Helen T. Looft

March 26, 1926 – November 25, 2012

The family of Helen T. Looft is saddened to announce her passing on November 25, 2012 at Mt. Vernon Hospital, the result of cardiac arrest. Mrs. Looft, a resident of Mt. Vernon, Virgina, was born in Nemacolin, PA, one of six siblings born to Metro and Domna Turkish, who immigrated to the U.S. from Russia in 1918. She was raised in Detroit, MI and moved to the Mt. Vernon area in 1946 to work at Ft. Belvoir, where she met her husband, the late Donald J. Looft, who died in 1987. Mrs. Looft is perhaps best known as the owner of Yarns, Etc. on King Street in Old Town Alexandria in the late 1970s and early 80s and as the founder of the Fiber Arts Workshop in what was then the new Torpedo Factory Art Center. Mrs. Looft was herself an award-winning fiber artist and floral designer, as well as an accomplished chef who, in her words, “Lived to cook!” She is survived by her children, Nikki Lynn Lowry (Scott) of Washington, DC; Christel Louise Bolgiano (Scott) of Rockville, MD; and David Edward Looft, of Marietta, GA.; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Capital Caring, a hospice organization. Mourners may contact Demaine’s Funeral Home on Washington Street in Alexandria (703-549-0074/ www.demainefuneralhomes.com/ to obtain visitation details.