Doris Violet Scalise

Doris was born November 18, 1925 in Arkansaw, Pepin County, Wisconsin to William Earl Livingston and Ethel Violet Foster Livingston. She graduated from Arkansaw High School, Class of 1943. She married marine guard, Vincent James Scalise of Minneapolis, in Port Orchard, Washington on November 28,1944.

Doris and family lived in Minneapolis, Spring Lake Park and finally settled in Columbia Heights; she later moved to a condo in St. Anthony where she lived independently until age 94! Doris worked many jobs throughout her life including the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard where she met her husband, New Brighton Arms Plant, Honeywell, Ed Phillips & Sons, Midwest Printing and lastly, and well into her 90s, the Italian American Club of Minneapolis where she will be remembered as the Bingo lady yelling “chicken legs!”

Doris believed “Family is Forever” and passed this belief on to her immediate family who loves to gather often to eat “tons” of her exquisite Italian ravioli, sauce, meatballs, homemade bread and Italian cookies. Family and cooking/baking were her passions! Her legacy is a four generation family that loves to cook together, especially with her, following the cherished Italian recipes/techniques she diligently taught them to celebrate their Italian heritage.

Doris loved to have fun and continually advised all to, “Live it up!” And finished with, “If you don’t have fun, it’s your own fault!” Her annual early morning birthday phone call singing happy birthday to each one of her family will be forever missed as well as her closing line to all of her correspondence, “TONS of Love and Kisses, Doris XO.”

Doris is survived by her sons: William of Minneapolis, MN; Peter (Jacki) of Elk River, MN; Jim (Barb) of Andover, MN; daughter: Sherry (Bill) Nielsen of Sauk Rapids, MN; eight grandchildren: William (Caroline) Nielsen of Highlands Ranch, CO; Brent (Elisa) Nielsen of Sauk Rapids, MN; Tony Scalise of Minneapolis, MN; Betsy (Larry) Miller of Shakopee, MN; Amy (Nate) Grussing of Loretto, MN; Maggie (Andy) Kirkpatrick of Ham Lake, MN; Sara (Joel) Routsalainen of Elk River, MN; Peter (Jamie) Scalise of Ham Lake; 19 great grandchildren: William & Sophia Nielsen; Reese, Kiley Belle, & Blake Nielsen; Vincenzo, Brody, & Mac Miller; James Delton, Isla, & Grace Grussing; Ben & Jake Kirkpatrick; Henry, Vivian, & Jack Routsalainen; Peter James, Penny, & Finn Scalise; sisters-in-law: Judy Livingston, Rose Livingston, Margaret Scalise as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and cherished friends.

She was preceded in death by her ex-husband, Vincent (1925-1990); parents: William (1897-1971), Ethel (1901-1982); brothers: Ralph (1924-2013), Floyd (1927-2010) and Robert (1935-2016) Livingston and daughter-in-law: Linda Scalise (1948-2020).

A private memorial service is planned with a celebration of life to be held later.

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