Full Breakdown
Memory Bears: A Unique Approach to Grieving in Cranbrook, B.C.
4/6/2026, 8:41:59 PM
Transforming Clothing into Keepsakes
In Cranbrook, British Columbia, volunteers Deb Smithurst and Barb Fenwick are creating memory bears—hand-sewn keepsakes made from clothing belonging to deceased loved ones. This initiative allows families to transform shirts, sweaters, and even wedding dresses into tangible memorials. The process begins with families sharing stories about the clothing, which helps volunteers connect emotionally with the items they are repurposing. Smithurst noted, “When they tell you the stories... you think of those things when you’re making the bear,” highlighting the personal nature of this project.
Personal Stories of Loss and Remembrance
Wendy Sallenbach, a local resident, is having four memory bears made from her father's favorite clothing—one for herself, her mother, and her nieces. She expressed that creating these bears is a meaningful way to memorialize her father. Similarly, Ashlee Taylor from Kimberley, B.C., shared her experience of having a bear made from her grandmother's wedding dress, stating, “It’s like having a little piece of her with me now.” These personal narratives underscore the emotional significance of the memory bears for families coping with loss.
The Psychological Impact of Memory Bears
Marney Thompson, director of bereavement services at Victoria Hospice, explained that physical reminders, such as memory bears, can help individuals cope with grief. She described the bears as a "continuing bond" that provides comfort and reassurance after a loss. Thompson emphasized that grief is not something to be "gotten over," but rather something individuals learn to live with. This perspective is echoed by George Watson, chair of the Cranbrook and Kimberley Hospice Society, who noted the growing need for bereavement support in the community.
Community Support and Future Goals
Each memory bear costs $75 to create, with approximately $50 from each sale donated to the Cranbrook and Kimberley Hospice Society. This funding supports grief programs and efforts to establish a dedicated hospice house in the East Kootenay region, which currently lacks such facilities. Watson mentioned that the society has organized five grief support groups this year and is reintroducing a grief walk program to further assist families in their healing journey.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When they tell you the stories of the things that they did together, how they grew up together and all those kinds of things. You think of those things when you’re making the bear,” — Deb Smithurst, Volunteer
- “Part of the process of going through the clothes, I thought that having a bear made would be a good way to memorialize [my father's] favourite clothes,” — Wendy Sallenbach, Cranbrook Resident
- “So to have these, it’s like having a little piece of her with me now.” — Ashlee Taylor, Kimberley Resident
- “Those bears then become a real physical, concrete connection with somebody who’s lost, I think in a very meaningful and comforting way for people who’ve experienced a death,” — Marney Thompson, Director of Bereavement Services
- “To see someone hold the bear, smell it and cuddle it, and the comfort it brings, can really help them through the grieving process,” — George Watson, Chair of the Cranbrook and Kimberley Hospice Society
The memory bear initiative not only provides families with a comforting keepsake but also fosters community support and awareness around grief and bereavement.
