98-year-old woman gets diploma - at last

ROCKFORD — In her nearly century-long life, there was at least one thing that had bothered Violet Toscano: She had never received her high school diploma.

But the 98-year-old Rockford woman has one now after receiving an honorary diploma on Friday.

The Rockford Register Star (http://bit.ly/VDoYWb) reports that Toscano was supposed to have graduated with the Rockford High School class of 1934. But she left one semester short of her graduation to take a job at National Lock Co.

Toscano's nephew, Gordon Friske, explains to the paper that, "Back in the days of the recession, you take the job."

Friske's wife, Lois Friske, wrote to education officials recently to explain what happened and to describe Toscano's love of learning.

Toscano received her diploma at the Alden Debes Rehabilitation and Health Care Center