GRAFTON, NH — After a very long and courageous battle with lupus, Melanie Sue Fioravanti, 55, passed away at her home on January 16, 2021. She was born in Watertown, NY, November 9, 1965, beloved daughter of Elizabeth (Knowlton) and Carl Joslin. She was a graduate of Chelsea (VT) High School, Class of 1983, and went on to receive a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Vermont. She worked at a variety of jobs, most recently serving as an executive assistant at Dartmouth College.

Melanie was a gifted artist who expressed herself through diverse media and with her own unique vision. Walking into a past studio was awe-inspiring as old re-purposed streetlights provided the lighting. Her work included portraits, drawings of village scenes, whimsical figures, leaded glass hangings, and even a floor to ceiling indoor aviary.

In addition to her photographic talents, Melanie also had a profound interest in nature and its beauty, creating sculptures, such as rock waterfalls, from natural materials found in the woods. Her love of gardening was manifested in a variety of ways, from outside gardens and pools, to patches of cultivated blueberries, and homes always filled with a wide variety of plants.

One cousin commented on Melanie’s uncanny knack of taking a moment of inspiration and turning it into something beautiful (like her many stunning portraits she drew), witty (like her cleverly worded, handwritten notes and letters), or just plain silly (like her trademark cartoonish bird). In all those cases, she would never fail to make someone smile.

Those who are fortunate to have known Melanie well, have benefitted from her wonderful sense of humor, her compassion, her insightfulness, and her perceptiveness. She will be deeply missed by all who loved her.

Melanie is survived by her mother, Elizabeth “Betsy” Button; son, Ryan Gimson, and his father, Lynn Gimson; grandson, Liam Gimson, and his mother, Deniell Burdick; brother, David (MaryAnn) Joslin; aunts, Nancy (Jack) Correia and Diane Dresser; cousins, Derek (Susan) Winsor, Will (Ruth) Dresser, and Luke (Colleen) Dresser; nephew, Cody Joslin, and his mother, Linda; and niece and nephew, Autumn and Gavin Joslin. She is also survived by her friend and former husband, Steve Fioravanti, and good friends, Karen Boulais Butler and Roy Byington. Melanie was preceded in death by her father, grandparents, uncle Robert Dresser, and cousin Heather Winsor.

Her family would like to extend their sincere thanks to Dr. Christopher Burns of Dartmouth-Hitchcock for his many years of devoted care of Melanie.

Memorial donations in Melanie’s name may be made to Lupus Foundation of America, 2121 K Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20037-1830 or The Hitchcock Foundation, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756 with instructions that contributions go to Dr. Christopher Burns’ Research, or to the Upper Valley Humane Society, 300 Old Route 10, Enfield, NH 03748, or any animal shelter or rescue group of choice.

Due to COVID-19, no services are planned at this time.

To leave a message of condolence or remembrance, please visit the online guestbook at www.rickerfuneralhome.com.