Keith Blight, a well-known potter, used to make art from a studio at the house, but died on May 8 this year. The couple are survived by son John and daughter, Priscilla, who is flying back from the United States for her mother's funeral.
The cause of Nancy Blight's death was unknown, police said today, but the case has been referred to the coroner.
The house is in the throes of renovation, with new carpet being laid recently as well as the roof being under restoration. The hedges are neatly trimmed, and camellias and other flowers bloom in the well-kept garden.
Blight's neighbours said she had not been unchecked for long.
"It was only about a day," said one woman.
The incident follows the death in July of a Mosgiel woman, found two weeks later, after neighbours called the police.
Last month a Whangarei woman under community mental health care was reportedly found dead, having not been seen for weeks.
Age Concern chief executive Stephanie Clare said neighbours should have noticed.
"It could be that her family is overseas but this person lives in a community with people around them and we all have responsibility as neighbours," she told the Herald on Friday.
"There's nothing wrong with knocking on someone's door and saying hello."
Clare said neighbours didn't want to appear "busybodies", but she said there was a fine balance.
"We need to be more vigilant. Mail in the letterbox would have alerted the neighbours - does this person need a check up?"
