Savanna Lynn Schreiner Van Houtte

Savanna Lynn Schreiner Van Houtte Oñate Garcia, 25, passed away on March 3, 2026, in Laguna Beach, California. Born on Saturday, March 11, 2000, at 10:42 a.m. at Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital (PIH Health) in Whittier, California, she entered the world with the same gentle light she carried through every day of her life.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Rodrigo—whom she loved with a fierce, unwavering devotion and who affectionately called her Gorgeous, Babe (or Bebé in his warm Chilean accent), or simply Savanna when she didn’t hear him the first time—and by her very large, loving family, who were her greatest joy and anchor. She also leaves behind countless friends, colleagues, and a circle of young cousins who adored her, including little Vivian (age 7¾), who captured her perfectly: “She’s a Hufflepuff, she loves life and she is awesome.”

Savanna was a true Pisces—kind, gentle, faithful, selfless, generous, sensitive, loving, honest, ferocious when protecting what mattered, adventurous, dependable, witty, cheerful, funny, and deeply empathetic. She felt the pain of the world, especially every animal’s, with an open heart that never hardened. A dancing queen with an endearing addiction to Glamnetic press-on nails, she gave 100% to everything she touched and never gave in or gave up.

Her education reflected that same passion and perseverance. She graduated from La Serna High School in Whittier (Class of 2018), where she thrived in AP classes, ran track and tennis, served on student council, and played in the Whittier Area Youth Orchestra under Deborah Carnahan. At Fullerton College (2018–2021) she balanced a full-time spot on the tennis team, part-time work, and a 3.5 GPA, earning her transfer to California State University, Long Beach. There she completed her B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy with a Biology minor in December 2023, learning not only scientific problem-solving and earth systems but also how to advocate for conservation, species diversity, and environmental awareness.

Savanna turned that education into a meaningful career in environmental compliance and safety. She supported regulatory reporting through the California Environmental Reporting System (CERS), prepared Hazardous Material Business Plans, conducted facility inspections, delivered safety training, and performed environmental audits. Most recently she worked as a biology assistant at Endemic Environmental Services after completing a wildlife biology internship there. She had hands-on experience running the Prado Basin MAPS station, surveying and protecting threatened and endangered species—including the Least Bell’s Vireo, California Gnatcatcher, and Western Pond Turtle—doing restoration work, identifying native and invasive plants, and using tools such as R, GIS, and field maps for data analysis. She dreamed of becoming an environmental planner or manager focused on biology and conservation, and her cover letter written just months ago still radiates the enthusiasm she brought to every role: “I have great passion for environmental regulation and conservation, and would love to hone my skills in natural resource management and compliance.”

Nature was her greatest hobby and her sanctuary. She loved the beach, mountains, trees, flowers, and even the smallest bugs. Whether watching sea otters in Morro Bay, turtles in Hawaii, whales, or pods of dolphins—which she called “angels of the sea”—her heart overflowed. She played and watched tennis with joy, took her beloved kitties Sasha and Kai on walks, cared for her grandparents’ dogs Buddy and Poochie (aka Vinny), cooked new recipes for Rodrigo, binge-watched reality competitions and old movies, devoured Bridgerton, Harry Potter, and anime, danced whenever music played, shopped with delight, traveled eagerly, and made frequent pilgrimages to Disneyland and Universal Studios. More than anything, she cherished quiet moments with her husband and the loud, beautiful chaos of her big family.

Savanna lived fully, loved deeply, and left every room brighter. Though her time with us was far too short and her passing feels like a living nightmare, the compassion, laughter, and fierce loyalty she gave so freely will continue to ripple outward in everyone whose life she touched.

She will be remembered always as the gentle, adventurous, animal-loving, family-devoted young woman who danced through life with an open heart. May her memory be a blessing and a call to protect the natural world she cherished so much.

Rest in peace, sweet Sav—our Little Munchkin Stinker Butt, our Savvy, our Cuz-Cuz. You are loved beyond measure.