Melanie Hunter Obituary
Publish in a newspaper
Columbus, Ohio after a hard fought 2-year battle with metastatic breast cancer.
She was an avid horsewoman extraordinaire with a love of all creatures great and small (except spiders).
If there are horses in heaven, she is there directing, training, and competing in an upcoming weekend
show.
Melanie was born January 20, 1973 in Columbus, Ohio, the youngest daughter of Clarence Hunter and
Martha Clagett. Her devoted and cherished husband Keith Tarvainen survives her in addition to two
sisters, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, parents-in-law, niece and nephews, and great-nieces and great-
nephews.
She is also survived by her "horse community", people too numerous to name, who were more like family
than friends, who supported her in so many amazing ways during her battle. Beloved horses, Norman,
Stormur, Moose and Finn; dogs Baxter, Zero, Poppy and Reykja; cat Storm Thorgerson; and pig Margaret
will also miss her greatly.
Her family wishes to acknowledge the outstanding caregivers at the Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive
Breast Center and the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital for their care to Melanie, especially Dr. Sagar
Sardesia and his staff. There are no finer caregivers nor facilities than these.
CANCER SUCKS. We -must- find a cure. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Melanie to
the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research, https://give.osu.edu/spielmanfund -or- 1145
Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43212.
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Melanie A. Hunter, please visit our Tree Store.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
1 Entry
Dawn Horvath
August 20, 2025
I'm so sorry to hear about Melanie's passing. I have such fond memories of her when we played hockey together. I traveled with her and Keith to my first out of town tournament in Michigan. My condolences to her family and friends. Cancer sucks!
How you can show support
Send flowers
Consider sending flowers.
Add photos
Share their life with photo memories.
Plant trees
Honor them by planting trees in their memory.
Follow this page
Get email updates whenever changes are made.
Donate in Memory
Make a donation in memory of your loved one.
Share this page
Invite other friends and family to visit the page.
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 results
4661 Kenny Road, Columbus, OH 43220
Make a Donation
in Melanie Hunter's name
People and places connected with Melanie
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
How to support Melanie's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Melanie Hunter's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
