A DEVOTED couple have paid tribute to their kind and funny daughter who died suddenly after suffering an epileptic seizure, aged 23.

Emma Blinman was a gifted illustrator and cartoonist with what her parents Michael and Kerry described as a wicked sense of humour.

Her funeral service will be held in Colchester on what would have been her 24th birthday and guests are invited to wear clothes with a Disney theme reflecting her love of all things Disney.

Michael said the ceremony will feature music from the Lion King, the Little Mermaid and her favourite film, Jungle Book.

He said: “The final song will be the Bare Necessities. That would have been Emma’s message to her family and friends – think of the necessities and don’t worry about the rest.”

Emma went to Friars Grove Infants School in St John’s, Colchester, before the family moved to Great Cornard.

But, when she was 16, on her first day at West Suffolk College, Emma suffered her first epileptic seizure.

Her mum, Kerry, said: “She called me at work but her speech was all garbled. There are some members of the family who have epilepsy and I knew she had had a fit.”

Over the next year, doctors worked to try to get Emma’s medication right.

Kerry said: “It was difficult for her when she was 16. She suffered from some bullying but her close friends were wonderful.

“They found out how to handle the seizures and were amazing.”

Kerry said the family has five cats and a dog and Emma’s cat, Mojo, could sense when a seizure was imminent.

“Emma would carry Mojo around on her shoulder, the two had a real affinity. He knew when a seizure was coming and used to get really agitated and would not leave her.”

Emma won a place to study illustration at the Norwich University of the Arts.

But, she was living in noisy halls of residence and the lack of sleep triggered more seizures.

Kerry said: “We used to bring her home at weekends just so she could sleep.

“In the second year, her epilepsy got worse and she suffered five seizures in one day. In the end she decided to give up university.”

While Emma sought a career in illustrating, she did work experience with community wardens and did so well she was expected to get a permanent job with them.

Kerry said: “She absolutely loved it and they loved her.”

Emma suffered a fatal epileptic seizure at night and was found by Kerry the following day.

Michael and Kerry said they had been comforted by the hundreds of tributes left for Emma which describe her as funny, kind, gifted and inspirational.

Michael, 51, added: “Emma was warm and hilariously funny. She was a wonderful daughter and a special friend to everyone.

“She gave us a lot of laughs and lots of memories and the joy she brought to us will always be with us. She will never be forgotten.”

Emma’s funeral will be on June 15 at Colchester Crematorium at 11am.

Donations, if desired, should be made to the Suffolk and Essex Small Animal Welfare group in her memory via the East of England Co-operative Funeral Services, 89 Wimpole Road, Colchester.