Joyce Greenhill, from Valley Side, was rushed to Whipps Cross Hospital after the incident on December 18, but her life could not be saved.
The investigation into her death was formally opened at East London Coroner’s Court, Walthamstow, on Wednesday (January 8).
The court heard investigators have so far been unable to trace any next of kin.
A post-mortem examination gave her cause of death as “choking”.
However, no other details of the incident, such as what she choked on, were given at the brief inquest opening hearing.
“I’m satisfied on those facts this death occurred in circumstances requiring an inquest,” said coroner Nadia Persaud.
“An inquest will be opened and adjourned for further investigations to take place.”
Inquests are held in open court in the public interest, to investigate what has caused unnatural deaths and whether future similar deaths might be preventable.
Mrs Persaud said that if Mrs Greenhill’s family could be traced, they should be granted the legal status of “interested persons”, entitling them to scrutinise evidence before the inquest and question any witnesses called to give evidence.
In the meantime, she made a series of orders for disclosure of evidence.
She said she would require evidence from Mrs Greenhill’s GP surgery.
“Was Joyce known to have any swallowing difficulties?” she said, adding that if she was, “I will need a full report from the GP service.”
The full inquest was provisionally scheduled for March 31.
