Jamie Walsh's Funeral: Southern Cafe Sets Up Donation Box

CREST HILL, IL — Employees at The Southern Cafe, their regular customers and neighboring businesses within the large strip mall off Weber Road have been making donations to help Jamie Walsh's family with funeral expenses.

The 36-year-old hostess at The Southern Cafe was killed last Wednesday afternoon when a 90-year-old man lost control of his car and ran her over. He crashed into The A's Club, shattering the windows and damaging a brick pillar in front of the establishment.

The donation box for Walsh's family has been set up at the front counter of The Southern Cafe, 1819 Knapp Drive. Employees were expecting Walsh's father to stop by Wednesday afternoon to pick up the box.

"I'm going to miss her smile," remarked waitress Sue Astrowski. "She was always happy."

Host Tommy Damon added, "she made an impact on (the customers). They remember her, always friendly."

Southern Cafe employee Nichole Loyd told Joliet Patch she and Walsh were childhood friends, and Walsh became her recent roommate. They lived in the St. Pat's Area of Joliet.

"I'm in complete shock," Loyd remarked.

Loyd said she became concerned when Walsh did not return home from work last Wednesday. Loyd kept calling her phone, and Walsh did not answer.

Later that night, Loyd got a call from one of their mutual friends, who broke the tragic news by telling Loyd: "I'm really sorry for your loss. Jamie got hit by a car.

"That's when my heart dropped," Loyd said.

On Tuesday, staff at The Southern Cafe said that Walsh had been working at the Crest Hill restaurant for the past three months.

She started busing tables and had been made a hostess recently.

"She was working six days a week, saving her money," Loyd said. "She was sober, drug-free, she was trying to change her life. She was a happy worker, never really upset. Kind of bubbly. She liked being around people."

Walsh was killed as she stood in front of The A's Club around 1 p.m. on Oct. 20.

Her fellow Southern Cafe employees said Walsh just finished her shift as a hostess, and she was waiting to get a ride home.

The 90-year-old man who struck Walsh and crashed into The A's Club was coming from the intersection of Willow Circle and Knapp Drive, according to WJOL.

During Tuesday's interview, Loyd said she boxed up all of Walsh's possessions and gave them to her father.

Loyd and Walsh both adopted baby kittens recently.

Walsh's family agreed to let Loyd raise Cody, Walsh's little kitten, Loyd said.

"Her baby kitten Cody cries all the time. He just loved her," Loyd said. "She was a good cat mom. She had an amazing heart. She was a good girl."