It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Hannah Ronit Aclufi’s passing. Hannah was a beloved member of the Sonoma Ecology Center community, and her presence will always be felt at Sonoma Garden Park, where she managed the Sonoma Native Plant Nursery alongside the dedicated group of volunteers she helped to cultivate.
Always hopeful of exciting others about Earth’s wonders, Hannah happily shared her vast plant knowledge. She was a caring friend who took time to listen and find out what made people tick.
Some of her peers at Sonoma Garden Park joked that Hannah attracted more volunteers to the Native Plant Nursery than any other area of the garden because the tasks there, like propagation and sizing up plant containers, could be done sitting down—but the real reason is that she was a magnetic, charismatic, and lovely person who brought others together to bond while doing good work for the environment.
Hannah was a teacher, an artist, a gardener, a musician, and a cherished family member, friend, colleague, and community member. She is survived by her mother, sister, stepsons, grandson, husband, and many, many friends.
Photo by Rebecca Kelly
Shortly after her passing, Sonoma Ecology Center staff, volunteers, and friends gathered at the garden park for a day of service and celebration in Hannah’s honor. As the work day came to a close, we joined together in song to pay tribute to our friend Hannah. The following lyrics were written by Sonoma Garden Park volunteer Cindy Lindh, and shared with her permission.
Our Friend Hannah (Hallelujah Hannah)
You’ve heard she’s gone and spread her wings,
But not before she taught us things.
Now you know all about them, don’t ya?
They go like this: the plants, the soil,
Sanitized pots, how volunteers toil!
Digging, weeding, and laughing with Our Friend Hannah!
Our Friend Hannah! Our Friend Hannah!
Our Friend Hannah! Our Friend Hannah!
She insisted on a sterile mat
From beneath her big, brown, fuzzy hat
Her linguistics and her humor kind’a caught ya!
She was a teacher with a song to sing!
Fluttering about making ears ring!
And from your heart you’d say, “Thank you, Hannah!”
Thank you, Hannah! Thank you, Hannah!
Thank you, Hannah! Thank you, Hannah!
Her nursery skills were simply the best!
Before she became a chrysalis at rest.
Now her seeds and sprouts hold her legacy, don’t they?
No longer earthbound her spirit’s transformed us
Leaving a state of soupy metamorphous.
Dance in our gardens, continue that journey, Hannah!
Fly high, Hannah! Fly high, Hannah!
Fly high, Hannah! Fly high, Hannah!
***
“Te cuides, Cindita!”, she would say. “Take care!”
“Besos de mariposas, Maestra!”, I’d reply. “Butterfly kisses!”
We are deeply grateful for Hannah’s presence in our lives, and will continue to uplift her memory through acts of service, community, and joy.
Click here to read Hannah’s obituary, as published in the Sonoma Index Tribune.
Together in gratitude and remembrance,
All of us at Sonoma Ecology Center.
