Gail Y. Harper Piana

Before graduating to Heaven, Gail graduated from Belleville Township High School and was active in the ongoing reunions around town through the decades. She was a devoted member of First Christian Church and active in many different areas, including the TNT Sunday School class, Vacation Bible School, Youth Group sponsor, S.H.A.R.E. group, and Crafty Ladies.

Member of a trivia team, she played Boggle and solved crosswords puzzles daily which kept her mind sharp while watching Jeopardy! every weekday. She enjoyed water aerobics at the YMCA and her group of Dominos-playing friends.

Former member and president of the Belle-Clair chapter of the American Business Women’s Association, she was named “Woman of the Year” in 1987. Her longest lasting employment endeavor was as office manager at the then-named Cardiology Consultants, Belleville, from which she retired. Her favorite job, however, was being Grandma to three grandsons and one granddaughter.

She was preceded in death and welcomed into Heaven by her father, Warren G. Harper, and her mother, Margaret M. Harper, nee Mitchell, along with a host of others who have gone on before her.

Gail leaves behind her two daughters and sons-in-law plus four grandchildren: Jann and Kevin Brown, Nicholas and Luke, of Johns Creek, Ga., and Jill and Bob Schlueter, Ben and Maddie, of Belleville. She also leaves behind her dear friends; two brothers, Charles Harper of Belleville, and Glenn and wife Debbie Harper of Springfield, Ill.; a myriad of nieces and nephews, aunts and cousins; former coworkers and church family.

Memorials may be made to First Christian Church, Belleville, or to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Condolences may also be expressed online at www.lakeviewfuneralhm.com.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m., Sunday, July 28, 2013 at First Christian Church, Belleville, Ill.

Funeral: Services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, July 29, 2013, at First Christian Church, Belleville, with her pastor Doug Hargrave officiating. Interment will be held in Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, Ill.