“Memory Bears” Help Create Happy Memories

“Memory Bears” are created by VITAS volunteers from clothing provided by the family of a deceased patient. Using a patient’s favorite shirt, sweater or other valued article of clothing, volunteers create a small, stuffed bear to provide family members and friends with a visible, happy memory of their loved one. At a recent ceremony held at the Brandywine Assisted Living at Fenwick Island, the VITAS staff pictured above surprised a resident’s daughter and son-in-law with a Memory Bear. Pink cloth from a shirt and gray sweat pants were used to create the bear while other fabrics adorned the bear representing the resident’s carefree days along the coastline of the Delaware shores.