Jan Berenstain, 88, suffered from a major stroke on Feb. 23 and died a day later in her longtime residence of Solebury, Pa., said her son Mike Berenstain who spoke to the The Washington Post.

For over 50 years, Jan and Stan Berenstain have helped children deal with the pressures of adolescence from the lessons taught through Mama Bear, Papa Bear, Brother Bear and Sister Bear.

“They say jokes don’t travel well, but family humor does,” Jan told The Associated Press in 2011. “Family values is what we’re all about.”

Stan Berenstain died at 82 in 2005.

The Berenstain Bears series has produced over 300 titles in 23 languages.

As sad as we are at Jan’s passing, we know the Berenstain Bears will live on through the smiles of children everywhere.