PITTSBURGH — Lauren Mallinger, daughter-in-law of Tree of Life shooting victim Rose Mallinger, 97, was sitting in her bedroom in Squirrel Hill when she heard the wailing of sirens on Oct. 27, 2018.

“But there was a rush of sirens and cars running down the street,” said Mallinger, who grew up in Butler as Lauren Abes and graduated from Butler High School in 1971.

A Fox Chapel police officer who is a friend of the Mallingers called Lauren's husband, Alan — Rose's son — to tell him there was a report of an active shooter at the Tree of Life Synagogue, just three streets from the couple's home.

The Mallingers knew Rose and her daughter, Andrea Wedner, were attending morning services at the synagogue.

Lauren Mallinger said Wedner was shot trying to protect her mother. Wedner survived, but the family's beloved matriarch did not.

“She told her, 'We've got to get down' when they heard the shooter come in,” Lauren Mallinger said.

The family was officially notified late in the afternoon that Rose Mallinger — known throughout Squirrel Hill as the neighborhood's “Bubbie” — died at the hands of an anti-Semitic gunman.

But Lauren Mallinger said the family knew earlier in the day when Wedner was brought out on a stretcher, alone, 45 minutes after gunfire rang out throughout the neighborhood. Chances were not good for Rose.

“She loved her synagogue, her community and her family,” Lauren said. “She was the mayor of our street. All the kids knew her. Everyone knew her.”

She described Rose Mallinger as a homebody, a dedicated homemaker who raised her three children. Her husband, Morris, passed away several years before her.

“It's going to be a difficult weekend with all the (remembrance) activities and everything,” Mallinger said.

She said the family will get together Friday and attend the community gathering on Sunday at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum in Oakland.

“We need gun laws,” Lauren said firmly. “AR-15s should not be in the hands of civilians.”

In addition to Alan and Lauren, Rose Mallinger left behind a son, Stanley; Wedner's husband, Ron; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.