THE life of a talented comic poet was celebrated by her family and friends in Colchester.

A horse-drawn carriage took Jenny Goswell’s coffin to Colchester Crematorium.

Mrs Goswell, from Great Clacton, died aged 68.

She had undergone a kidney transplant after it was donated to her by husband Keith in 2008.

She had suffered kidney failure in 1973 as a result of geneticallyinherited polycystic kidney disease.

It was the disease which had led to her mother’s death and would later affect three of her five children.

Goswell’s daughter Melanie Rundle, from Colchester, said: “Jenny was a fantastic mumwho put her family first in everything and worked very hard to keep a happy well-run home, as well as holding down a part-time job.

“She loved all kids and was so popular that local children, used to playing with hers, would often knock on the door to see if ‘Jenny’ was coming out to play.

“On top of all that she began to show a talent for writing comic poetry in the style of Pam Ayres and even got invited on to her stage show.”

When Mrs Goswell’s disease kicked in again, in 1985, the family moved to Clacton from Haverhill.

But her kidney problems were not going to go away and she needed dialysis before finally undergoing the transplant.

Mrs Rundle said: “For a couple of years she enjoyed pretty reasonable health. Very sadly, as time went on, her health began to deteriorate again. This time she also developed Alzheimer’s disease.

“Keith remained her main carer, keeping her comfortable as well as giving her the vital knowledge that she was loved, even at the bad times when she might have had trouble recognising those closest to her. She eventually slipped away from this life on March 10.”

Mrs Goswell also leaves behind children Marc, Michelle, Stephanie and Martin, ten grandchildren and one great grandchild.