Funeral Set for Gym Worker Who Died of Bacterial Meningitis

Shelby Township, MI — Funeral services will be held Wednesday for the Shelby Township camp worker who died of complications of bacterial meningitis.

Kristy Malter, 21, died Thursday, July 14, a day after the Oakland County Health Division called a late-night news conference alerting the public that the Rochester Hills Life Time Fitness employee who had worked with more than 200 southeast Michigan children was gravely ill.

Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. Tuesday, with a 7 p.m. Scripture Service, at William Sullivan and Son Funeral Home, 8459 Hall Road, Utica. Her funeral Mass will be at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 44633 Utica Road, Utica.

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Malter was a senior at Central Michigan University, where she was amember of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, according to her obituary, which described her as “a friendly, caring, compassionate person who loved helping others especially children.”

She had attended St. Lawrence School in Utica prior to enrolling at Notre Dame Prep High School in Pontiac.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Rainbow Connection.

Malter’s death wasn’t confirmed by the Macomb County Health Department until Saturday, though a Facebook post by the Notre Dame Prep alumni association said Thursday that she had died.

“The family has asked that their privacy be respected during this very difficult time of grief and mourning,” Dr. Kevin Lokar, medical director for the Macomb County Health Department, said in a news release.

SEE ALSO

• Health Officials Warn of Potentially Deadly Bacterial Meningitis at Gym
• Gym Worker With Bacterial Meningitis on Life Support

Malter was admitted to Beaumont Hospital – Troy with a poor prognosis on the night of July 12, her mother wrote on Facebook. Donna Mustage Malter wrote that she was praying for “a miracle” that her daughter would wake up from the coma and could be take off life support.

Malter’s unexpected death shows how serious bacterial meningitis is and how quickly it can turn deadly.

“Bacterial meningitis progresses very rapidly,” Bill Ridella, director of the Macomb County Health Department, told The Macomb Daily. “The main thing from our perspective is we want people with questions to call us and we will respond.”

Families of the 213 children, ages 5-13, that Malter worked with at the day camp program have been contacted and urged to consult with health-care professionals. It doesn’t appear that any showed symptoms of meningitis, Ridella said.

The family has set up a Go Fund Me account for a Kristy Malter Memorial Fund.