Catherine Smith, a vice president at Marsh & McLennan, worked on the 97th floor of one of the World Trade Center towers. Catherine was among those killed in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

Catherine and her companion, Elba Cedeno, had known each other, in passing, for two decades while frequenting the same bar in the New York City suburb of Rockland County. They were formally introduced just in 1995, and their friendship soon blossomed into love.

They both had wills, which will ease the process of Elba taking sole ownership of their home. But Elba said she is angry that she will not qualify to receive any of Smith's Social Security benefits. "This was my soul mate. We planned to live the rest of our lives together and retire together," Elba said.

Elba cited Catherine's smile and sense of humor as being among her partner's irresistible features. The couple was striving toward early retirement and had recently built a beach house on the Jersey Shore.