TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — The Tucson community is expressing grief over a woman known as ‘The Umbrella Lady’ after a car hit her Thursday morning.
Reports on social media began flooding in wondering if this was indeed the woman drivers are used to seeing around town.
“I pass her by almost everyday, and I think of her often – wondering what her story is, and where she’s going,” shared Sarah Sowid-Shima.
Pima County deputies confirmed with KGUN 9 ‘The Umbrella Lady’ was sent to the hospital and in critical condition.
The accident was so bad, it closed eastbound Ina Road.
“I worried about her safety walking the streets – Oracle has become such a dangerous place for pedestrians,” Sowid-Shima added. “She deserved better than this.”
Pamela J. Heidinger
Another Tucsonan Pamela J. Heidinger says she first heard about The Umbrella Lady through her mother, but doubted her existence.
Until, she finally saw her.
The first time I saw her walking, she was walking along the road with nothing in sight except the desert.
My mother, who is now 94, use to tell me she saw this lady walking in 100 [degree] heat in long dresses and a parasol.
I was starting to wonder about my mom and finally asked her if she thought other people saw this women.
One day, I was driving and there she was.
That’s when The Umbrella Lady served as inspiration for a new craft Heidinger had just taken to.
“So, in my quest to pick up painting, I thought I would do that picture for mom. I have some cards that I have saved which are note cards with the photo on it,” she shared. “I carry it in my car in case I ran into her again, I would tell her how special I thought she was.”
Heidinger says she’s collected photos over the last 20 years on a Facebook page dedicated to The Umbrella Lady.
Pamela J. Heidinger
Local Michael Lown-Peters tells KGUN 9 he used to manage a cigar warehouse in a neighborhood The Umbrella Lady frequented.
Every Saturday, she would come by the Cigar Warehouse and I’d have her vacuum, Windex my glass and take out little trash.
I gave her a “twenty” and some water and sent her on her way. She did this for me till I moved on from this job.
He recalls offering her water as she committed to her Victorian style wardrobe in the blazing heat Tucson faces almost half of the year.
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Caleb Fernández is a digital content producer for KGUN 9. After earning his bachelor’s degree from Penn State in Advertising/Public Relations, Caleb went to New York where he learned …….