Meet Lucia Bailey. Lucia volunteers her time to Hospice of the North Coast by making Remember Me Bears for families who have lost a loved one. She creates each bear using fabric provided by the family and adds her own special touches to each one, working out of her home in Encinitas.

If the patient had been a sports fan, she customizes the bear around that sport or a favorite team. Some of the tennis-loving bears wear sun visors; those who like shopping carry a purse. Military bears might wear a uniform or hold a flag. Each bear is huggable, lovable and unique thanks to Lucia’s creativity and sewing skills.