Ellen C. Simmons

Ellen Carol Messner was born to Joe and Shirley Messner on July 9, 1944 in Washington Heights, NY where she lived an idyllic New York City childhood with her brother David. In 1965, she moved to Brooklyn and raised two sons, Dana and Judd, in Canarsie, Brooklyn with former spouse Lance Brown. In 1984, she met and fell in love with Melvyn Simmons on a blind date and they were lovingly known as “Mel and El” all around Brooklyn and Port Washington, NY, where they moved to in 1995.

From her disco days at Studio 54 to the local watering holes in “Port”, she was the life of every party and loved music and dancing. She never met a martini she didn’t like and enjoyed eating out and trying different cuisines. Her children and grandchildren will forever remember her insistence that they “try everything at least once”. But what Ellen will be most remembered for was her sense of humor and spunk. You will be so missed, El.

Ellen is survived by her husband, Mel; her sons Dana (Sophia) and Judd; grandchildren Marissa (Phil), Brendon and Olivia; great-granddaughter Mila; brother David (Janess) and nephew Joey.

A memorial service honoring Ellen’s life will take place at IJ Morris Funeral Home (1700 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn) on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at 3pm. All are welcome to bring their memories and stories to share as we celebrate the most dynamic woman any of us have ever met.