Obituary of Mary Ellen Nelligan Livesey

Mary Ellen Nelligan Livesey: November 4, 1953 - December 14, 2024.

 Mary Ellen Nelligan Livesey, 71, known to all as “Mel” - a deeply beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend - passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, in Manhattan, New York on Saturday, December 14th, 2024. 

 Mel was born in White Plains, New York to James Russell Nelligan Sr and Mary Nelligan in 1953, the eldest of their five children. Raised in Valhalla, New York, she attended Holy Rosary grammar school and Valhalla High School. She graduated from Westchester Community College in 1973. By the age of 21 she had started her first business, Film Crew, a company that served the motion picture industry by providing crew and equipment for producers of business industrials, test commercials, music videos, and TV productions. This business sustained her and then her family for 13 years.

 She married her husband of 45 years, Dennis Alexander Livesey, in the summer of 1979. Their daughter, Kate and son, Matthew soon followed. Deciding to scale back her business to take care of her children, Mel worked as a freelance script supervisor in TV commercials, music videos and films. Later, she worked as a book editor producing a public benefits resource manual for The New York City Department of Mental Health and the Hunter College School of Social Work.  

Mel, who was a courageous and tenacious person with a strong sense of justice, helped organize a tenant advocacy group in her apartment building. During those years her hard work resulted in better conditions for the thirteen tenants as well as creating a sense of community in the building that had not previously existed. 

 Mel will be most remembered for her warmth, generosity, supportiveness, and unwavering optimism. Her fiery and indomitable spirit far outsized her tiny 4’11’ frame. Her interests and knowledge base were broad, deep and varied and she enjoyed sharing what she knew. Her gravlax and cheesecake were staples at every party. She delighted in finding the perfect gift and in making Christmases, birthdays and special occasions magical. Mel demonstrated her love of her family and friends in a thousand thoughtful ways. She always fought for the underdog. And she could always be relied on to help someone in need.

Mel is survived by her husband Dennis, daughter Kate (Andrew) Coomber, son Matthew Livesey, sisters Barbara Nelligan, Jo Anne Nelligan, Anne (John) Rao and their children, Nicholas, Olivia and Peter, her brother James (Karen) Nelligan, as well as several cousins and two grand nieces.

A funeral mass will be held at 10am December 21st, 2024 at St. Stanislaus Church in Pine Island, New York. Burial will be immediately after at the adjacent cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Heifer International or Feed the Children in Mel Livesey’s name.