In "Because of Winn-Dixie," Opal's mom left when she was very young, and it's implied that she died, but the details are not explicitly provided. Opal's father, the preacher, mentions that her mother is gone, and Opal often reflects on her absence. The story focuses more on Opal's feelings of loss and her journey to find connection and belonging through her relationship with Winn-Dixie and the people in her new town.
Opal and all of her friends go over for a party at Gloria Dump's house. Once everyone has arrived there is a big lightning storm and everybody freaks out and runs inside. But Winn Dixie, who is terrified of storms, runs away or they think he does. Opal and her dad decide to go look for Winn Dixie, but he is no were to be found. But come to find out Winn Dixie was hiding underneath a chair the whole time.
Well India's mother had been dead through out the entire book, and is brought up a few times.
A. M. Winn died in 1883.
Courtland Winn died in 1940.
Norman Winn died in 1972.
George Winn died in 1969.
Billy Winn died in 1938.
William Winn died in 2006.
Edward Winn died in 1995.
Richard Winn died in 1818.
Anona Winn died on February 2, 1994.
Margie Lee Winn died in 1948.