Why friendship is more important than money or genes. We talk to two women who’ve been best friends for 40 years

Juliet Feng, 75, and Ivy Chow, 77, met each other 40 years ago at work. The now-retired nurses say that they just “clicked”; over the next several years their bond grew stronger and they became the best of friends, spending much of their time together and supporting each other through crises.

Fifteen years ago, for example, Feng was diagnosed with breast cancer. After her operation and while she was undergoing chemotherapy, Chow nursed her back to health. “Ivy kept me company the whole time,” she shares. “Thanks to her compassion and care, the recovery process was a lot more bearable.”

And when Chow’s husband passed away in 2001, she says that Feng, whom she describes as a sister, was there for her.

Both women are so close they say they might as well be family. The pair don’t just live near each other; they also celebrate all the big holidays, such as Christmas, Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival, with each other and their respective families, eat most of their meals together; go shopping together, and discuss issues openly, without holding back.

Says Chow: “Even though I don’t have close relatives in Hong Kong – my daughters and siblings all live overseas – I never feel lonely because I know that I’m a part of Juliet’s family. They care for me like I’m one of their own.”