Elissa Hope Nigro

A loving wife and mother, her health issues began in 2015, eventually leading to a liver cirrhosis diagnosis. In 2018, she was told she had a pulmonary shunt and would likely not make it to the end of the year without a liver transplant. The following year in October 2019, her son Steven donated his liver and after a successful surgery, she was able to enjoy the next five years.

A side effect of medication she was taking from the transplant led to Leukemia earlier this year. Fighting harder than she ever had going through chemotherapy to get into remission, she said she didn’t even feel like she had cancer. True to her nickname, “giggles,” she smiled and laughed every day.

After receiving a successful bone marrow transplant from her son to ensure the disease would stay away, she suffered a complication to her lungs, eventually resulting in her passing. She is survived by her mother Barbara, her husband Vincent, son Steven, her brother Alan (and Gail), her sister Sharon (and Paul), her nephew Mitchell, her niece Sydney (and Cade) and her niece Tina (and Danielle) and great-niece Jaylee. She is deceased by her father Irwin and daughters, Chloe and Julia.

Elissa lived everyday as if it was her last, knowing all too well feelings of loss and pain. She lived up to her nickname and constantly strove to make all those around her full of joy. In her final moments with us, she worked with her son to create an organization called Giggle Through Sh*t. She wanted everyone to try and make the most of life, laugh as much as possible, and love one another. Giggle Through Sh*t will live on in her name, and with that mission.

Services will be held on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, Gates of Zion Cemetery, 670 Saddle River Rd, Airmont, NY 10952, at 11:00 AM. There will be no shiva call because of the holiday, however the family will accept vistors to pay their respects following the service from 2 PM - 8 PM.

We ask that if you would like to support her mission and learn more, please visit gigglethroughshit.com. A donation button in her memory has been added where 100% of donations will go to Donate Life America and The American Cancer Society in Elissa’s name. You can further honor and support Elissa by wearing Giggle Through Sh*t merchandise and spreading her love, laughter and kindness.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Hellman Memorial Chapels, 15 State Street, Spring Valley, NY 10977 (845) 356-8600 Jewish Funeral Directors

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hellmanmemorial.com for the Nigro family.