Elderly couple struck, killed going to church in Garfield Ridge
CHICAGO — An elderly couple was struck and killed in Garfield Ridge Sunday morning while going to church.
Zofia Chruszcz, 73, and her husband Ryszard Stebnicki, 75, were on their way to church when they were crossing the 6100 block of Archer Avenue at around 8:50 a.m.
CPD said a 43-year-old man driving a Ford F-150 made a left turn and struck the couple while they were in the crosswalk.
Zofia and Ryszard were transported in critical condition and later died at the hospital.
Both immigrated from Poland and were active in Chicago’s Polish community.
“She was a very avid traveler,” her granddaughter Dominika told WGN News. “We just went to Poland together in October — she gave me the travel bug.”
Family was reminded of the curiosity of Ryszard while at their home Wednesday — a watch waiting to get put back together was left in their basement.
“He loved little trinkets and had collections of watches and cameras,” she said. “He loved collecting stuff.”
Zofia was instrumental in helping the Polish American Strategic Initiative in efforts to try to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision.
The driver was issued a citation and released.
The couple’s wake is scheduled for Friday at Pietryka Funeral Home from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The funeral is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. It takes place at St. Priscilla Catholic Church.
Anyone with information can leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.
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