Jacqueline Lerma transforms cherished clothing into Remembrance Bears and Pillows, offering grieving families touching keepsakes during the holiday season.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — This holiday season, a Robstown woman is bearing her heart through her craft. she turns loved ones’ clothing into keepsakes that bring comfort to families during their hardest moments. 

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One stitch at a time — Jacqueline Lerma turns fabric scraps into bears and pillows with deeper meaning.

“The fabric is from loved ones clothing items. I know it’s been dresses, shirts, nightgowns, all types of different things, just items that people get reminded of their loved ones,” Lerma said.

She calls them ‘Remembrance Bears and Pillow.’ They helped hundreds of people with their grieving journey. 

“I don’t think I would’ve ever thought like that it would be so meaningful to people what my work is or just how rewarding it is to be able to do that for them and it’s truly just beautiful, it’s beautiful being able to do this,” Lerma said.

During the holidays, that’s when orders pick up. One particular order by Delia Castañeda for four bears in memory of her husband, Eli, who passed away six months ago. 

A personal gift in memory of a special person for her children: Mark Castañeda, Victoria  Castañeda , Yvonne Esqueda, John  Castañeda.

“It was a good feeling to have something else just to remember him by, you know, and we’re very thankful for what she’s done for us,” John said.

“I know for me it’ll be like a piece of him is still there. Whether it be in my boys’ room, whether it be in the little altar that I have that if I place him there, I know he’s gonna, I’ll be able to look up and see him and just instantly remember some of our fondest moments,” Yvonne said. 

Yvonne said the personal touch of her dad’s shirts is her favorite. 

“I think like my mom would say, she goes, if you ever want to hug him, his clothes is there, go give his clothes a hug. Well, now we’ll actually have, instead of coming home, we’ll have something in our home. To where we can give it a hug and just take the moment to to remember him. Take the pain and process it and continue on,” Yvonne said. 

For the first time, Lerma saw a customer’s reaction unfold in person.

“Being able to see it today was very rewarding and seeing the way that they opened it and immediately all the memories rushed back to them,” Lerma said.

Lerma also has a connection with a bear.

“The bear is a bear that I made out of my grandmother’s dress that she wore to my mom’s wedding about 26 years ago, and and their anniversary is on the 1st,” Lerma said. “My grandpa’s shirt is just a shirt he would always wear around.”

She said she owes her passion of sewing to her grandparents- Florencia and Ausencio Garcia. 

“They impacted my life. Yeah, they truly made me the person I am today. From my grandpa, being a jokester, well, they both were jokesters, they’re both crazy, but just the way they were very humble, very kind, and just open arms for everybody. Just miss them a lot,” Lerma said.