Gayle Kavanagh Terrell

It is with tremendous love and sorrow that the family of Gayle Marie Terrell (née Kavanagh and formerly Duclaux) announces that Gayle died peacefully in her home during the early morning hours of Tuesday, May 17, 2022.

Gayle is survived by her loving and devoted husband of thirty years, Robbie E. Terrell, her children, Duane K.  Duclaux and his wife Olga, Monique E. Duclaux, and Sean C. Duclaux and his wife Sharon, her grandchildren, Oliver Sobrino, Caroline Duclaux and Elizabeth Duclaux, her stepchildren, Brett Terrell, Jennifer Huang and Robin Wachter, and her sister Maureen O’Connell. Gayle was preceded by her father and mother, Maurice E. and Esther M. Kavanagh, her brother, Maurice “Buddy” Kavanagh, Jr. and her sister, Patricia “Patsye” Kavanagh.

Gayle was born in Washington, D.C. while her father was employed there, but soon moved to New Orleans when her family returned to their hometown.  Gayle attended St. Dominic School in Lakeview and graduated from Mount Carmel Academy.  Gayle earned her degree in Psychology from Louisiana State University New Orleans where she was influential in starting and was the founding President of Zeta Tau Alpha fraternity Delta Nu chapter and a representative on the University’s Pan-Hellenic Council.

Gayle enjoyed a long and successful entrepreneurial career in retail as the proprietor of The Lazybug Shops, a long-time New Orleans institution.  Gayle’s sophisticated style and fashion sense was a creative force behind the women’s fashion and home furnishings she brought to her customers and the community for over forty years.  Gayle’s unlimited energy and deep care for her customers allowed her to enjoy tremendous success in the highly competitive retail fashion industry.

The family invites all of Gayle’s friends and acquaintances to join them in a celebration of Gayle’s life and memory on Thursday, June 9, 2022 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral Home, 3827 Canal Street and at her funeral mass on Friday, June 10, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 6666 Spanish Fort Blvd.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your favorite charity in Gayle’s name.

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