Friends in tearful farewell

Jacqueline Blackbourn died in a house fire on Saturday in Glenfield. Photo / Supplied

"No one can hurt you any more."

That was the tearful message from a friend at the funeral of Jacqueline Blackbourn, the 43-year-old English immigrant who died in her burning home on the North Shore last month.

Standing at the front of the North Harbour Chapel in Albany yesterday, the woman paused for breath before adding: "Fly free my butterfly, love you lots."

Out in the foyer, ornamental butterflies adorned a wreath made out of blue and pink cocktail umbrellas.

Twenty-four hours earlier, the 28-year-old man accused of torching Ms Blackbourn's View Rd home and killing her on June 26 stood in front of a judge at the North Shore District Court, his face emotionless.

The man, whose identity is suppressed, did not enter a plea to the charges of murder and arson.

Four assault charges from 2006 were also laid - all relating to another woman. The man was also charged with destroying that woman's laptop.

Ms Blackbourn's brother Tom Cerullo flew from England to represent her family at the funeral, Father Phillip Sullivan said.

The service was largely religious but one female friend read a poem written by Ms Blackbourn which ended with the words, "I am free to fly to the land where dreams are created, I am free to live."

Ms Blackbourn's ashes are to be returned to her family in Britain.