Clara Bertha Malczewski

Malczewski, Clara

Pinckney, MI

Her Legacy … Clara Bertha Malczewski, 83, passed away November 29, 2025. She was born on July 28, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan to William Ott and Rose (Kirst) Ott. Clara married the love of her life, Ronald Malczewski, on April 25, 1969, in Detroit, Michigan. Clara will be remembered as a devoted mother, grandmother ("Oma"), and a gifted cook and baker. She loved feeding the people around her, delivering Christmas cookies, hosting large family gatherings, and insisting that everything be made from scratch, often using ingredients from her own garden. Her apple pie was legendary, and she proudly carried on the German and Polish culinary traditions she grew up with, preparing family favorites like sauerkraut, pierogies, kuchen, stuffed cabbage, and rouladen.

A natural athlete, Clara taught her daughters to swim, ride horses, and ski both cross-country and downhill. She stayed active throughout her life, enjoying long walks and swimming laps.

Clara was also a talented, self-taught artist. Her award-winning watercolor and charcoal paintings were deeply inspired by the beauty she found in nature and now hang in the homes of many family members. Whether tending to her flowers or watching hummingbirds dance through her garden, she brought the same sense of wonder to her art as she did to her everyday life.

Her Family … Clara will be missed by her children, Deborah Malczewski and Kristina (Jason) Cantelli; grandchildren, Surrie Malczewski and Samuel Cantelli. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Malczewski.

Her Farewell … Clara's family will gather privately. Memorial contributions are suggested to the National Cancer Society. Please leave a message of comfort for Clara's family at 1-877-231-7900, or sign her guestbook at www.borekjennings.com.