks, even months, preparing for a single event. Their dedication has taken them to various locations, temporarily living and working in different towns to ensure every sale is a success.
Travel is a love shared by all members of the family. Janelle is an avid traveler, particularly fond of Bali, while Wen recently honeymooned in St. Lucia. Family vacations have often taken them to Southeast Asia, but Wen is eager to organize more European adventures. Wen’s wife, Sara, lived in Paris for several years and the two have traveled several times to France and Europe together.
Despite the demands of running a business, Janelle and Wen find time to enjoy life in the Park Cities. They love dining at their favorite restaurants like R&D Kitchen and Mi Cocina, and after every successful estate sale, they celebrate at Rex’s. For Janelle, comfort food means two El Fenix cheese enchiladas with rice and beans, chips, and salsa.
In the world of estate sales, every day is different, and every project brings new challenges and rewards. For Janelle and Wen, it’s the gratitude of their clients that keeps them going. Whether they are handling fine jewelry, designer handbags, art, or silver, they find fulfillment in knowing they are helping people during significant transitions in their lives. As Wen puts it, “It’s truly a service you don’t know you need until you need it. Everyone continually says thank you and we become true friends with our clients and customers. That’s what keeps us going”.