A CORONER was touched by a eulogy paid to an artist and poet who died after battling several serious illnesses.

The inquest into the death of Janice Lancellote-Heard of Gwersyllt was held at County Hall in Ruthin on Wednesday.

As part of the evidence, Assistant Coroner for North Wales East and Central Elizabeth Dudley-Jones read part of a eulogy.

It read: "If you won't embrace her madness, you will never taste her magic."

Recording a conclusion of accidental death, Miss Dudley-Jones said the words had struck a chord with her.

Janice Lancellote-Heard was an animal lover, a keen artist and poet, and had a book of poetry called The Magic Garden: Poetry of Hope published in her lifetime.

Towards the end of her life she battled severe kidney disease and breast cancer.

When she was admitted to A&E at Wrexham Maelor in November last year, she told doctors she thought she may have taken too many of her prescribed painkillers.

She passed away at the hospital at 4.40pm on November 18.

A post-mortem examination found prescribed drugs in her system at higher than recommended levels that proved fatal.

As a result, she died of multiple organ failure.

Miss Dudley-Jones said: "I do not consider that this lady meant to take an overdose of the medication she was in receipt of."

The inquest heard that despite living with serious illness, Janice always looked on the bright side.

In another line from her eulogy, the inquest heard: "Most people who met her fell a little bit in love with her."