Alden Claire Malachowski

Alden Claire Malachowski – 9/13/96 – 12/13/09. Our beloved daughter, friend, and inspiration to many has been taken home to be with her Lord and Savior. Alden's spirit was joyful, and she went after life with gusto! Always quick with a smile or hug, Alden lived a brief but full life. Her loves were baking with Mom & Grandma, reading, hanging out with her sisters, attending Camp Desoto, being with friends, and loving on her two Brittany "boys" Casey & Tucker. Alden attended Regents School of Austin beginning in Kindergarten. She looked forward to each day at Regents where the teachers, students, and families loved, nurtured, and contributed to the amazing young lady that she became. Alden also loved her church, All Saints Presbyterian, and her church family. Since she was a very little girl, Dad knew and told her repeatedly "God has special plans for you Alden…" Little did we imagine that those plans were to suffer through Acute Myelogenous Leukemia ("AML") and a subsequent bone marrow transplant after a relapse of the terrible disease. Suffering greatly, Alden never questioned "why me?" – she had a pure faith that the Lord would provide. Alden always cared for the well being of others and placed the needs of friends and family before her own. Through her eighteen-month struggle with AML, she continually expressed thanks, compassion and concern for her numerous caregivers. Even though she was only thirteen years old, she demonstrated an emotional and spiritual maturity far beyond her age. The family thanks the medical doctors and nurses led by Dr. Sharon Lockhart and Dr. Ka Wah Chan. Alden is survived by her mother and father, Shelley & Steve Malachowski, her sisters Lauren and Cady, her grandparents Peg and Bob Braxton of Lakeway, TX, "Miss Julie" Semple (friend, teacher, & inspiration), "aunt" Lisa Leitmayr, aunts and uncles Susan & Stan Malachowski (Austin, TX), Diane Malachowski (Belchertown, MA), Sandra Malachowski (San Diego, CA), Janice Nowak (East Hartford, CT), Christine & Walter Kumiega (Granby, MA), and Kim & Kevin Fox (Colorado Springs, CO) as well as many cousins. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at Riverbend Church, 4214 N. Capital of Texas Highway. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any financial contributions be directed towards a special scholarship fund designed to enable girls to attend Alden's favorite place on earth, Camp Desoto in Mentone, Alabama. Information is available at inmemoryofalden.com.