Margaret Louise Handley, known as Maggie, was found at her bedsit in Bedford Grove, Eastbourne, on September 29 2007.
An inquest into her death took place at Eastbourne Magistrates Court on May 6.
The Canadian woman, who had no family in the UK and very few friends in the area, was a heavy drinker and a number of empty wine and vodka bottles were found in her flat.
Former partner Steven Mulley told coroner Alan Craze he had split with Miss Handley due to her alcohol problem but the pair had kept in touch.
He gave police the key to her flat after relatives in Canada became concerned about her whereabouts.
Mr Mulley told officers he had not seen Miss Handley for some time and believed she may have left town.
A neighbour in Bedford Grove explained he had moved in to the block two weeks ago but had
never seen Miss Handley and thought the bad smell was from a toilet.
PC Sheila Nicholson told the inquest, "When I arrived at Bedford Grove there were flies
and a pungent odour, which I recognised as the smell of a
decaying body.
"Next to the body was a photograph of a white male – I recognised this man as Steven Mulley."
CID also attended the scene but found no evidence of forced entry or injury to Miss Handley and later announced the death was not being treated as suspicious.
Dr Christopher Moffat carried out a post mortem on October 2 but was unable to give a cause of death because the body had decomposed.
However, toxicologist Andrew Smith found alcohol in Miss Handley's system.
Coroner Alan Craze recorded a verdict of natural causes but said he believed Miss Handley had died due to the accumulating effects of alcohol abuse.