Jill Hand Gabb-Piercy

A Celebration of Life for Mrs. Jillanda “Jill” Rose Hand Gabb-Piercy, 67, of West Monroe, will be 6:00 PM Wednesday, May 17, 2023, in the chapel of Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe with Rev. Phillip Smith officiating.  A Private Family Interment will be held on May 19, 2023, at Greenwood Cemetery New Orleans, LA.

Jill was born March 14, 1956, and was called home to be with her Savior, holding the hand of her daughter and surrounded by family on May 6th, 2023, after a courageous fight against C.O.P.D and complications from an illness. She was a devout native of New Orleans where she was born and graduated from Mercy Academy & attended the Helena Hosch School of Dance. Her favorite time of year was Mardi Gras in New Orleans where the Krewe of Thoth would pass in front of her childhood home on Henry Clay Ave. Jill was preceded in death by the love of her life and father of her two children, Craig T. Gabb where they resided in New Orleans and then LaPlace until moving to West Monroe LA, in 1986. Jill and Craig embarked on several ventures including SpaceCo Parties Plus, in the early 1990’s followed by Gabbeaux’s Bayles Landing Restaurant in 1995.  Their “secret recipe” for both boiled crawfish and bourbon street punch (sorry, they both took that with them…) drew mobs of patrons every Spring. They jointly owned and operated Gabbeaux’s Bayles Landing for 16 years.  

Jill is survived by V. Lee Roy Piercy, her second husband and beloved “Pappa” to her grandchildren.  Jill & Lee Roy enjoyed a semi-retirement of riding motorcycles and traveling the countryside together. Jill, who’s greatest joy was her children and family loved becoming a grandmother, she quickly became known as “G.G.” (Grandma Gabb) to all. She enjoyed life by surrounding herself with her cherished grandchildren & friends, attending school events, weekly fun trips to Big-Lots with her grandkids, playing with them in her pool and always offering up the perfect fashion, makeup and beauty tips to Jill-Leigh and Josie, including as much “bling-bling” jewelry as possible. Lipstick and eyeliner were a must, and she continued to have her eyelashes done bi-weekly until the end. She was one-of-a-kind, the biggest heart and never met a stranger, always lending a helping hand or listening ear.  She was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. Unintentionally, always the life of the party, ready to dance and focused on making sure you always had a good time at whatever you were doing with some good music playing in the background. 

She will be sadly missed by many, especially her daughter, Sommer Gabb Dispenza (Josh) and her children, Jett, Jill-Leigh, Joshua, and Josie; her son, Jade Gabb (wife) and his children, Milleigh and Owen; great-granddaughter, Phoenix Rose; her brother, G. Pat Hand Jr. (Jean), his children, Stacey (Anthony), G. Patrick III (Kimberly), Timothy (Katherine), her sister, JayAnn McElynn (Frank); her niece, Ashley D. McMenamin; her husband V. Lee Roy Piercy ; her aunt and Nan, Linda Gabb; and best friend, confidant and partner in crime of over 40 years, Debbie Rice. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, George Hand Sr., and Mildred Hussy Hand; and her sister, Jacklyn H. Dabdoub.

Honorary Pallbearers will be:

• G. “Pat” Hand Jr.
• Jett Gabb
• Josh Dispenza
• Waylan Piercy
• James Taylor
• Ronald “Ron” Linsten
• Ian Maxwell
• Mitchell Bacon

The family would like to extend a special thank you to:

• James & Carmen “Willie” Taylor
• Debbie Rice
• Karen Stansbury, APRN – Wound Ostomy Care Clinic of West Monroe
• David Turner, RN – Alpha Care Home Health Service

The family will receive friends from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at Mulhearn Funeral Home West Monroe.