Not that simple.  Pensions are annuity payments to an individual for life, or in the case of a married couple, if the pensioner so chooses to take less per month during his/her life, then to continue to the spouse for the rest of his/her life.  Then it ends.  This is different from other types of lump sum retirement accounts.  In the case of this poor woman, if she has a true "pension" then there is no lump sum to leave in her will or to be deposited into her estate. 

So her friend may be out of luck, thanks to these nice guys. 

In other words, not only do these types of people oppose marriage for gays, they also oppose any form of equal treatment.  England is enacting laws to this effect next month and Elton John is to be one of the first to take advantage of them.  He may have a massive pension that he will eventually start drawing from, and he may wish for payments to continue to his partner after his death.