Dianne Margaret Haines Muth

Dianne Margaret Haines Muth (88) of Napa, California, peacefully left this world on February 17, 2023 after a grace-filled seven months with cancer. She is survived by her brother James Haines and nine of her ten children and their spouses: Jeri of Oxnard, CA; Steven (Connie) of Napa; Kevin (Bonnie) of West Palm Beach, FL; Nancy (Dave) Nelson of Napa; Mary (Charles, (d.)) Rowles of Napa; son-in-law Steve Friedlander of Napa; Janet (Mike) Bakh of Napa; Brian (Deana) of Richardson, TX; Eric (Cathy) of Napa; and Erin (Willie) Guerrero of Sacramento. Dianne is predeceased by her husband Gerald “Jerry” Muth and daughter Judy (Friedlander) as well as seven of her eight siblings. Dianne was the loving grandmother to 45 and great-grandmother to 45. She became known as “the lollipop grandma” because she always had a bowlful of lollipops available when the grandkids and great-grandkids visited.

The middle of nine children, Dianne was born on September 14, 1934, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Homer and Leona Haines. She met her future husband, Jerry, while in high school and they wed on June 21, 1952, beginning a faith-filled life together. In 1956, the couple moved to Gardena, California, where Jerry pursued a degree in accounting while Dianne worked to support the growing family. The family moved to Orange County in 1964 where they lived until they relocated to Napa in 1977.

Along with two other couples, Dianne and Jerry co-founded Kolbe Academy in 1980 (now Kolbe Academy & Trinity Prep), a private school offering a classical Catholic curriculum that continues to thrive today. Later, Kolbe Academy Homeschool spun off to become a successful non-profit. For many years, Dianne taught at the day school, wrote and published grammar books, taught CCD, and volunteered countless hours at the homeschool helping hundreds of families master home education. Always devoted to her Catholic faith, passing on the faith to others is one of her greatest legacies. Her commitment to her faith and education was only matched by her uncompromising dedication to the pro-life movement – she never ceased working and praying for the unborn.

Dianne also had a zest for life. She was blessed to travel to various destinations (Italy, England, Israel, Mexico, and the Caribbean to name a few), delighted in many altitude-inspired activities (hot air ballooning, ziplining, parasailing, and even skydiving several times, including on her 80th birthday), loved to dance, and excelled at winning at the craps table.

The family would like to thank Dianne’s hospice team, especially Angela, for the compassionate care she received, as well as the many friends and family who visited and made her feel well-loved in her final months. Dianne will be remembered as a holy, loving, generous, selfless, independent, hospitable, and funny woman by her family and all who knew and loved her in the education and Catholic communities she treasured.

The family welcomes friends to Dianne’s rosary at 3:30pm on March 15, 2023 at Tulocay Cemetery, with visitation beginning at 2:00pm. Her funeral Mass will be at 10:00am on March 16, 2023 at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Yountville, CA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Dianne to: Kolbe Academy & Trinity Prep (2055 Redwood Road, Napa, CA 94558), Napa Women’s Center (1745 Jefferson St., Napa, CA 94559), or St. Joan of Arc Parish (6404 Washington St., Yountville, CA 94599).

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