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A "bubbly" Pukekohe woman who died in a suspicious house fire this week had excitedly shown her youngest son plane tickets for a trip to the Gold Coast on the evening before she died.
Lynette Chapman, 49, a mother of three sons, died in the fire in the early hours of Tuesday.
Ms Chapman's grieving sons and her former husband yesterday paid tribute to a caring and bubbly woman who loved dealing with people.
A 16-year-old girl and an 18-year-old youth, whose names are suppressed, have been charged with arson in relation to the fire.
Ms Chapman's former husband, Steven Chapman, and their sons Todd, 20, Brad, 18, and Cole, 11, yesterday told the Weekend Herald that Ms Chapman was a happy, bubbly woman who had a lot of friends.
Cole said the night before she died, his mother had waved newly purchased plane tickets at him for a nine-day trip to the Gold Coast in March, which they were taking with Ms Chapman's partner, Kevin.
The family said Ms Chapman was a Barnardos caregiver about 10 years ago and had plans to get back into healthcare when Cole was older.
"She was a people person - she'd do anything for anybody before she did it for herself," Todd said.
Said Cole: "She just wanted to brighten up people's days ... She wouldn't be mean to anybody, even if they were being mean to her. She loved her friends."
"And her boys," added Mr Chapman.
Mr Chapman said his former wife of 15 years had most recently worked as a receptionist at a Pukekohe podiatrist and at Foodtown part-time.
Ms Chapman loved reading books and had recently joined a hot rod club.
The family said they were grateful to assistance from Victim Support.
They had been unable to plan a funeral for Ms Chapman because her body had not yet been released.
The girl and youth accused of arson appeared in the Pukekohe Youth Court before Judge Heather Simpson yesterday.
The girl stood, her arms folded, appearing bored by the proceedings.
When asked by Judge Simpson if her family were in court, she shook her head.
Judge Simpson remanded the pair in custody until February 5.
Police could not say if further charges would be laid against the pair, but the girl's lawyer said in court that other charges might be laid.
