Deanna Marie Lynch

Deanna (De Bellis) Lynch went to heaven April 29, 2024, in Visalia, CA at the age of 80. A first generation American, Dee was born September 1,1943, in Columbus, Ohio to Italian immigrants Professor Anthony De Bellis and Raffaella Linsalata. Deanna was an Army brat and consequently was able to live in many places which helped broaden her perspective on the world and her compassion for the less fortunate. The value of an education was highly stressed, and Dee decided to become an educator. She graduated with a degree in special education from the University of Oklahoma in 1965, and having attended her last Vietnam war protest, she began her career in Harvey, Illinois. Although she enjoyed the big city Chicago delights, the brutal winters convinced her to seek warmer climes, and she moved to San Diego. In addition to allowing Deanna to continuing teaching, San Diego is a Navy town and Deanna found her sailor future husband William Lynch. After several starts and stops Deanna landed in Visalia and raised their two sons Billy and Jeff while she taught students with disabilities in nearby Hanford. Dee's most fulfilling job was with the Independent Living Program where she would take her students out into the community and teach them how to shop as well as teaching them how to cook and how to seek employment with the objective of teaching the students to become independent. Dee's students became famous for their Pasta and Broccoli. Dee's staff and her students admired her for her kindness, compassion, patience and boundless love. In 2007, the Kings County Office of Education acknowledged Dee's efforts by naming her as Teacher of the Year. Deanna spent the last years of her life doing things she enjoyed like reading, playing Bingo, playing cards, and spending time with her sister Barbara (De Bellis) Zaino. Deanna was preceded in death by her parents, her son William Henry Lynch III (Billy), her sister Barbara, and Brother-in-law Larry Zaino. Deanna is survived by her brother, Tony De Bellis, sister-in-law Melanie Fallon, son Jeff (Kelly) Lynch, nephews Darien De Bellis and Nicolas and Jonathan (Jennifer) Zaino, nieces Caitlin and Maura Fallon-McKnight, and grandchildren Jakob Lynch, Hazel Lynch, William Henry Lynch IV, and many cousins and countless friends. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Deanna Marie Lynch

September 1, 1943 - April 29, 2024