In totally bum-you-out news, the co-creator of the well-loved children’s books The Berenstain Bears has died at 88. If you grew up anywhere in America within the last several decades, you are probably familiar with the series.  TMZ reports,

Children’s book legend Jan Berenstain — who co-created the Berenstain Bears — died Friday at 88-years-old after suffering a stroke … this according to her family.

Jan and her husband Stan Berenstain created the Bear family — Mama Bear, Papa Bear, Brother Bear and Sister Bear — back in 1962 … when they published their first book, “The Big Honey Hunt.”

Since then, they fired out more than 300 stories.

According to Jan’s son, Jan suffered a severe stroke on Thursday and died the following day.

Stan died back in 2005 at the age of 82.

I’m a total nostalgia whore, so I still have all my Berenstain Bears books, and have shared them with my son. Those were some awesome books. Who would have thought that a series about some hillbilly bears would be so enduring? I doff my blue polka-dot maid’s cap to you, Jan Berenstain. Rest in peace.

Here’s some Bar Refaeli at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party to cheer you up: