Daughter remembers mother killed in hit-and-run

INDIANAPOLIS — Joy comes in many forms. Karen Reffitt, 72, has spent her life giving joy to others.

“We affectionately called her the ‘Bag Lady’ in Indianapolis. I also heard people call her the ‘Umbrella Lady,'” said her daughter Amanda Schwartz.

Swartz described her mother as a kind soul.

“She loved to just show people her love in creative ways,” Schwartz said.

Many are deeply saddened to learn that Reffitt was struck and killed Saturday afternoon as she crossed 71st and Georgetown Road. IMPD is still searching for the driver.

According to IMPD, eight pedestrians have been hit and killed so far this year.

There were a total of twelve hit-and-run investigations, which led to four arrests.

“The woman we lost has a beautiful, beautiful soul and we will never get that back,” Schwartz said. “Maybe there will come a time when we have to think about justice or forgiveness, but right now I want to honor the woman we lost, my mother.”

Reffitt enjoyed going for daily walks and made friends with her family wherever she went. She even handed out encouraging poems that she had written on small pieces of paper.

“They even said she was a Kroger favorite and everyone at Kroger cried when they found out, and that touched me deeply,” Schwartz said.

A Kroger spokesperson provided the following statement to 13News:

“Kroger employees and customers are all mourning the loss, as Karen made friends throughout the store. Now employees are collecting the poems Karen gave them in hopes of creating a memorial plaque to honor someone they remember as ‘a sweet lady.’ Kroger will miss Karen at the corner of 71st and Georgetown.”

“The colors of the rainbow are so beautiful. The roses bloom so sweetly. I bless you each day in a holy way,” read one of Reffitt’s poems.

Reffitt sometimes added a little memory to her poems.

“She actually has tons of donation receipts from organizations, from different people, thanking her for her 10 cent donation,” Schwartz said. “Anyone who wanted to take one. She just wanted to make them happy.”

Reffitt always had a smile for everyone.

“I’m also battling ovarian cancer right now and have been in weekly treatment for the last year and a couple of months. She came all the way to Ohio to visit me during my chemotherapy (treatments),” Schwartz said.

Schwartz says she hopes people remember her mother for the good she brought into other people’s lives.

“There are a lot of people who say, ‘Don’t be a Karen.’ But my mother’s name was Karen and she’s a positive Karen. So if I could give this advice to anyone, it would be: Be a positive Karen in a world full of unkindness.”