Adele Smook and Rosalie Waldman.  In a flash, it feels, they went from being two young wives and mothers in Wantagh, shopping at Fair Mart and Cherrywood together, yakking on the phone for what seemed like hours (actually, it was hours),  and volunteering as Sisterhood members at Suburban Temple where they first met over 60 years ago, to becoming grandmothers, then widows, and ultimately, octogenarians and nonagenarians.

Through it all, even during the worst times, they managed to laugh.  And what laughs!  These two best friends both had laughs that were louder than the Wantagh Fire Department's station house sirens.   

On Thursday, my mom lost her best friend, Adele.  Mom was devastated, but later that night, I could hear the smile in her voice as she told me, "Oh, the fun Adele and I had. I just keeping thinking about all the fun."

The last time they saw each other was Mother's Day 2015.  Adele was in a nursing home by then.  Six years had gone by since they had been together.  Adele's memory wasn't what it used to be, but the moment she saw Mom, she shouted "I don't believe this!  I don't believe this!  Rosalie, how the hell are you?!"

And for one more time, they laughed together.

Rest in peace, dear Adele.  We may only be able to hear your wonderful laugh in our memory now, but we can still see your beautiful smile: