Elise Margarethe Zayat

Elise M. Zayat, age 79, of Lawrence, KS and formerly, Hartwick, NY, passed away quietly at home on Monday, August 8, 2022. The second oldest child of Peter and Helen (Nordberg) Hansen, Elise was born on October 19, 1942, and grew up in Laurens, NY. She earned a nursing degree from Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, and practiced as an RN for over 47 years. While living in Brooklyn, Elise met the love of her life, Cornelius “Neil” Zayat. They were married on January 2, 1965, calling it the “finest day she ever had.” They were happily married for 51 years.

Survivors include her daughters, who she considered her greatest accomplishments, Elizabeth “Liz” Zayat, Lawrence, KS, and Christina “Tina” Zayat, Cooperstown, NY; her sisters, Karen Freiberg (Bill Kuiper), Catonsville, MD, Helen Sorenson (Joe Villafane), San Antonio, TX, sister-in-law, Ginny Hansen (Ralph), Annapolis, MD, brother-in-law, Richard Hanna (Cornelia Zayat); and her cherished cousins, nieces, nephews, and godchildren.
Elise was preceded in death by her parents, brother Ralph, and husband Neil.

Elise was an incredibly talented woman who was a master craftsman especially in her ability to sew anything and knit complicated patterns. She was always ready to share a fun anecdote about youthful adventures with her family and friends. One of the stories she loved to tell the most, was the one where she threw peanuts from a roof into the open convertible of the man who would eventually become her husband.

Elise’s kindness and love for others knew no bounds and she could light up a room with her smile and laugh. She was adored by all and will be greatly missed.

Services for Elise will be held in both Kansas and New York. The Kansas service will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 13, 2022, at Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Lawrence KS and the New York service will be on Saturday, August 20, 2022, at 11:00 AM at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, in Laurens, NY.

Memorials may be made in her name to Evangelical Lutheran Church-general fund of Hartwick Seminary, NY and may be sent in care of the Warren-McElwain Mortuary (Kansas), 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044 or Bookout Funeral Home (Oneonta, NY).