A family bond made stronger in the wake of tragedy led two moms to earn matching master’s degrees at UWParkside.

Sistersinlaw Jodi Belongia and Gretchen Conley walked across the stage, one right after the other, at the school’s commencement ceremony Saturday morning, sharing a moment that was hard earned.

“There were definitely times where we thought ‘what did we do this for?’ but usually a quick text or a quick pep talk, and we were able to pull ourselves up,” Conley said.

The pair told TMJ4’s Tahleel Mohieldin their journey to the stage was unlike most. It was born from tragedy.

“To have a milestone that my son is not a part of is very difficult,” Belongia said through tears, “but I know he’s here in spirit.”

In October 2021, Belongia’s 18yearold son Dominic died by suicide. Four days later Conley’s 9yearold Ramon had the entire left side of his body crushed in an ATV accident.

“For a really long time there just felt like there was so much grief surrounding Jodi and I,” Conley said. “We wanted to have something else.’

Read more here: https://www.tmj4.com/news/kenoshacou...



TMJ4 News in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is your source for local breaking news, indepth investigations, the latest weather and traffic, and livestreams on news happening right now.

Subscribe to the TMJ4 YouTube channel:

/ @tmj4

Watch 24/7 TMJ4 live coverage here: https://www.tmj4.com/live

Download the TMJ4 app: https://www.tmj4.com/apps

Sign up for the TMJ4 Newsletter: https://www.tmj4.com/newsletters

Watch more TMJ4 on YouTube:

/ @tmj4
On The Go with James Groh: https://on.tmj4.com/3V1oLvH
Milwaukee Tonight: https://on.tmj4.com/3UZroya