Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
NEWARK, Ohio (AP) — A terminally ill Ohio woman has died weeks after seeing her 17-year-old daughter graduate from high school during a special ceremony held in her hospice room.
The Brucker-Kishler Funeral Home confirms 57-year-old Melissa Shumaker of Newark died Wednesday.
The Advocate in Newark (http://ohne.ws/1oxZTJR ) reports Shumaker's 17-year-old daughter, Evie, was supposed to graduate from Newark Digital Academy in central Ohio on May 31. Her teachers organized the impromptu graduation ceremony for the family more than a month early after learning that Shumaker had inoperable, late-stage pancreatic cancer.
The teen dressed in a cap and gown. "Pomp and Circumstance" was played on a cellphone, and Shumaker saw school officials hand her daughter a diploma.
The teen said it was a blessing because she didn't think her mother would see her graduate.
___
Information from: The Advocate, http://www.newarkadvocate.com
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.







