Speaking from their Birkdale home, where friends have been calling to pay their respects throughout the day, Antonio Gotingco said the publicity around his wife's disappearance had helped "in trying to track down the perpetrator and trying to solve the case".
His son, Vincent, agreed: "We're thankful to the media for getting the story out.''
Antonio spoke to APNZ with Vincent and daughter Bea at his side.
"Personally, on behalf of my family I would like to thank all the media people in New Zealand for all the concern, the sympathies and all the publication that my wife has received.'' he said.
"My wife is a very private person and overnight she became a sensation, and I don't think she's going to like it, but I'm sure she's happy ... it really helped the case.''
People from all over the country had paid tribute to Blessie on social media sites, he said.
Most did not know his wife or the family personally, but they were grateful for the sympathy and offers of support they had received, he said.
Neighbours and people from the community had left messages in their letterbox offering help - from making dinners to mowing the lawn, the family said.
The man accused of killing Auckland woman Blessie Gotingco appeared in court this morning before Judge Philippa Sinclair.
He was arrested just after the 56-year-old mother-of-three's body was found yesterday in an area of bush at the Birkenhead-Glenfield cemetery on Eskdale Rd.
The judge granted him name and image suppression, saying a fair trial could be jeopardised otherwise.
The accused did not apply for bail and he was remanded in custody to reappear in the High Court on June 18.
