It was a fitting sendoff for the beloved kindergarten teacher, wife, mother of two, and Disney fanatic who died Wednesday, June 26, at the age of 34 following a two-year battle with breast cancer, according to her obituary.
“They did something for our family that will never be forgotten. It’s the fairy tale ending she would want,” her brother, Ben Olsen, said on Facebook. “‘Tangled’ is her most favorite movie and they gave her a fairy tale ending that will live with us forever.”
Maldonado, who taught kindergarten in the Menands School District for five years, spent two years fighting “an inspiring, courageous, and determined battle” against her cancer, her memorial said.
“Never complaining once, she heroically earned the title Badass Warrior Princess.”
That tenacious spirit became even more evident after her diagnosis, colleagues said.
“Sara was unique in that she never complained, saw the positive in every situation and never gave up,” the Menands School District said on a special tribute page to the beloved teacher.