At the memorial service for the Maloney family, surviving daughter Molly Maloney spoke of four “perfect moments.” Her father, John Maloney was all about the indelible snapshots which make up life and had prescribed one perfect moment to each of his four family members; his wife, Susan, and his children, Aiden, Grace and Molly.
To commemorate the impact the family made on their community, a memorial garden is being planted at Prestwood School, where both Aiden and Grace were students. The Maloney Perfect Moment Garden will grace an underused corner of the elementary school campus and serve as a living memorial to the family.
Heading up the committee are co-chairs and Prestwood parents, Michael Meehan and JoElle Smith. In conceptualizing and planning the garden Meehan envisioned a happy place – somewhere students can go and enjoy the vibrant new plantings and inviting concrete benches, each memorializing a member of the Maloney family. An additional bench has been added to remember Anjalee Sanchez, a first grader who recently died.
“The kindergarten and second grade classes at Prestwood will make a set of 16 mosaic tile squares, eight of which will be incorporated into the patio,” said Meehan. “The second set of eight tiles will be installed in the garden at the Sonoma Community Center, which is being dedicated in honor of the Maloney family on March 13 at approximately 11:20 a.m.”
According to Kathy Swett, Sonoma Community Center’s executive director, the garden dedication ceremony for the Maloney family will be a part of a bigger Arbor Day celebration at the center that starts at 9 a.m. and runs all day.
At Prestwood the garden will feature pink crepe myrtle trees and evergreen shrubbery to make it inviting even in the winter months. Plant donations have been made by nurseries in Petaluma and Sacramento. Locally, Fine Line Art Supply is donating the materials for the mosaic tiles and Sonoma Materials is giving the pavers and slate stepping stones as well as the concrete for the benches. The garden itself was designed by Peter Clements, a local landscape designer and Prestwood parent.
Despite the donations, the cost of the garden is still significant and Meehan is hoping to raise about $4,000 to help defray the cost. Donations can be made to the school or through local businesses that are involved. Any money leftover will be used to purchase books for the school library.
If everything goes as planned, the garden will be installed as soon as possible. Meehan has planned a dedication ceremony at Prestwood on May 20 at 4 p.m.
