Fakeness at work

[MovieQueen12]

Is this just common?
In my workplace, (all female) there was one lady who left last week. She was always telling me how much she disliked the other colleagues and they were always on bad terms.
When she left she wrote a group email saying she would miss everyone hugely, loads of love and hugs, thanked the 2 colleagues she supposedly despises and says how great they have been.
Is this just the workplace and why it's wise to keep work and friendships separate?

YANBU. I never understand this. Be polite and professional but why the need for such dishonesty?

Definitely. I always start with the premise of liking someone but more often than not I find I don't like my colleagues. I'll make am effort but trust no-one.

It's made me rethink keeping in touch with her (she wanted to) because this was quite the eye opener. I haven't commented on the message. I think she felt I would be pleased as I got a mention too but all I could see was the fakeness and so I have said nothing. She could have just said ' Wish you all well for the future' but this was all love, hugs, can't wait to see you again etc. Very odd.

I think it comes under 'never burn your bridges' although personally I wouldn't gush, I'd just wish everyone the best.

I think it’s just being polite.

I don't like this either. I think people can maybe be about not burning their bridges so they end up gushing nonsense on their last day on the hopes they can end on a high note. Also, she doesn't have to work with the people she dislikes anymore so maybe she is less bothered by them now as they aren't her problem anymore.

But it is quite fake and annoying.

I think it's just decency and better than the alternative that was posted in here recently. Leaving in good terms. It can be emotional leaving a workplace after many years.

A woman wanted slink off unnoticed but she was collared by her colleagues who gave here a leaving card that they had manually edited add a not in front of the sorry you are leaving but and openly sniggered at her and derided her. And she wasn't leaving f she was going on maternity leave. Or that was the vindictive just of it's. It was uncomfortable to read.

I think is fairly typical to say "oh yes will keep in touch" and either not intend to or just never get round to it.
It's also nice let bygones be bygones and leave in good terms.

I've had many nice colleagues over the past years but only one true friend.

I understand it being emotional and wanting to leave on good terms. Just didn't like the super lovey dovey tone and felt it was quite weird. Especially as she's been complaining heavily about them all for months to me and yet she gushes over them in the way she has. Management have been involved in all the disputes also.
She sees me as a friend she says but you wouldn't be able to tell the difference after that message and the way she was with them all on her last day. Probably will now be accused of being jealous but it's obviously playing on my mind.

Why not ask her?

You could just say you were surprised by the tone of her message given what she had said previously.

It may not be all fake; she may have been overcome with nostalgia for the place once she knew she was leaving, or maybe she needs a good reference, or maybe she thought she was being professional and mistakenly thought this was how you do it? No need to judge her negatively until you know her reasons.