Wellington woman Isobel Royal waited 50 years for the return of her husband's remains after he was killed in the Vietnam War.
But her wait was in vain – she passed away late last week.
Ms Royal was one of many relatives calling for Kiwi soldiers buried in Malaysia to be brought home, and despite her death, her family are still determined to reunite her with her husband, Alistair Don.
"She always wanted him to come home," Ms Royal's son, Trevor Don, said at her funeral today.
Ms Royal's husband is one of 32 Kiwis still buried in Malaysia.
"She was never able to get there and it was due to the fact that back then we couldn't afford it," says Trevor.
It's a similar story to Marina Hapeta, whose husband Johnny was killed in 1969. He left behind their four children, and his body remains in Malaysia.
"They need a father and it's wrong," says Ms Hapeta. "It doesn't matter if they can just walk up to the grave, sit down and have a chat."
The Malaysian cemeteries are well cared for, but are not Commonwealth war graves so do not have full legal protection from encroachments like urban development.
The RSA supports repatriation and the Australians are now bringing home 25 of their war dead – a project costing around $2 million.
"These people went out and served our country, laid their lives down," says Trevor. "They're going to leave them and treat them like that. They're willing to spend money on a flag and on a panda. Why can't they bring all our soldiers home?"
Veteran Affairs Minister Craig Foss is in Malaysia and has visited the graves.
He says they're well respected, and while the Government is reviewing its policy, he says there are no plans to pay for repatriation.
"It's really not a question of fairness or not. At the end of the day we'd all like to undo the fact that somebody died in the service of New Zealand. It's what is fair to everybody and what has been consistent for many years," he says.
Ms Royal's family plans to keep her ashes until she can be buried with her husband.
"The happiest day of our lives to bring our mother and father back together," says Trevor.
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