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
Memorial Service
April 16, 2022
2:00 PM
Unity Church
213 West 58th SAtreet
New York, NY 10019
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I knew Marisa during the 1980s and early 1990s---we met in the NY Public Library in 1982--and we spent a lot of time together until we had a falling out(my fault)in 1991.We were very good friends.Marisa was such a fighter and so courageous--she fought so bravely against cancer as a young woman and to watch her courage as she recovered was a lesson in what life is all about. Marisa was an extremely fierce life-force, a very caring friend, was extremely funny and a talented actress and director to boot.Learning of her death hits me very hard today, four months after her passing.Rest in Peace Marisa.You were a very good person and an extremely supportive friend.My condolences to all her hifamily and friends.
Posted by: Chuck Alberts - Tel Aviv, Israel - Friend July 9, 2022