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Marlene (Molly) Banz founder of Molly's Angels speaking to children at a hometown heroes forum in 2007

In this 2007 photo, she spoke to children at a forum featuring “hometown heroes.”

Meet Molly

Marlene (Molly) Banz founded Molly's Angels in 1999 as a nonprofit organization. Originally from England, Molly came to Napa in 1965 and began her career in the restaurant business, later operating Molly's Fish & Chips.

Her restaurant became the birthplace of her nonprofit, started after a house fire killed three Napa residents and left the remaining family members homeless and unable to pay for the burial of their loved ones. Molly raised funds by passing around a pickle jar, that raised enough to purchase the family a mobile home and cover funeral costs. After seeing the success of the dollar drive, Banz’s friends encouraged her to start a nonprofit, which became “Molly's Angels” and now focuses on serving Napa County seniors.

​Molly passed away on March 7, 2013 from Alzheimer's disease. Her legacy of devotion and big heart toward disadvantaged seniors and other victims of tragedies is continued by a constant stream of dedicated volunteers to this day. 

“When she wanted to get something done, she’d do it. No project was too big for her. She really did make a difference in this community.”