Carolyn Anita Lacolla

Her husband Gene adored her, and together they taught their children, Lynn LaColla Barnsback and Eugene LaColla, integrity, loyalty and a strong work ethic. She was precious to her older sister, affectionately known as “Sissy” (COL Laurie Keneson, retd.), and irreplaceable to her children.

Carol was born in Los Angeles to Mildred and George Loftin. The family purchased land and moved to Washington state about 1943, where they planted what would become a peach orchard on newly irrigated land thanks to the National Recovery Act. Petite her entire life, she was a bit too small to pick fruit efficiently, so she worked the conveyor at Wapato Fruit & Cold Storage to earn money for clothes. Looking good was always important to her, and she always did.

After high school, Carol made her way to Alaska, then California again, and eventually joined her sister in Denver, working for the Denver Post Newspaper. They shared a house near Fitzsimons Army Hospital and became an “off base” social gathering place. The beautiful Loftin sisters were where the fun was, whether at home, in rugged Aspen or the officers’ club.

Carol never intended to move to New York, but did just that in 1959 when Gene, the young pharmacist she had been dating, was leaving the Army and proposed. She later told her daughter she was surprised when he called after a month and had already bought a pharmacy, she thought it would take him longer. Without looking back, she shipped her refrigerator and flew to New York where she made a home for 38 years, and a marriage that would last for 60. By the time she left, no one would guess she was not a native.

Carol was always a hard worker and the cleanest person you would ever meet. Anything worth doing was worth doing right, in her opinion. From her sparkling windows (perfect window washing weather made her happy), her well-tended garden, to her wonderful Sunday dinners and yes, the elaborate hair arrangements she did for Lynn. She waited a long time to become a mother and took the job seriously.

Carol was well known in the local parish, St. Helen’s in Howard Beach, New York, where along with her sister-in-law Arlene, she was the consummate volunteer. She finally quietly converted to Catholicism in 1983, no one really realizing she had not been a Catholic for all those years. Lead by example, she would often say.

Carol and Gene ultimately retired to Northern Virginia near their daughter. The greatest loves of her life were her grandsons, Grant (25) and Carter (22). She was daycare provider, babysitter, cheerleader, maker of endless pancakes, story teller and troll under the playground bridge. She never failed to be anything less than excellent as a mother or grandmother.

One other love, that she shared with her daughter, was travel. Whether visiting her sister in Mexico or Abu Dhabi or traveling throughout Europe with Gene, Carol never failed to make new friends and be excited to learn and explore. It always amazed her that the girl from the little farm in Wapato made her way to so many places.

Carol and her daughter Lynn were best friends. They talked every day. No one knew her better. She loved spring days, babies, white wine, good fitting clothes, her daily walk, and visiting with friends. Nothing brought her more joy than knowing her children were happy and safe. Also worth noting, she never left home without wearing lipstick.

After the death of her beloved husband (12/27/19), and an early bout with COVID in April of 2020, Carol’s dementia advanced rapidly, eventually requiring a move into the Memory Care Unit at Greenspring. She continued to be herself as long as she could, going to hair appointments and shopping trips and making new friends. Her caregivers were gracious and helped her maintain her dignity throughout (which included lipstick). She passed with her daughter by her side.

At 11 am on Friday, April 28th, a funeral mass will be held at her Virginia parish, St. Leo the Great in Fairfax City. The family will receive visitors at her daughter’s residence from 5:00 – 7:00 pm that evening. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in her name to Capital Caring Hospice https://capitalcaring.funraise.org/