Paul Kaposchyn

Paul Kaposchyn, of New Orleans, Louisiana, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family, on Monday, November 18, 2019. He was 95. Born on March 23, 1924 in the small town of Stolpov, Ukraine, his life has been an inspirational journey of discovery and determination. Due to his ability to instantly talk to everyone as if they were old friends, no one he met was a stranger for very long. He always said that he was a citizen of the world and he lived life at its fullest no matter where. His path took him through many countries, and he resided in many places including Russia, Germany, France, Chile, Argentina, Venezuela and finally the U.S. where he would settle down until the end of his days. Because of his great linguistic talent, or good memory as he liked to say, he was fluent in eight different languages. At the age of nine, he managed to escape the famine of Ukraine by joining his father in a prison camp; at 17, he was admitted to the school of engineering but was derailed by the German army who instead took him to a forced work camp. Four years later he was released and crossed the river that divided Germany and France, at noon, to avoid the border guards who were distracted by the golden hour of lunch, and eventually made his way to the south of France where he met a lovely local girl who offered to teach him French in return for chocolate. This arrangement worked so well that he married Yvonne Galiay in 1950. They took off to see more of the world where he drove wine delivery trucks across Argentina, briefly and ineffectively worked at a pastry shop in Chile, and ultimately started a very successful nickel and chrome plating enterprise in Valencia, Venezuela. Together they had one child and were so pleased with the result that they stopped right there. Eventually their adventure would take them to settle in New Orleans where he was self employed in sales, translations and imports and exports. People have always admired his sharp intellect and his inspiring tales of adventures throughout the world, his friendliness and positivity and his deep faith in miracles. He will be greatly missed by his many friends and family. Paul is survived by his wife of 69 years, Yvonne Kaposchyn, his only child and son-in-law, Marie-Edith Kaposchyn and Dr. Eric Ravussin, his two much loved grandchildren Blake and Aryelle Stafford. He is preceded in death by his parents, Peter Kaposchyn and Nina (Lucie) Kossonogoff Kaposchyn and his sister, Evgenia Petrovna Kaposchyn. A Memorial Mass is will be held at Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home, 4747 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Metairie, on Saturday afternoon, November 23, 2019 at 3:00. Visitation will begin at 2:00. After the memorial, his remains will be brought back to France where, as he requested, he will rest for eternity admiring the magnificent beauty of the mountains of the Pyrénées. An online guestbook is available at www.leitzeaganfuneralhome.com.