It is a bleak Christmas and New Year for the Rabale family in Bougainville at Mead Road, as the body of their father Viliame Ragadi Rabale arrived into the country last night.

Rabale who served with the Fiji Military Force in peace-keeping duties in Sinai, collapsed and passed away last week in Cairo while attending to some military exercises.

Family members said Rabale has been with the military for the past 15 years and has been to many peace keeping duties abroad and they are still trying to come to terms with his passing.

The 39yr old father is survived by his wife and 5 daughters.

He will be buried in Nakaciwa cemetery on Tuesday next week.