On Tuesday, June 26, 2012 beloved daughter and sister, Hannah Elena Palacios, age 21-years, passed away surrounded by her family in Oakland, California.

Hannah was born in New York City in 1991, sharing a birthday with her maternal-grandmother. She participated in her first pro-choice political rally when she first learned to walk. Although happily immersed in the New York social scene, she moved with her family to California when she was just over 1-year-old. The Bay Area was her home for the rest of her young life.

Hannah led a very adventurous life. She traveled to Peru, Paris, Mexico, Florida, Hawaii, New York, Washington, DC, Seattle, and many, many more places. She loved roller coasters, amusement parks, concerts, and music. She found passion in her love of photography.
She was a curious person and occasional risk-taker. Every year she participated in the Redwood Heights Elementary School Variety Show, most notably impressing the audience by inserting her entire fist into her mouth. Her creativity blossomed at Julia Morgan School for Girls where she discovered her love of photography and art. She survived Berkeley High School, and then went on to attend the California State University, Monterey Bay for two years where she studied psychology and business. She also took several classes at the California College of Art. She enjoyed working with children, ice skating lessons and ballet, played soccer for over a decade, discovered volleyball in middle school, and dabbled in playing a variety of musical instruments. She voted whenever possible and was a regular volunteer for the Alameda County Registrar of Voters and the Alameda County Women's Hall of Fame.
One of Hannah's greatest passions was food. She was an adventurous eater from an early age, which pleased her father very much. She loved new restaurants, cooking, trying new foods, shopping for ingredients to use in some new recipe, anything to do with food. She wasn't afraid to experiment with spices or new combinations of flavors. The only part she didn't like was cleaning-up.
Hannah also loved body-art and had been accused of a "make-up addiction." Her creativity seemed boundless and she was a talented artist designing her own tattoo, signifying the convergence of her Jewish and Peruvian heritage.
She had a sensitivity and curious spirit that endeared her to others, and those that knew her will carry that spirit with them.
Hannah Elena is survived by her parents Mona and Enrique Palacios; brother and sisters, EJ, Rebecca, and Andrea; nephew, Xander; and grandmother Doris Owen as well as many loving uncles, aunts, and cousins.
A memorial celebrating Hannah's life took place in Oakland on Saturday, June 30th at the Joaquin Miller Community Center. Shiva followed at the home of her parents. She will rest in peace at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland.
The family would like to recognize the outstanding care that Hannah received at St. Joseph's Hospital in Stockton, California and Kaiser Oakland Hospital in Oakland, California. Hannah's parents also gratefully acknowledge the outpouring of support and concern from many friends and family that have sustained them through this time.
Donations may be on her behalf made to La Clinica de la Raza, ATTN: Development Dept., P.O. Box 17054, Oakland, CA 94601-7054 (http://www.laclinica.org/) or the charity organization of your choice.