Funny side

Hers was a brave approach to terminal illness. Using her famous 'dead-pan' look she delighted audiences with her humourous take on the trials and tribulations of dying. Feted and celebrated for her courage in staring down death, she hadn't intended, but her performances raised awareness of her condition and the suffering of many thousands of others who couldn't see the funny side.

How she kept a straight face while while suffering and poking fun at her condition and treatment was remarkable.

Her coup de grâce came one night as she broke into a grin, laughed and corpsed on stage.