Alanna Freeman

1943 - 2017

Alanna Marie Harris Freeman

August 31, 1943 - November 2, 2017

On November 2, 2017, Alanna Freeman died peacefully, embraced by her husband and both sons. A fourth generation San Franciscan, Alanna was the only daughter of Rennick and Genevieve (Dolores) Harris. She is survived by her cherished husband of 53 years, John T., sons James Freeman (Marie-Claude) of Montreal, Canada and Freeman Michaels (Jasmine) of Los Angeles, and her beloved grandchildren, Gabriella, Thomas, Antonio and Isabella, as well as her four Harris family brothers, Ren (Marilyn), Jim, Tim (Stephanie) and Greg (Susan) and two generations of nieces and nephews.

Alanna embraced motherhood early, so by the time she started taking college classes, she was mature and committed to follow a profession that incorporated her natural problem-solving skills and experiences she had learned working with children. She graduated from the Occupational Therapy School at San Jose State University in 1979, focusing on Pediatric OT, an area not widely emphasized in the profession at the time. She worked for the California Pacific Medical Center at its former Garden-Sullivan site, with a variety of children with unique needs, mentored by wonderful therapists who graciously shared techniques and collaborated ideas on how best to improve the lives of unique children. After 11 years, Alanna went into private practice, and broadened sharing her experience with parents and teachers, helping them to identify and enrich the complex child. But when working with a child, Alanna always tried to empower them to understand and embrace their differences and strengths.
Alanna would work for 24 years in private practice, also ushering her grandchildren, nieces, nephews and the children of friends to have fun in her gym, but always willing to consult with parents and advise them how to help enhance their child's development. Alanna would pass on her legacy by mentoring three of her nieces, who are continuing her philosophy in their own private practices today.

Alanna had many passions in life. She had a lifelong love of reading for pleasure, memorizing poems for companionship, attending opera and ballet for the pleasure of their grandeur, and being intellectually challenged by taking classes at the Fromm Institute. She especially loved to be in nature, and together with John, backpacked for 32 consecutive summers in the West, but hiking to the top of Mt. Whitney and completing the entire John Muir Trail were especially rewarding accomplishments.

Alanna had a special bond with all her family, and although greatly missed, she was rewarded in life knowing she succeeded in leaving a legacy of love in all our hearts.

A memorial will be held on Saturday, November 11, at 2 pm, at the San Francisco Columbarium, One Loraine Court. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donation to a fund in her name at the San Francisco Botanical Garden, 320 Judah Street, Suite 2 or online:
https://www.sfbotanicalgarden.org/support/donate.html