Gillian "Jill" Yvonne (Mark) Roland, 79, passed away Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at 8:48 pm at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA, surrounded by family. Gillian was born in 1945 in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England. Her mother, Betty Maureen (Packham) Mark of Chingford, England, met and married her father, Wilson Bartges Mark of Loganton, PA, in England where he was serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II. Betty brought Gillian to the United States aboard the Queen Mary in 1946 and joined Wilson in Loganton, PA, where the couple raised six girls.

Gillian graduated from Sugar Valley Area High School in 1963, attended Lock Haven State University, graduated from Kutztown University in 1967 with a Bachelor's Degree in library science education, and earned a Master's of Education degree from Penn State. She met her husband, Daniel J. Roland of Bellefonte, PA in 1968. They were married in State College, PA in 1972 and had three children, Mark J. Roland of Campton, New Hampshire, Matthew D. Roland of Lone, CA, and Michelle Y. (Roland) Reynolds of State College.

In 1979 the family moved to Boalsburg, PA where the couple has resided since. Gillian spent a 33-year long career at Penn State, where she worked at Pattee Library for over 25 years, retiring in 2008 as Staff Supervisor of the Earth and Mineral Sciences library. She loved working with students and has many dear friends from her decades at PSU. Gillian was a Cub Scout Den Mother and Committee Member for Boy Scout Troop and Explorer Post 380 in Boalsburg. After retiring, she volunteered with the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross, for which she received several recognitions, including 2012 Chapter Volunteer of the Year. She donated blood frequently and also volunteered at the Geisinger Hematology and Oncology Clinic where she supported patients undergoing chemotherapy. Gillian was a loving and devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother. She enjoyed gardening and spending time with her grandchildren, traveling to California, New Hampshire and Delaware to visit and vacation with them.

She is survived by her husband, Daniel; her sisters, Sandra (Mark) Thomas of Montoursville, PA and Jolene (Mark) Waldrab of Orefield, PA; her three children, and ten grandchildren.  She was predeceased by her parents; her sisters, Shirley (Mark) Kooken of Tyrone, PA, Kathleen (Mark) Long of Pueblo, CO, and Pam (Mark) Hildebrandt of Hamden, NY, and her grandson, Paul M. Reynolds, whom her ashes will be interred beside, in accordance with her wishes, at the Boalsburg Cemetery.

Per the family's request there will be no viewing. A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 2:00pm at the Faith Baptist Church, 647 Valley Vista Dr., State College, PA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gillian's memory to the American Red Cross.

An online guestbook may be signed and condolences left for the family at www.hakygeorgianafh.com.