On the 19th of February, with her beloved family and her best friend Debbie by her side, we said goodbye to our beautiful Adele Lambert — and the world feels quieter without her in it.
It still doesn’t seem real. Adele was never someone you could imagine being absent. She filled every room with warmth, wit, and that unmistakable sparkle in her eye — the one that said she had already clocked everything going on and was about to make a comment that would leave us all in stitches.
Back in September 2013, Adele received her lifesaving double lung transplant — a moment that marked not just the continuation of her life, but the beginning of a new chapter she embraced with fierce gratitude and unstoppable determination. She never treated her transplant as something that defined her limitations; instead, she treated it as a gift — one she honoured every single day by living fully, giving endlessly, and loving deeply.
It wasn’t long after her transplant that the legend Derek Airey spotted what so many of us would come to know: Adele was an absolute asset. Recruited into FHLTA, she didn’t just join — she transformed. Over the years she gave her heart and soul in so many roles: Sports Manager, Secretary, and in more recent years, our incredible Chairperson. Whatever the title, the commitment was always the same — second to none.
Her dedication to the charity was tireless. Time, energy, creativity — she gave it all. And often, she lovingly roped in her adored mum, Carol Robinson, to help make gifts for social events, to put together bags filled with love, and, when needed, even to deep clean caravans. Nothing was beneath her. If it needed doing, Adele did it — and she did it properly.
Throughout her transplanted life, Adele faced health challenges that would have slowed most people down. But not her. She met each obstacle with grit, humour, and sheer willpower. No matter what she was facing personally, she never let it derail her commitment to FHLTA. Because of her, and the dedication she inspired in others, our committee became something truly special — warm, united, supportive. A place where friendships flourished. Every single member will feel this loss deeply. She wasn’t just our Chair — she was our anchor.
Outside of FHLTA, she was the absolute jewel in her husband David’s — her “Davy’s” — life. The love between them was effortless and strong, full of laughter and shared adventure. They jetted off together, cruised together, made memories all over the world — and yet somehow, even on a sun deck or exploring a new city, Adele would be planning FHLTA meetings. That was her — committed, passionate, always thinking of her transplant family.
She was the beloved daughter of Carol and Carl — and she spoke of them so fondly, so proudly. They didn’t just stand beside her; they became part of our transplant community too. The love and strength of that family unit has always been something special.
And if there was ever a moment when Adele’s face lit up in a completely different way, it was when she spoke about her grandchildren and her treasured role as “Nana Del.” Being Nana Del wasn’t just a title, she loved; it was a role she absolutely cherished, and the happiness those times brought her was clear to all of us who were lucky enough to listen.
And oh, Adele did not suffer fools. Right to the very end, even by her hospital bedside, she had us laughing about the goings-on of the ward. Her observations were sharp, her timing perfect. In the hardest moments, she still found humour. That was her gift — making others feel lighter, even when she was carrying so much herself.
She wasn’t just a friend within one circle. She was a friend to the entire transplant community — from hospitals up and down the country to patients, families, nurses, surgeons, committee members. She remembered people. She checked in. She cared.
And then there was our “Fab 5” — Adele, Debbie, Louise, Doreen, and Kate. Five women bound by friendship, resilience, laughter, and love. The shows, the spa days, the lunches, the coffees — those ordinary days that became extraordinary because we were together. Some of my very best memories live in those moments. And now, as one of five, it is unbearable to think that four will gather where once there were five. It simply won’t be the same.
Adele was strength wrapped in kindness. Determination softened by warmth. Loyalty, humour, intelligence, and love — all woven together into one extraordinary woman.
She leaves behind a legacy that cannot be measured just in roles held or meetings chaired, but in lives touched. In courage shown. In laughter shared. In friendships that will endure.
Our hearts are broken, but we are so incredibly grateful. Grateful for the years her transplant gave her. Grateful for the memories. Grateful for the privilege of calling her our friend.
Sleep peacefully, our beautiful Adele.
Your lungs gave you years — but your heart gave us everything.