Rolling Meadows resident, 82-year-old Rosina Stanzer Loew, was fatally struck, according to police.
Now, her family and neighbors, who called her "Rosie," are mourning the very sudden loss.
"She was a very strong person. She didn't ask for anything and she was always helpful, said neighbor Shirley Weismann. "If I didn't bring in my garbage can, she was out there before me. She was just that kind of person."
Loew's son said she lived alone after her husband passed. She was born in Austria and owned a restaurant with her sister in Palatine for many years.
"Everybody knew her. Even if they didn't know her name, they knew her with the white dog," Weismann said.
Weismann said Rosie would walk her dog Kenny three to four times a day.
"They were inseparable. She wouldn't even go to Austria anymore, not without her Kenny," Weismann said.
She said she and her neighbors will greatly miss that spirit around the block.
"Never angry, never raised your voice, never was against anybody. Very helpful. It's a big loss for the neighborhood," Weismann said.
Police said the driver stopped, and no one inside the car was hurt.
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The crash is now under investigation.
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Authorities did not immediately provide further information about the incident.