DeAnne Saliba Hayes

DeAnne Saliba Hayes, July 23, 1937 to September 2, 2025, was the oldest child of Leon and Dolores Saliba. A proud Angeleno, she was born in Los Angeles and attended Third Street Elementary School, John Burrows Junior High School, Los Angeles High School and UCLA (Education).

DeAnne loved being an older sister to her five siblings (Tom, Mike, Joanne Saliba-Blight, Cathy and John Saliba). She also loved being a member of two large extended Lebanese-American families: the Salibas and Ayoobs. Her strong relationship with her 19 first cousins was incredibly important to her. Just as she considered her cousins her friends, her friends were also like family to her. Her enduring friendship with her UCLA Alpha Delta Pi sorority sisters was particularly strong.

DeAnne met Byron Hayes in 1961 and they married in 1962. Their family expanded to include Ken (Susanne) and Tricia (Gavin Christensen). DeAnne was known as Nana DeDe to her 5 grandchildren: Philip, Christina, William, Brian and Caroline. DeAnne was a devoted mother, grandmother, aunt and great-aunt. She loved teaching her grandchildren and all children about the joys of reading, the excitement of science, and the beauty of music. She loved supporting their schools, and started the Grandparents Committee at Campbell Hall, where she also served on the Board of Trustees.

Initially, DeAnne was a teacher in LA public schools and then became a reading consultant for McGraw Hill. Later, she was a school and community volunteer and a civic leader. She rose to prominence in many organizations, including the Volunteer League of San Fernando Valley, the East Valley YMCA, the Gold Shield of UCLA, the KCET Women’s Council and the Muses of the California Science Center.

DeAnne’s volunteer focus towards the end of her life was the Hollywood Bowl and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. She was president of the LA Phil Speakers Bureau and helped bring classical music education to countless school children throughout Los Angeles.

In the last years of DeAnne’s life, she faced the debilitating disease of dementia. She approached this challenge with an upbeat attitude, preferring to rejoice in the small pleasures of visiting with friends and family and enjoying the community at The Neighborhood at Belmont Village in Burbank. We are immensely grateful for the excellent care the staff gave to DeAnne throughout her 4 years there. In the end, she passed peacefully and we are comforted knowing she is with her beloved Byron for eternity.

A memorial service and celebratory lunch will be held later in November. For more information, please contact Tricia at triciahc@yahoo.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in DeAnne’s memory to the Los Angeles Philharmonic (www.laphil.com) or Campbell Hall School (https://www.campbellhall.org)