@Embeddable
@MappedSuperClass
public class BasicPerson {

  @PrePersist
  @PreUpdate
  private void processData() {
    // not running
    ...
  }
}

@Embeddable
@MappedSuperClass
public class BasicCitizen extends BasicPerson {
  ...
}

@Embeddable
@MappedSuperClass
public class BasicCitizenRequest extends BasicCitizen {
  ...
}

@Entity
@Table(name = "WebRequest")
@Name("webrequest")
public class CitizenRequestForm {
  private BasicCitizenRequest requestData;
  ...

  @Embedded
  public BasicCitizenRequest getData() {
  }

  @PrePersist
  @PreUpdate
  private void processData() {
    // running ok
    ...
  }
}