Hannah Ruth Dowell

Hannah Ruth Dowell, age 29, died January 5, 2026 in a fatal car accident.

Born on December 2, 1996, in Evanston, Illinois to Anthony and Patricia Dowell, Hannah was a vibrant spirit from the beginning.  She attended Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Indiana, where she graduated in 2014.  At Harrison, Hannah played volleyball and was a varsity cheerleader.  Hannah especially enjoyed working with her mother and sisters at their women’s clothing store Collette near the Purdue University campus. After high school, Hannah attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, and later transferred to DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois during her junior year.

Hannah was a woman of beautiful contradictions, undeniably sweet yet fiercely strong.  Gentle, yet unyielding when it came to who and what she was passionate about.  Hannah possessed a sense of humor and magnetic warmth that drew people in instantly and was the life of every party.  Many have said since her passing that she never met a stranger, and no truer words have ever been spoken.  Hannah made an instant connection with anyone she met, whoever it was, with curiosity and genuine interest in their life story and struggles.

Hannah’s short life was a testament to resilience.  Her journey was marked by profound loss at age 15 when her mother Trish died from colon cancer in 2012.  Though she navigated deep emotional struggles in the years that followed, Hannah faced her battles with strength and conviction.  Hannah fought hard every day for her happiness, and she was succeeding mightily, with the help and love and support of her family and friends.

Hannah’s family is immensely proud of Hannah’s determination to remain sober for the last seven years.  She formed deep and meaningful connections within the recovery community and was committed to helping others with their journeys.  Hannah built a life for herself after moving from Chicago to Lafayette, Indiana in 2024, where she worked in the service industry and also alongside her father as a trial paralegal.

Most recently, Hannah had found a new sense of immense joy.  Hannah was newly proud and committed to be an aunt to Colette Patricia Golden, born on November 25, 2025.

Hannah is survived by her devoted father, Anthony Dowell; her sisters, Alexa Dowell, and Molly (Austin Golden) Dowell; her brother, Jacob Dowell; and her beloved niece, Colette. She was preceded in death by her mother, Patricia Dowell.

When remembering Hannah’s journey through both shadow and light, Hannah’s family finds comfort in the words of Beau Taplin:

“The butterfly is proof that you can go through a great deal of darkness and yet become something beautiful.”

Donations can be made in Hannah’s honor to the Haven Crisis Stabilization Unit at Valley Oaks Health in Lafayette, Indiana, which Hannah’s family hopes will help other young women who may not have the love and support that Hannah received.

Private family services are being held.

You may leave memories and condolences at www.soller-baker.com