As the two sovereigns of bangles she was wearing was missing, police suspect the murder could be for gain.
It could be a handiwork of a person known to the victim, they said.
The incident came to light when Karunakaran, the grandson of the victim, Palaniammal had gone to visit her this morning, and found the front door of the house in Gandhipuram, open.
Upon entering the house, he found her lying dead with a cloth around her neck, police said.
On receiving information, the police reached the spot with sniffer dogs and finger print experts.