Soukanh Louangsiyotha

Soukanh Louangsiyotha was born on May 10, 1947, in Nam Gieng, Laos, and passed away peacefully at the age of 78 at 6:57 a.m. on August 25, 2025. He was surrounded by the love of his family, with his daughter by his side and his wife nearby.

Soukanh faced many challenges in life with quiet strength, including a courageous long-term battle with prostate cancer. Despite his illness, he remained devoted to his family and lived each day with resilience, dignity and perseverance.

Raised in a third-world country and shaped by hardship, Soukanh pursued education with determination. He earned his bachelor's degree in archaeology in Cambodia, where he also minored in art and painting. A naturally gifted and passionate artist, he excelled as a painter and carried that creative spirit with him throughout his life.

In 1979, amid the civil unrest and war in Laos, Soukanh and his wife made the perilous decision to escape the turmoil. Together, they crossed the Mekong River by boat under dangerous conditions, leaving everything behind in search of peace and safety. They then lived in a refugee camp in Thailand for 8 months and 24 days, enduring hardship, pain, and uncertainty, yet holding on to hope as they prepared for a new life. That period of struggle and perseverance would ultimately define the strength that carried them forward.

In time, they were sponsored by an American family to come to the United States, where they began building a safer and brighter future for their family. When they arrived in America, Soukanh relentlessly taught himself English, earned his GED, and worked tirelessly to better himself. His determination was not only for his own success but to plant a stronger foundation for his wife, his children, and the generations to come.

Soukanh and his wife welcomed their first child, Ketdara Bobby Louangsiyotha, in 1984, and their daughter, Christine Sunantha Cunningham, in 1986. They first settled in Elmsford, New York, before moving to Peekskill, and ultimately planted their roots in Ossining in 1988, where they purchased their family home on State Street.

Professionally, Soukanh was a skilled and dedicated auto body mechanic. Over the decades, he worked at various auto body shops, where he was respected by colleagues and customers alike for his craftsmanship, honesty, and tireless work ethic. Additionally, he worked at UPS as a parcel sorter for 17 years before retiring in 2012, later continuing to serve his community as a Security Officer at IBM. In 2024, he remarkably earned a Certificate of Naturalization and officially became a U.S. citizen. He lived the American dream.

Soukanh is survived by his loving wife, Iam Louangsiyotha; his son, Ketdara Bobby Louangsiyotha (Sabrina); and his daughter, Christine Sunantha Cunningham (Stevie). He is also survived by six cherished grandchildren: Isabella, Adelaide, Elena, Cameron, Christian, and Soukita. He was the eldest of six children and is also survived by three siblings in Laos.

Soukanh was an unbelievably supportive husband, loving father, and adoring grandfather. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered by his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Family, friends and colleagues are invited to honor Soukanh's life:

Saturday, August 30, 2025

9:30am-1pm Buddhist ceremony/Viewing: Leach & Thomas Funeral Home, 45 South Highland Avenue, Ossining NY 10562

2:30pm-3:30pm Wiltwyck Rural Crematory, 205 West O'Reilly Street, Kingston, NY, 12401

4:30pm Memorial Gathering, Hopewell Junction (call for address)

We thank everyone for your love and support during this time.

Leach & Thomas Funeral Home

45 S. Highland Avenue

Ossining, New York 10562

914-941-0840