Obituary of Marisa Jordan Hansell

March 25, 2022

Beloved sister of Matthew and friend to so many, Marisa Hansell, of Amagansett and New York City, passed on in her home in New York City on March 24, 2022.

Daughter of Freya and Robert Hansell, Marisa's early years began in the Detroit and Chicago areas. Freya's calling to the arts brought she and her children to New York City in the 1970s.


After attending Friend's Seminary in the East Village, Marisa went on to attend Stuyvesant, Berkeley, and NYU. As a performing member of the Wooster Group, Marisa's passion for the arts led her to filmmaking in Hollywood.


A cancer diagnosis as a young woman brought Marisa back to New York City for treatment and to be near her best friend, Freya. Marisa's fierce fighting spirit kept her illness at bay. Despite having a walking disability due to her recovery, Marisa took on a bartending position at Yaffa Café and remained there for 20 Years.


But Marisa's true calling was the dedication of her life to those who were struggling with mental health issues. She spent the last 12 years of her life helping those who were most in need.


An avid cook and paddler, Marisa treasured her Lazy Point summer home, Bliss Abyss. Entertaining her friends and sharing the magic of her Amagansett cottage was one of the greatest joys of Marisa's life.


Services will be held at Unity Church, 213 West 58th Street, New York, NY 10019 on April 16th, 2022 at 2 pm. For those attending remotely, a zoom link will be available upon requests sent to MarisaServiceZoom@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Marisa's beloved Unity Church. https://unitycenternyc.com/

Funeral Services