Bradley Thomas Malek

Our beautiful angel, Bradley Thomas Malek, was called to Heaven on July 5, 2024 and welcomed home by his grandfathers Wladyslaw Malek and Valentin Tamse. He passed peacefully wrapped in his father Janusz’s arms and surrounded by his mother Helen, his brother Jeremy, and his sister Shauna. He will be deeply missed by his grandmothers Mary Tamse and Janina Malek, his great-aunt and childhood caregiver Helena Lazor, his Godfather Zbigniew Malek (Krystyna) and his uncles John Tamse (Heather), and Ed Tamse. He will also be mourned by his aunts and uncle in Poland, and countless cousins and second cousins from the Malek, Tamse, Dolar and Sudol families.

 A private family service will be held at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, with prayers from 9:30 a.m until the time of the Mass of Christian burial at  10:00 am on Thursday, July 11 followed by private internment at St. Peter’s Cemetery, London.  

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bradley’s memory may be made to Cerebral Palsy, LHSC or a charity of your choice. 

Online condolences at www.oneilfuneralhome.ca

Our Angel’s Story

Bradley was born prematurely at 24 weeks on Feb 4, 1992, weighing only 695g. He spent 6 months in the neonatal ICU at St. Joe’s Hospital and was finally released after his parents received a crash course in medicine. A night was spent in a private family suite to prove they could competently administer all Bradley’s medications and operate the multitude of machines that would accompany him on his discharge home (thankfully the family had just bought a minivan!)

By age 2, Bradley was weaned off oxygen and the family celebrated not having to tote around extra oxygen – his sister was especially grateful as she could now freely carry her living doll down the street to see babcia (grandma). Bradley’s primary caregiver was his ciocia (great-aunt) Helena – they were icons in the neighbourhood with their daily walks. In 2008, Bradley started the Developmental program at Banting Secondary School. He loved the bus ride to school and would turn his head when he heard the bus motor. Bradley really enjoyed circle time with the other students, but his favourite activity was the Snoozle Room which had a therapeutic bath, sensory lighting, and calming music.

Bradley graduated in 2013 at which time dad took early retirement to become primary caregiver and mom took over care duties when she finished her day at the office.   Growing up, family vacations included camping at Pinery, cottaging at Redstone Lake, and yearly trips to Sudbury to pick blueberries. Bradley was his siblings’ biggest fan – he attended every soccer game and track meet. 

Over the years, Bradley has had his share of hospital stays. In 2017, he was fortunate to be under the care of Dr. Leesa, whose recommendations for Bipap greatly improved his health and provided for several years without hospitalizations although we all knew that the treatments options were temporary.  A fighter from the very beginning, it became clear that it was finally his time to rest – God agreed and called our angel home on July 5, 2024.  Bradley has been an inspiration to our family - leading his brother to pursue a career as a Paramedic and be an advocate for others like Bradley and leading his sister to pursue a career as a Nurse Practitioner. We all believe we are better people because Bradley was a part of our lives. 

So Go and Run Free - Author Unknown (modified)

 So go and run free with the angels

Dance around the golden clouds

For the Lord has chosen you to be with him

And we should feel nothing but proud

Your earthly struggles are over

And truly blessed are we

To have had an angel among us

Even if it was only briefly

Our memories of you are written

Deep inside of our hearts

Each precious moment you gave us

Shall never, ever depart

So go and run free with the angels

As they sing ever so tenderly

And please be sure to tell them

To take good care of you, our beautiful Bradley!