Estelle Hedaya, 54, was the last missing person to be identified in the Surfside condominium collapse.<\/b>
\nThe last person unaccounted for after the 12-story condominium collapse in Surfside was identified by authorities Monday. And for a longtime friend of 54-year-old Estelle Hedaya, it was a moment of relief and heartbreak after 32 long days. Hedaya was the 97th missing person recovered from the rubble of the oceanfront condo building that had fallen in the early hours of June 24. The Associated Press first reported the identification through Hedaya\u2019s younger brother. The toll stands at 98 \u2014 one person who died at the hospital \u2014 with 242 others accounted for. Officials said they will continue to search the site for personal items or anyone else who might have been in the building on Collins Avenue. \u201cWe\u2019re going to keep going until we\u2019re done. We\u2019re not stopping,\u201d Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo \u201cFreddy\u201d Ramierez III said at a news conference Monday. Obituaries: Remembering those who died in the Champlain Towers condo collapse in Surfside, Florida Unthinkable sadness: One month after Surfside, families grieve for victims of condo collapse ‘Treat her gently’: How an Israeli military search team helped recover majority of Surfside victims Hedaya was described as a \u201cfun-loving person\u201d by a friend of nearly three decades, Sharona Abadi. The two met at an event in New York for young Jewish professionals. \u201cShe was a person who loved life,\u201d Abadi said. \u201cYou can put her into a room, and she\u2019ll be the type that just makes friends. She was the life of the party.\u201d She was a keeper of the faith as well. Ikey Hedaya told the Associated Press that his older sister «always mentioned God anytime she was struggling with anything. She had reached a different level spiritually, which allowed her to excel in all other areas.» Hedaya moved from New York to Surfside about five years ago after landing a job at a jewelry company. A mutual friend last spoke to her around 11 p.m. June 23, Abadi said. On the day of the collapse, not knowing, Abadi volunteered at the Skylake Synagogue and The Shul, doing everything she could to help comfort families awaiting word of their loved ones. When Abadi returned to her Aventura home that night and turned on the 11 o’clock news, she saw a familiar sight: Her friend’s balcony, from where Hedaya would often share photos. \u201cEstelle please tell me you’re not in Champlain South. We are worried for you,» Abadi texted. She called and left a voicemail, too. Days and weeks passed. A small group of Hedaya’s friends promised to notify the others of any news. The search-and-rescue turned into search-and-recovery. \u201cEven though we knew that no one\u2019s walking out of there alive, there’s still a little bit of hope,\u201d Abadi said. \u201cWhen it was announced that it was turning into recovery, it was a mourning process for us because reality kicked in.\u201d There were five people left to be found. Then four. Then three. \u201cIt was very heartbreaking for us to be the last ones,\u201d Abadi said. \u201cEveryone has already had their funerals, their memorials. Their healing process has already started,\u201d she said. \u201cFor us, we were still sitting and waiting.\u201d More coverage: Materials used in Surfside condo’s foundation could be key in finding the cause, expert says And: Despite contentious relationship, President Biden and Trump ally Gov. DeSantis meet in Surfside By the way: Teen boy was sitting beside his mom when Surfside building collapsed; family sues At one point, Abadi started to wonder whether her friend had been in the building at all. But, lingering on her phone was that text message that was never returned. \u201cIt was very lonely out there. There were no briefings, nobody to hold hands other than us,\u201d she said. Then, on Monday, a friend called. \u201cWe found her! We found her!\u201d After all that time, it was a bittersweet moment. \u201cIt was a scream of joy and tears of sadness at the same time. I never knew you could experience such an emotion,\u201d Abadi said. Her funeral was scheduled for Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. During a news conference, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said the Surfside collapse was the largest non-hurricane-related response in the history of Florida. \u201cThe tragedy at Surfside will be something that lives with all of us forever,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s also my hope that through this tragedy, the bonds we\u2019ve built will grow stronger.» Information from the Associated Press was used in this story. hmorse@pbpost.com @mannahhorse<\/p>\n