Despina (Dea) Kontopoulos Pappas, resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, died in Dothan, Alabama, on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. She was 94 years of age. Despina was born in Mobile, Alabama, on July 11, 1926. Her early life was spent in Mobile and on the Malbis Plantation in Daphne, AL. She was a lifelong member of the Greek Orthodox Church, and also the Daughters of Penelope and the Ladies Philoptochos Society. Dea was a voracious reader, avid needlepointer, and art collector, and was known for her incredible baklava and raspberry cookies.
Despina was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 52 years, George William Pappas, and by her parents, Efstratios and Sophia Kontopoulos. She is survived by her twin sister, Alexandra (Sandra) K. Doussa; her three loving children, Frances O. Pappas (Stavros A. Diavolitsis), Sophia G. Pappas (Christ Kanellakis), and William S. Pappas (Dianna Giardelli); her three grandchildren, Virginia M. Diavolitsis (Michael J. Kushelev), Anastasia S. Diavolitsis (Bjorn J. Reichenbaugh), and George William Pappas, II; and her four great-grandchildren, Julia Despina Kushelev, Alexander J.A. Kushelev, Sebastian T. Reichenbaugh, and Audrey F. Reichenbaugh. Dea’s family and friends will miss her compassionate ear, sharp mind, spirited conversation, and sage advice.
A funeral service was held on Saturday, June 26, 2021 at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in New Orleans. The interment followed the service in Metairie Cemetery.
Please consider in Despina’s memory a donation to preserving the relics from the first Greek Orthodox Church in North and South Americas via the Holy Trinity Cathedral Archives, 1200 Robert E. Lee Blvd., New Orleans, LA. 70122 or create a living memory by planting a special tree on your property.
To view and sign the guest book, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com
