Addison police investigating possible freezing death

Addison police are investigating the possible weather-related death of a woman who was found partially covered with snow early Sunday morning.

Penny M. Carlson, 48, was discovered about 6:45 a.m. near her home on the 500 block of South Harvard Avenue in Addison after police said they received a call reporting an unresponsive person laying on the sidewalk.

Officials at the DuPage County Coroner's office said an autopsy is pending but won't be complete until Monday at the earliest.

Carlson was a teacher's aide who lived with her three children and granddaughter in a single-family home in a quiet residential neighborhood, according to neighbors.

Neighbors were in shock Sunday when they learned of Carlson's death.

Jan and Glafira Kazberuk heard a lot of noise Sunday morning coming from next door. Their son, a friend of Carlson's son, called them later to tell them Carlson had died.

"She was a very nice neighbor," Glafira Kazberuk said. "I can't believe it."

The Kazberuks moved to their Harvard Avenue home four years ago and would often see Carlson walking through the neighborhood with her granddaughter during the summer.

"It's not a good Christmas," Glafira Kazberuk said. "It's terrible."

Neighbors described Carlson as a happy, caring mother and grandmother who would do anything for her children and friends.

One neighbor who asked not to be identified said Sunday was Carlson's birthday. "It's just really tough," he said of Carlson's family. "They're not doing so good."

Family who were gathered at the house where Carlson lived declined to comment Sunday.