Hannah Louise Fumiko Takemori

Hannah was born on September 25, 1995 to loving parents Daniel and Monique at St. Peter’s Hospital in Olympia. She was beautiful with a full head of dark hair and a powerful voice. Her family welcomed her with open arms. Shakespeare’s quote from A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Act III, ii truly described her, “Though she be but little, she is fierce."

She was fiercely devoted to any interest that she had: from puppy mills; dogs (especially Spirit her Shetland Sheepdog-Spirit); cooking; theater; alligators and crocodiles; women’s empowerment; medicine (HOSA Program); history; anthropology; travel; her Japanese ancestry (she changed her surname to Takemori to honor her O’baachan’s heritage); teaching and Catholicism. She was a member of the Girl Scouts of America, 4H Dog Club-Pups and Pals (Hannah and Spirit competed in 4H local and state obedience competitions), The Washington State Legislative Youth Advisory Council as the Chairperson and LYAC Outreach Director, Japanese American Citizen’s League and the Dominican Laity Postulate Program.

She was an avid and inquisitive learner. She graduated from Puyallup Valley Co-op Preschool, Zeiger Elementary (Quest Program), Kalles Junior High (Highly Capable Program-PAGE), Governor John R. Rogers High School and the University Washington Capstone Honors and Interdisciplinary Honors Program (UW) (graduating as a Husky 100 and Mary Gates Scholar). Her academics were so strong she was granted a four year scholarship to attend the UW. She learned to play the steel guitar from O'jiichan who was a master player and played viola in the high school orchestra. During weekly library trips, she frequently brought home more books than she could carry and in her later years often made friends with librarians to check out books that were in the reference section. She was kind and so passionate it was hard for anyone to refuse her. At the UW, she was recognized as the Grand Champion, Library Undergraduate. Hannah received multiple recognitions and scholarships from the history department and the UW. Research and teaching were in her blood.

Hannah was a dedicated and devoted teacher. She followed in her mother’s footsteps and took on the service calling of Teacher for St. Monica’s Middle School right out of college. She believed that “Teaching is 100% about the kids” and showed it in everything she did with them. She enjoyed creating interesting and engaging lesson plans for her students. She loved them all deeply and could tell you the birthday of every student she ever taught. She followed them before they became her students and after they left her care. She generously gave her time to their games, recitals, plays and special events. She took on significant education administrative roles in her later years (inspired by her father, an educator) including curriculum development. She put in extra effort with her challenging students. Every child in her care felt seen, heard and loved.

She was a strong and powerful athlete. She enjoyed ballet, Irish dancing and gymnastics before focusing on running. She earned her Varsity letters for Cross Country and Community Service at Roger’s High School and continued running in college and as a young adult. Being short of stature she was frequently underestimated until you saw her perform. She gave one hundred percent to this like everything else in her life completing many half, full and two ultra Marathons (50K). In one Ultra in particular she broke her foot and continued running after that and even sped up. Her strength and resilience knew no bounds.

Hannah was a passionate and devoted member of her Catholic Church Community. First at the UW Newman Center (Blessed Sacrament), then later at St. John Chrysostom Byzantine Catholic Church, St. Monica’s and Sacred Heart Churches returning to Blessed Sacrament and the Newman Center. She was a Postulant of the Dominican Laity. She also served the churches as sacristan, usher, liturgist, a beloved member of the Frassati Young Adult Community and volunteered in many other roles. Her devotion is evident in the legacy of the communities who loved her dearly and her spirit will live on in them.

She was a devoted friend. She tended to maintain a small group of close friends and a larger circle of acquaintances. She was always willing to lend a hand or an ear to those in need. She was especially close with the Frassati Community and played a key leadership role helping with retreats and social gatherings. She was always looking for someone to teach even in the church. Even people who didn’t know her well were touched by her kindness and compassion.

Hannah met her fiancé Frank at the UW Catholic Newman Center in 2014. She was bright and quirky, and the two quickly got to know each other. A lucky fire alarm a week later spurred their first date, and a decade of adventure followed. They travelled the world together, from unplanned layovers in Frankfurt and Chicago, to weeks in Tokyo and Florence, hiking the hills in Cinque Terre, and praying at the Hakuto shrine in Tottori. Stuck on airplanes, bitten by mosquitoes, and occasionally on a train to the wrong end of Tokyo, they relished every moment together. She’d let Frank tag along up Mailbox Peak and Tiger Mountain, happy for his company even if it meant slowing her pace. Hannah was Frank’s best friend. In their best moments and in their most difficult, her love shone through.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents O’baachan Fumiko Russ and O’jiichan John B. Russ. She is survived by: Monique and Daniel Russ; siblings: Kane and Dylan;

Fiancé: Frank Petrilli; Grandparents: David and Rita Johnson, Aunts and Uncles:

Godparents Mary Ann and Seán Ledwith, John E. Russ, Michele and Dave Britton, Mariel Johnson and Lew Schwartz, David and Stephanie Johnson; Cousins: Ashley and Grant Caldwell, Amy Russ, Brianna and Lane Thorton, Ceara Ledwith, Andrea, Joshua, and Audrey Britton, Antonio Valles, Jayson Wawrykowicz, Kai and Owen Johnson, Maria Takahashi and all of her Japanese relatives.

As Catherine of Sienna said, “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.” She did. While she was only with us for a short time on this earth we know we will see her again on the other side. We wait in joyful hope for that day.

Services will be held on Wednesday, April 29. 10:00 a.m. Rosary, 11:00 a.m. Funeral Mass, Reception after mass in parish hall. Blessed Sacrament, 5041 9th Ave NE, Seattle WA.

Thursday, April 30, 2:00 p.m. Graveside Service will be held at Miller-Woodlawn Memorial Park, Bremerton, WA

Education

History Honors Cohort, Department of History at the University of Washington

History Fellow, Department of History at the University of Washington

Awards and Achievements

Thomas Power Prize for the Outstanding Student Leader, Class of 2018, Department of History at the University of Washington

Husky 100 Member, 2017-2018

Mary Gates Scholar, 2017-2018

WISR Research Grant, University of Washington (only undergraduate recipient to date)

Grand Champion, Library Undergraduate Research Award Outstanding Senior Thesis, University of Washington Libraries

1st Place Thomas Power Prize for Outstanding Undergraduate History Paper, Department of History at the University of Washington

Sleizer and Schwartz Scholarships for Academic Excellence, Department of History at the University of Washington

Wang Scholarship, University of Washington Honors Program

Honors Scholarship, University of Washington Honors Program

Puyallup Valley Japanese American Citizens League Scholarship

Varsity Letters in Cross Country-Gouvenor Rogers High School

Varsity Letters in Community Service-United Way of Pierce County

Girl Scouts of America

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Hannah Louise Fumiko Takemori can be made to these organizations:

St. Monica’s School, Mercer Island, WA

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National Eating Disorder Association