Diane Mary (Skaar) Marrin
June 2, 1942 - April 13, 2021
Kansas City, Missouri - Diane M. Marrin, 78, died in St. Luke's Hospice in Kansas City on April 13, after a protracted struggle with progressive heart failure. She was a life-long educator who taught math and science, adult literacy and, by her example, how to live fully and joyfully. She shared 36 years of marriage with Patrick Marrin, and was the proud mother of John Marrin (Seattle, WA), and friend and neighbor to everyone who knew her and was blessed by her practical wisdom and encouragement. She was born in Minneapolis, MN, on June 2, 1942, to Lyder Skaar and Catherine (McCoy) Skaar, and is survived by her sisters, Karen Kenny (Seattle) and Sr. Leonius (Barb) Skaar, O.P. (Footville, WI), and a large extended family of loving in-laws, cousins, nephews and nieces in Minnesota, Washington, California, Colorado, and Texas.
She began her life of service as a member of the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, WI, and spent 24 years in classrooms in Wisconsin, South Carolina and in Kansas City, where she taught at Benedict Justice while serving with Seton Center and later teaching at Bishop O'Hara HS. She held an MS in Environmental Science from Ohio State. After her marriage in 1985, she taught literacy in Topeka and Atchison, KS, returning to Kansas City in 1998 to teach middle school at St. Peter's, St. Francis Xavier, in support of Donnelly College and as a math tutor at Cristo Rey HS. She was an active volunteer with Kansas City Community Gardens and kept a backyard garden she shared with neighborhood children eager to learn how things grow. She was devoted to St. Peter's sister parish in El Salvador. She loved books and her book club, being part of Adventures in Learning at the Shepherd Center, going to concerts with friends and by being a wonderful and caring neighbor. A celebration of her life will be held at a future date at her home parish of St. Therese Little Flower Church in Kansas City. Remember her with contributions to Kansas City Community Gardens and Migrant Farmworkers Assistance Fund.