Elyse Simone Mele and Justin Michael Burnell
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In Loving Memory of Elyse Simone Mele and Justin Michael Burnell
With profound sadness, we share the sudden and tragic passing of Elyse Simone Mele and her beloved husband, Justin Michael Burnell, along with their cherished dog, Ada. Though their time together was brief, their love and impact on those around them were immeasurable. Their shared passion for creativity, literature, and craftsmanship defined their journey, leaving behind a legacy that will forever be remembered. A memorial gathering will be held 2:00PM – 4:00PM, Sunday, May 4, 2025 at Heartland Cremation & Burial Society, 6113 Blue Ridge Blvd, Raytown, MO 64133. Memorial contributions may be made to GoFundMe Elyse & Justin Memorial Fund.
Elyse Simone Mele
Born on November 27, 1991, in Englewood, Colorado, Elyse was a gifted writer, artist, and entrepreneur. A brilliant mind, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University with a degree in English. Her love of language and poetry led her to the prestigious Iowa Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa, where she earned her Master of Fine Arts in Poetry.
Simone’s creativity knew no bounds. As a managing partner at Swordfish Tom’s, she applied her artistry not just to words, but also to ceramics, knitting, and mixology, crafting experiences as rich and meaningful as her poetry. Her warmth and vision touched everyone who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Jacob and Annie Terhorst, and V. William and Antoinette Mele, her uncle Michael Mele, and her uncle Charles Ulbricht. Elyse is survived by her loving parents, Maggie (Joe) Buffalin and Bill (Susan) Mele; her brothers, Will (Mandy) Mele and Nick (Sandi) Mele; step-siblings Gabrielle San Antonio (Aaron), Steve and Kevin (Petra) Buffalin, and Kristin (Robert) Gomez; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and five nephews who will forever carry her memory in their hearts.
Justin Michael Burnell
Justin Michael Burnell, 43, was born on November 16, 1981, in Ottawa, Illinois, and spent much of his life embracing adventure, literature, and creativity. A natural storyteller, Justin pursued his passion for writing by earning both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Fine Arts in Writing from the University of New Orleans. He devoted his life to inspiring students in his English and creative writing courses, fostering their voices as he developed his own.
Justin’s journey took him from New Orleans to New York City, Iowa City, and finally, Kansas City. His dedication to writing led to works published in NOLA Fugees, The Columbia Journal, Guernica, The New Guard Review, The Rumpus, Arkana Mag, and Queen Mob’s Tea House. He and Elyse shared not only a love for literature but also for mixology—more than bartenders, they were true craftsmen of their trade. Their establishments, which they co-owned, were honored with two James Beard Award nominations for their excellence and innovation.
Justin and Elyse were married in a breathtaking ceremony on February 15, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana, officiated by their dear friend, Jarret Lofstead. Their love, built on creativity, mutual respect, and a shared passion for life, was a testament to the beauty of their spirits. While their passing is an unbearable loss, solace is found in knowing they remained together.
Justin is survived by his loving mother, Stephanie Burnell; his sister, Meghann Nicholson; his grandparents, Doris and Dwight Nicholson; his uncle, Dennis (Mary) Burnell; his aunt, Sabrina Nicholson; his uncle, Dallas (Elaine) Nicholson; and many cousins who will hold his memory close. He was preceded in death by his birth mother, Amy Nicholson; his aunts, Lorena Nicholson and Mary-Jo Burnell; his uncle, Rick Burnell; and his grandparents, Jean and Richard Burnell.
Condolences to all Elyse and Justin’s family and friends. Here at ASU, we are mourning her loss. She was such a wonderful presence in class and workshop—canny and funny and wise. I remember her often. (She’s preceded in death by Norman, too: who thought the world of her and her work—).
Dear Elyse.
Heartbreaking news.
Love and condolences again from Arizona—
Maggie, heartbreaking news. My condolences to you, Joe and the siblings. Life is unpredictable live/love it like there is no tomorrow.
Maggie, our paths only crossed once at Phoenix Sky Harbor, I believe at gate A24. I was the gate agent and you were non-reving. We were shy one flight attendant, possibly due to some kind of outage or issue with the scheduling software due to a merger. You jumped in to work the flight, got an apron, and an electronic device that flight attendant use, not so you could just get to your destination but for all the other passengers as well, rather than us canceling the flight. If my memory serves me you were flying to Colorado. This was many years ago but I have never forgotten you. I’m reminding you of this because I’m sure your daughter was raised by the same principles. Maggie, she will always be remembered by every single person whose life she touched. She left an imprint on them, just like you did with me that can never be erased. As a mother I can’t imagine. Our daughters were only a month apart in age. At times like this we wish there was a remote control device that we could rewind, and then press play with a different outcome, or fast forward through the painful moments. Maggie there are no words, and as hard as it is I hope you can turn to your faith for some measure of comfort. Your precious daughter will always be with you. You will sense her, you will know, and one day you will be together again. Praying for your family and sending you so much love. 🙏🏻🙏🏻♥️♥️😘
Simone kept me on this planet during her time at ASU. She fed me when I was hungry, housed me when I was homeless and always treated me with kindness.
My condolences to those loved
Simone was my adjunct professor at the University of Iowa my freshman year. We were in a tiny class, but we all got so close during our semester together. Her literature and knowledge she taught me is forever with me. My condolences to her, her husband and all their families.
Maggie, Joe, Nick, Will and all your family, our hearts and prayers are with you. We have wonderful memories of Elyse as we hope your memories will carry you through.
Barbara and Kevin Raviol