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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. 

Molly’s Angels recently celebrated Molly’s enduring legacy, her unwavering devotion to our community, and the growth of Molly's Angels over the years, marking our 25th anniversary in 2024. Watch the video below.

“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.”