Raquel Alanis Cruz, age 35, of Othello, Washington, went to be with our Creator on September 12, 2021.

Raquel was born in Pilcaya, Mexico to Juana Cruz and Joaquin Alanis. She grew up in Sunnyside, Washington, and moved to Mount Vernon in 2004 where she graduated in 2005. There, Raquel had her two boys, Jayden and Maddox. They moved to Othello in 2013 and set down roots for her boys to grow up with family. Raquel was a dedicated single mother but worked tirelessly alongside her parents and sister Gaby at their family restaurant, Tu Taqueria.

She really knew how to balance her work life and home life, having 2 sons, her oldest having special needs. Raquel was an amazing advocate for children with special needs, always volunteering for school-related events and helping other families. Raquel loved music, taking care of her plants, and spending time with her family. She had an amazing sense of humor. She dedicated her life to helping others and made a lifelong impact on everyone she met. She also enjoyed her “kid-free time” and taking family vacations that were of course “Jayden Friendly”. Raquel will always be known for her big heart, continuous optimism, and her sarcasm.

Raquel was the daughter of Joaquin and Juana Alanis. Raquel was the oldest of their 4 children. Her younger siblings are Gaby Diaz, Agustin Alanis, and Valeria Perez.

Raquel is also loved by her brothers-in-law (cuñados) Frankie Diaz & Edgar Perez. She will especially be missed by her sons Jayden (14) and Maddox (11), her niece Jenevy (10) & nephews Francisco (3) & Gabriel (nb).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests people make donations to one of Raquel’s favorite charities, the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome. Money that is donated here is used to help educate others and implement policies and programs in order to eradicate Shaken Baby Syndrome. For more information, visit dontshake.org