Jillian Swope
March 28, 1986 - December 04, 2021
Obituary
MADISON - Jillian Marie Swope, empath to and loved by all, passed away on December 4, 2021. Jillian was born to Vickie Dowsett and Jack Swope in South Bend, Indiana on March 28, 1986. Her early years were marked with effortless love, boundless creativity, and occasional mischief. Jillian was a four-year member of the Dance Team, and Captain of both the Pom Poms and Flags squads. She excelled at playing the saxophone as a member of the Honors Jazz Band and won the prestigious Louis Armstrong Jazz Band Award in her senior year of 2004.
Jillian graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Her deeply empathic nature fostered her pursuit of understanding human psychology. She not only wanted to know what, but also understand why. Her shoulders were always steady and her heart wide open for her family and friends.
Jillian’s set of skills were on full display as Executive Manager of Ale Asylum where she managed and mothered staff and guests alike. For years she fostered a familial environment, whether earnestly concerned about one of her family (staff) or getting her ear chewed off by guests (gladly or begrudgingly). Jillian further combined her creativity and precision as Director of Development for Stray Forth brands. If you have ever enjoyed one, thank Jillian. She was unparalleled in flavor development, strategy and organizing Stray cats. And she loved every second of it.
She continued these pursuits while excelling in music, writing, and drawing. Jillian paired these talents with an unnerving level of organization and made it all glisten with her wit, charm, and generosity. Not many ultra-creative empaths moonlight as proofreading grammar savants, and none so elegantly. Her passions extended to a love and abundant knowledge of gemstones and celestial bodies and paths. Apropos, given her impact on everyone she touched during her earthly time.
Jillian is survived by her mother Vickie Swope, her father Jack Swope, Michael Hartman, Laura Swope, her step monster Donna, her grandmother Maureen, her grandmother Lorraine, her grandmother Joan, her sister Rhiannon, her brother Blake, her brother Ian, her fiancé Otto, and a vicious yet adorable Dog/Cat/Bat named Luna.
Jillian most certainly found grammatical errors in this. She’s far more upset about it than you are.
A memorial service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. Family and friends who wish to view service via LIVE STREAM may visit Jillian’s obituary page at www.gundersonfh.com and click on the Live Webcast link at 4 p.m. on Saturday. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 2 p.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420