Helen Ruth Carlson, 103 years old, of Alexandria, VA passed away in her home on Sunday, June 1, 2014.She is proceeded in death by her husband Clifford Carlson of 21 years, her sister Erma Ciolek and her brothers Stuart Haack and Lavern Haack.She is survived by her beloved daughter Kay Bloom and Kay’s son John Dufrane III Trey his children Travis and Tyler, Kay’s daughter Debbie Potter, her children Kyla, Mitchell, Zachery, and Jacob. Kay’s daughter Shelby Stefka and Stefanie Bradshaw and her 3 children Layla, Alexis and Jackson.She is also survived by her cherished son Mark Carlson and his children Otto Hernandez his children Steven, Allie and Nicholas, Rick Hernandez his children Jasmine, Tiffany and Tigerlilly and Melanie Smith who is expecting her first child. Also her brother Ray Haack.Helen, originally from a family farm just outside Saginaw, Michigan, was a graduate of St Mary’s Hospital Nursing School in 1932. She was an avid fan of reading, cooking, baking, gardening and sewing, even making her own clothing and dresses for her granddaughter Melanie. She was a member of the Washington Community Church of Alexandria. Never an unkind word to say, she was prayerfully encouraging to everyone she knew and strangers alike. She was always learning and applying homeopathic remedies and many knew her as great resource in this field. With a knack for storytelling she could lift anyone’s spirit. A mother to many she would invite people that didn’t have a family or their families were far away to share in holiday cheer and feasts.