I find this a bit sad

This is so sad nina.
I found myself thinking that at least the money would go somewhere where it is likely to be used to benefit many. Then realised that if her next door neighbour had died after her the money would go to the neighbour's estate. Depending on the wording of the first lady's will of course.

If the bequest is written in the will it will go to the next door neighbour's estate.

It could be that the neighbour had to survive the lady by a certain length of time, with the provision that if she did not then the bequest would return to the original lady's estate, and, as such, to the Salvation Army. I'm sure the SA will be able to put the money to extremely good use.

Usually you have to survive the deceased by 30 days.

It is sad, but it is what she wanted.

I don't follow. Is it sad that the neighbour didn't survive long enough to benefit from the money or that the money will be going to the Salvation Army? Or both?

Going to a great cause, if you ask me!

I find it sad simply because the next door neighbour possibly didn't know and certainly was not able to benefit from, the affection, esteem or gratitude that her friend had for her.

She probably did benefit from all those things, dustyangel - just not the money.

I think it is sad that her family didn't bother with her. But perhaps that is what she preferred.
The neighbour would have known about the bequest even if she did not benefit from it and would have known that she was appreciated.

Not sad that the money is going to a good cause!

Far better an organisation like the Salvation Army who do sterling work than uncaring family.

Far better an organisation like the Salvation Army who do sterling work than uncaring family

Absolutely

Agreed!

Of course I wasn't implying that it was sad the Salvation Army would benefit. They are a wonderful organization.
What I find sad is that D didn't get to benefit from the bequest from M Also that M's brother lives only a couple of miles away but there was obviously no affection there.
Why do you say D would have known rosequarz ? DH's cousin was left money last year that came as a total surprise.

Nina, I read it that the neighbour passed away a few weeks after her, so would probably have known the contents of the will and would have been pleased that her neighbour remembered her, but then died within the time, which is usually 30 days, during probate, so the beneficiary will not be able to benefit from the share of the estate. Perhaps she did not know, I just assumed she would.

Never assume anything as my friend always says.

Fair point rosequartz

annsixty I agree. I have great respect for the work of the Sally Army.

It's a shame that the neighbour's bequest couldn't be passed on to her estate. Although they are a deserving charity, the Salvation Army has the advantage of not having to worry about these things.

I admire the Salvation Army for the charity work they do, but wonder how many people are aware that quite a big percentage of their charitable income is spent on evangelising.

I had that thought too, absent. Evangelising is not charity. I applaud the SA's actual helpfulness though. I have a vague memory, from reading Clarissa Dixon Wright's autobiography years ago, that it was the Sally Army that helped her overcome alcoholism.

Years ago I used to work in Tescos, and a dear old gentleman always used my checkout his little shopping bag was held together with tape, and he was shabby, but clean,one of the other checkout ladies was his neighbour, and she told me that his wife, who had been blind had passed away, and e was struggling a bit,- between us we ended up doing his shopping and a bit of cleaning, running from shop to shop, as beans were cheaper in Liptons and so on , He was a lovely man, but when he died there was barely a handful of us at his funeral
Imagine my surprise when a few months later the echo headline was 'Miser XXX leaves estate worth £1.4m ' ( in 1984 !) I was very cross with the Echo, as he wasn't a miser - most of the estate was in bonds and shares, and I think he just forgot he had it - he left no will, and it was shared between two great nephews that had never met him ! That must have been a surprise !

This lady had worn the same winter coat for the 26years I'd known her and lived in a modest 3 bed detached house. Just goes to show, don't judge a book by it's cover