Born and raised in Kismet, Fire Island, Jillian was a big part of the community. She attended the Fire Island School District, then later Islip High School. She worked at The Kismet Inn from age 13 and held almost every position, acting as a hostess, dishwasher, server and a bartender at various points in her life. She sometimes stopped in to help at The Inn even when she no longer worked there, and she never asked for anything in return. She just liked to help people.
Jillian was a jack-of-all-trades. She also worked at McGuire’s, Housers Bar and The Hideaway in Ocean Beach as a bartender and a waitress over the past few years. She worked construction for her father’s company; she trained to become a member of the Kismet Fire Department; snowplowed the streets of Bay Shore in the winter; and she had hopes of working in the health care field. Jillian was enrolled in classes to become a certified nursing assistant and was studying for her phlebotomy exam prior to her passing.
On Dec. 1, 2021, following a medical episode and 19 days in the hospital, Jillian passed away at 32 years old. She enjoyed jogging every morning and watching the sunrise with her dog, Einstein. She loved inspirational quotes and posted them to her social media frequently. She greeted everyone with a big hug and a smile, and she had a way of making people feel special.
She is survived by her father, Bruce; her mother, Bonnie; her two sisters, Shannon and Brittany; and her dog, Einstein.
