Hannah Edna Wit January 27, 1965 - July 3, 2007 Hannah passed away Tuesday, July 3 at the much-too-young age of 42, ending the loving and giving life of a truly special soul. Hannah was born in New York City, the daughter of Harold and Joan Rosenthal Wit. She was a graduate of the Dalton School and Wesleyan University. Hannah moved to the Bay Area in 1987. She worked tirelessly for many years serving wonderful people who are often shoved to the margins of society. She was an attendant for severely physically disabled people, then taught developmentally disabled adults at the Clausen House Independent Living Program in Oakland. She also worked at Berkeley's Lhasa Karnak herb emporium. Hannah had a deep love of animals and was a generous supporter of many animal welfare groups and charities. She rescued and adopted stray cats and dogs, and also embraced stray people, helping to heal the lives of many of the less fortunate folks living on the streets of Berkeley and Oakland. She will be deeply missed by so many in the East Bay community. Hannah enjoyed art and nature, music and literature, running and swimming, sketching a portrait and walking in the woods. She was inseparable from her beloved dog Mujo. She had a kind spirit and a warm heart, a wry sense of humor, a brilliant mind and a unique way of looking at the world. She is survived by her father Harold M. Wit; her brother David Wit; her stepmothers, Sue King Wit, Judith Wit and Pat Sovern; her stepfather Michael I. Sovern; her lifelong best friend and former companion Douglas Sovern; many loving stepsiblings cousins, four cats and a dog. There will be a Memorial Service and natural Burial Thursday, July 12 at 1:00 pm at Fernwood Funeral Home and Cemetery, 301 Tennessee Valley Rd, Mill Valley. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome to the Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA, 94598 or the Women's Choice Clinic, 570 14th Street, Suite 3, Oakland, CA, 94612.

This article appeared on page Z - 99 of the San Francisco Chronicle