Carrie Pike

Carrie Pike is the founder of Carrie Bears, a company that helps family members honor loved ones who have passed on. By taking something associated with the deceased --a shirt, a favorite blanket, a uniform -- and creating from it a 20-inch teddy bear, Carrie has found a way to bring tangible comfort to those experiencing loss. Carrie is passionate about helping others through the healing process of grief. Hundreds of individuals have come to Carrie for a bear and have left with lighter hearts after sharing their burden with this compassionate listener. One of the highlights of Carrie’s mission of healing came when she teamed with the Caring Connections and several volunteers from the Salt Lake City community to make grief bears for the fallen New York City firefighters and police officers following the attacks of 9/11. Carrie was able to visit with some of these families in person, an experience that deepened her appreciation for others and her reverence for life. In addition to her work with Carrie Bears, Carrie has also spent the past 20 years in the insurance industry. She is an active community volunteer and has served for the past ten years on the board of Caring Connections, a program to bring hope and comfort in grief. She resides in Salt Lake City with her husband, Steve, and their five sons.

Articles:

My Teddy Bear Dad

Growing up, I was a little afraid of my dad. He had a bark that was loud and, I thought, fearsome. But as I grew older, I came to realize that he was just a big olʼ teddy bear inside. Twelve years ago, Dadʼs passing inspired me to start a company called Carrie Bears. My mom, in her grief, had said, “What do I do with all his clothes?” I started by making teddy bears–Carrie Bears–out of his clothes for my siblings. And that is where it all began. As Fatherʼs Day approaches, I think of my dad and the […]

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The Empty Office: Death of a Boss

By Carrie Pike — When you start working after high school, you are not necessarily pursuing a career. I started working for a large insurance company right out of high school. That began me on a path to important life lessons as I served as personal assistant to the VP of Sales. I was lucky to have a wonderful boss that knew when I was at my limit. He said he could see it in my eyes when I was too stressed. That’s when he would step in and make me take a break or tell me to go home. He was […]

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