Laura Capozzoli

Laura Capozzoli, a registered dietician, died Wednesday, October 26, 2016. She was 83 years old. A native of Cow Island, Louisiana, she earned a B.S. in Home Economics from Louisiana State University and interned in dietetics at St. Luke's Hospital in New York City, where she earned her R.D.

In 1956, while in charge of the LSU Hospital dietary department, she attended Christ the King Catholic Church, where she met her husband of 52 years, Lou.

Following marriage, she managed the East Baton Rouge School Food Service at Westdale Jr. High and later was president of the Baton Rouge Chapter of the American Dietetic Association.

In 1965 they founded Louis J. Capozzoli and Associates Inc., a leading geotechnical engineering firm where she served as CFO and office manager. She was a member of Zonta International, a women's business service club, and active in the Women's Auxiliary Louisiana Engineering Society where she served as president from 1964-1970.

She was a member of the Rotary Inner Wheel and was made an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge.

She completed the advanced piloting course in the Baton Rouge Power Squadron and served as Lou's co-pilot on many long business trips eventually becoming an honorary member of the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians.

Laura and her husband established the Dr. and Mrs. Louis J. Capozzoli Rotary Scholarships, the Louis J. Capozzoli Scholarships awarded by the Louisiana Engineering Society Baton Rouge Chapter, a Leadership Training Institute through Lou's fraternity, Zeta Psi and the Capozzoli Library at the Catholic Student Center at LSU, dedicated to the memory of Laura's parents, Sulie and Alice Broussard. She was an active member of Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic where she taught catechism, and sponsored catechumens for RCIA. Laura also served on the parish council, building committee, council of ministries, and finance board.

She remained active in her church, professional, and civic organizations throughout her life. Laura was an exceptional hostess and regularly entertained the B.R. Power Squadron, the LA Engineering Society, the Greater Baton Rouge American Italian Association and annual company picnic at their home. Education was a priority, but she loved animals, music, especially piano, and fishing and boating with Lou.

Laura is survived by her sister, Alice Raye Beck and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by her husband, Louis J. Capozzoli; parents, Joseph Sulie and Alice May Broussard; sister, Rachael Ann LeBlanc; and brothers, Francis Jasper Broussard and Joseph Sulie Broussard, Jr.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 15615 Old Jefferson Hwy., Baton Rouge, LA 708176311.

Visitation at Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church on November 2, 2016, from 9:30 am until a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 am conducted by the Rev. Phil Spano. Interment will follow at St. George Catholic Church Cemetery.

Family and friends may sign the online guest book or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com.

Good morning. My name is Christine Beck-Battistella. I am one of Laura Capozzoli's nieces and i have been asked to speak on behalf of my mother Raye Beck and my sisters, Mary Alice and Martha. I would like to share some personal aspects of Laura's life that might not have been listed in her obituary.

Aunt Laura was the fifth and youngest child born to Alice and Sulie Broussard. She grew up as a small town country girl in Cow Island Louisiana, but there was nothing "small town" about Aunt Laura.

Underneath her graceful, impeccably dressed, and elegant exterior, she was fiercely intelligent with a sharp wit and like a true Broussard she didn't suffer fools easily.

I think many of us here remember her way of raising an eyebrow when she detected that something was amiss and with a gentle "oh really" she let you know that she wasn't quite buying the story.

We called this "The Broussard Look"

So, the short version is...
Laura went off to college at LSU, earned a degree, interned in New York City, came back to Louisiana, then met her lifelong love, Louis Capozzoli. She went on to live an exceedingly accomplished and interestingly full life.

She worked as a dietician and then became CFO and office manager of Louis Capozzoli and Associates.

The business was very successful in part due to her enviable financial management and organizational skills.

She also followed the Broussard creed of:
"If you are not 10 minutes early... You a late.!!!
When I read Aunt Laura's obituary, I thought, WOW,
I didn't know that She was so incredible.

I did know that she was an enthusiastic traveler. She would regale us with her stories of travel to exotic locales and I remember being awestruck by her boldness. She even learned how to land an airplane so that she could take over the controls if Uncle Lou ever needed her help.

She had a quiet competence. She never needed to boast.

Aunt Laura had a true affection for animals. She spoiled her Siamese cats, Sugar and Spice, as if they were children, and she treasured her loving, faithful rescued MUTTS who kept her company out there on Hoo Shoo Too Road. I think the favored pooches were Dixie and Belle.

Aunt Laura enjoyed watching the wildlife out on her property. She wouldn't even light a fire on cold days to protect the birds nesting in her chimney.
Aunt Laura liked to go boating and fishing. She had a lifelong passion for playing the piano. She once told me that she wished that she had more time to play and practice. (I don't know how she would have had more time... she was incredibly busy).

Aunt Laura was a spiritual woman. She was an active volunteer here at Most Blessed Sacrament Church and she was very generous with her charitable contributions.

Laura Broussard Capozzoli was an elegant, gracious woman. She gave thought to her words, and she was never unkind. She wrote the most amazing thank you notes I've ever read.

She had a strong devotion to her family.
After Uncle Lou died, her greatest wish was to visit with her family and she cherished the times that we visited with her.
Aunt Laura was very fortunate in having my sisters, Mary Alice and Martha taking care of her when she became too ill to care for herself.
We would all like to thank Susan Hutchison, Rochelle Zachary, and Aunt Laura's caregivers: Audrey, Kathy, Shirley, Delores, Jackie, Olga and Pat. You all enriched Aunt Laura's life and made her last days more comfortable. THANK YOU

Aunt Laura loved her family most of all. She wanted to say Thank You for the love and affection that she received over the years from all of you.

We will miss you Aunt Laura.
THANK YOU for your inspiration, your love, and your generous spirit

Visitation

Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
15615 Jefferson Hwy
Baton Rouge, LA  70817
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
9:30 am - 11:30 am

Service

Mass of Christian Burial

Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
15615 Jefferson Hwy
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
11:30 am

Cemetery

St. George Cemetery
7808 St. George Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA  70809