Joanna Nelson worked for Melt from July 2016 to March 2020. She brought a shining smile to work every day. She provided amazingly relaxing massages for our clients.
What clients don’t know is that sometimes, between clients she would play some old school disco or funk music. One day I walked in on this and could not help but join her in a spontaneous dance break. Before the next client arrived we switched back to calming massage music, each of us with a big grin on our face.
When we closed “temporarily” for the Shelter in Place, she suggested we start a GoFund Me page to help support us during the transition as well as raise funds for those who would be hurt worse during the closures. We raised nearly $2,000 for marginalized undocumented workers in Alameda County who were ineligible for government aid.
In May 2023 she was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic bone cancer. Doctors gave her 6 months to live. Her reply? “Well, I better do all the things I love to do then!” And she did. She travelled, spent time with friends, went out to eat, and just loved the people who meant the most to her as much as she possibly could. She kept fighting the cancer, looking for new and better ways to improve her quality of life. With this remedy she got more than an extra year out of her life, and made it quality time.
This morning she made the transition to what lies beyond life. If she has anything to say about it, she’s relaxing on a beach somewhere, listening to the waves washing over the shore, feeling the sun on her skin and the sand between her toes.
Rest in joy, Joanna. Thank you for the peace and relaxation you brought to so many of our clients during your time at Melt Massage. Thank you for the gift of you being you and in my life.
* I’ll be with you with every spontaneous dance I do. *
