Memory Bears bring comfort to surviving family members

Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral & Cremation Services in Merrill has hosted two Memory Bear workshops this year, offering families a meaningful way to preserve the memory of loved ones who have passed away. It’s also a way to foster healing and bring comfort to surviving family members.
Memory Bears are teddy bears crafted from clothing left behind by the deceased. When a family member hugs a teddy bear made from the clothing of a loved one, holding onto memories of that loved one and healing go hand-in-hand with every hug.
The funeral home has been facilitating these workshops periodically for nearly 20 years, providing families with a tangible keepsake made from garments that hold special meaning.
“When a loved one dies, families are faced with many painful decisions,” said Anna Winningham, funeral director and manager at Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral & Cremation. “Deciding what to do with their clothing is one of them. Creating a Memory Bear from one or more garments can help families hold onto those special articles of clothing in the form of a huggable teddy bear.”
In April, 20 family members worked alongside 12 volunteers and staff to create bears. The funeral home hosted another workshop on Oct. 18 at its 301 Eagle Drive location. Both events drew positive responses from participants, who described the experience as healing.

Families shared stories and memories of their loved ones with volunteers and other families throughout the workshops. Each finished bear carried its own unique personality, honoring the individual it represented.
Staff members learned about the Memory Bear concept from a family who made bears from their grandfather’s work and hunting shirts as Christmas gifts. Each grandchild received a bear for Christmas, along with a message to wrap their arms around the bear whenever they needed a hug from Grandpa.
The Memory Bear workshops are free and open to all community members, regardless of whether they used Taylor-Stine-Waid’s services. Participants bring clean clothing items, fiberfill stuffing, and buttons, then spend approximately four hours creating their bears with assistance from staff and volunteers.
Those interested in future workshops can contact the funeral home at 715.536.4646 or watch the newspaper or the Taylor-Stine-Waid Facebook page for future announcements.