The friends of Lillian Atwood Chase, who died in Marlborough, Conn. on July 6, 2024, are invited to join her family for happy hour at JDs, 258 Commercial St. in Provincetown from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 8 to share memories of Jill and her life.

The cause of death was congestive heart failure. She was 78.

The daughter of Lloyd and Josephine (Barker) Atwood, Jill was born on July 10, 1945 and grew up in Provincetown. She enjoyed riding horses at Gale Force Stables, sailing at the West End Racing Club, collecting sea creatures, and caring for seals at the Provincetown Aquarium.

She graduated in 1963 from Provincetown High School, where she was voted the shyest girl in her class. Nonetheless, she played in the school orchestra, made the honor roll three consecutive years, and wrote the class history with Gloria Taves.

Jill earned bachelor’s degrees in education and zoology from the University of Rhode Island, where she met her future husband, David S. Chase. They were married in 1968 in Provincetown and moved to Connecticut, settling in Marlborough, where they have lived since 1971.

After earning a master’s degree in education from the University of Hartford, Jill taught seventh grade science for 10 years at Gideon Wells Junior High in Glastonbury. She left full-time teaching to rear her children and raise chickens, rabbits, and geese; she was a substitute teacher and a volunteer for the Fidelco Guide Dog Association, for whom over the years she fostered 14 German shepherds to be trained as guide dogs for the blind.

In the 1980s she committed herself to quilting, displaying her quilts at arts and crafts shows and town, county, and state fairs. One year she won best of show at the Durham Town Fair, and that quilt went on to earn third place in the state.

Throughout her life, Jill maintained her link to Provincetown and the family home in the West End with her sister, Peggy. She enjoyed fishing, clamming, walking the flats, and visiting shops, galleries, and restaurants.

Jill is survived by her husband, David S. Chase of Marlborough, Conn.; her children, Shirley Kociu and husband Arben of Manchester, Conn. and Jonathan Chase of Provincetown; her grandchildren, Lazo and Emma Rose Kociu; her sister, Margaret “Peggy” Atwood Naqi of Moon Township, Pa.; a nephew, Waleed Naqi and wife Ann of Moon Township; a niece, Mae Fayer of Mendon; and three great-nephews, Daoud and Ali Naqi and Aden Fayer.

Funeral arrangements will be private, with burial in Provincetown.