Lived to have her wish granted — a diploma
Theresia Brandl, 105, lived long enough to fulfill one of her dreams — to receive a high school diploma.
On May 17, she received the honorary certificate from Sto-Rox High School through the Allegheny Chapter of Twilight Wish Foundation, a nonprofit that grants wishes to people over 65.
Wearing a cap and gown, she was surrounded by her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-greatgrandchildren as well as residents of the Victoria Manor personal care home in Oakdale, where she has lived for several years.
Ms. Brandl died on Wednesday.
As a student at the former Stowe High School, she was one of the youngest children in her family of more than 10 siblings and had to leave school to help care for her ailing mother. Spending most of her life in Stowe, she never was able to return to school. She was a beloved member of the Stowe community.
Ms. Brandl’s granddaughter, Norene Ruggierio, said her grandmother’s health declined shortly after she received her diploma.
“She was just tickled to get that,” Ms. Ruggierio said. “But then she started going downhill right after that. It was like she took care of her bucket list.”
In addition to Ms. Ruggierio, Ms. Brandl is survived by three other grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and five great-greatgrandchildren
Her funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hershberger-Stover Inc. Funeral Home, 170 Noble Ave., Crafton. She will be buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery, McKees Rocks.