The family of Cpl. James Arnal is still trying to come to grips with the death of the Manitoba-based soldier, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on Friday.

Born in Saskatchewan, Arnal, 25, had lived most of his life in Winnipeg. He was a member of the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, stationed at Canadian Forces Base Shilo in Manitoba.

His aunt, Donna Kadash, still remembers when he told the family he had decided to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, who also served in the Canadian military.

"That made my dad so proud," she said. "It was hard to accept, knowing him going over there, what he was getting into."

James arrived home safe from his first tour. During his homecoming in Winnipeg, he told the family he was going back for a second tour.

"It was what he believed in. He wanted to protect his family and the country," she said.

"[We were] proud and terrified at the same time, because he had mentioned that [this time] he was going to be more active and closer to the action, and that kind of scared us all."

The casket of Cpl. James Hayward Arnal, who was killed late Friday, is loaded onto a military plane during a ramp ceremony at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan on Sunday.The casket of Cpl. James Hayward Arnal, who was killed late Friday, is loaded onto a military plane during a ramp ceremony at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan on Sunday. Arnal deployed again in February.

He was on an evening foot patrol in the Panjwaii district near Kandahar city on Friday when he was killed, military officials said. Another soldier was wounded in the same blast, but was said to be in good condition and expected to return to duty.

His comrades described him as a leader and a fearless fighter who had left a lucrative career in information technology to join the army.

His family remembers him as a loving, passionate person. Relatives said he had been due to return to Canada in September, but had expressed interest in returning for a third tour of duty in 2009.

Richard Bracken said his close friend loved the soldier's life.

"It gave him the opportunity to travel — I mean, not only to Afghanistan. He travelled to Australia, to Africa, to Europe, to New Zealand, all in his spare time," he said.

"He'd have, like, two-week leaves and he'd go to these places on his own. He'd meet all these people. It's just the way he was. He was a traveller and an adventurer. He loved it so much."

Kadash described her nephew as "just a good guy.

"He always made you laugh, always made you smile. He was the life of the party," she said. "The whole family is so proud of him. And I just hope this ends soon for other family members, not to lose anyone close to them over there."

After an injury is sustained in battle, the soldier is evacuated to a medical facility for treatment. If the injury is fatal, a doctor confirms the death and the soldier's family is notified.

A public announcement follows, then a military ramp ceremony takes place as the soldier's body is loaded into a transport plane for the flight back to Canadian Forces Base Trenton.

Once there, the body is sent to Toronto for examination by a coroner, after which it is released to the family for funeral and burial.

All of a soldier's personal property is returned to next of kin. Military-issued equipment such as combat uniforms, weapons and helmets are returned to the Canadian Forces to be re-used if possible.

While all this is happening, various support groups are made available to the families of the dead soldier.

There is H.O.P.E (Helping Others by Providing Empathy), a joint Canadian Forces-Veterans Affairs Canada initiative founded by a group of Canadian Forces veterans.

It is comprised of volunteer spouses or parents of soldiers killed in action.

The Member Assistance Program provides crisis counselling 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world. Also available is the Canadian Forces' Pastoral Outreach Program, which is staffed by multi-faith chaplains, that can "provide a swift response and high-quality care in various crisis situations."

In addition to these services, an assisting officer is made available to the family 24 hours a day to answer questions about regulations and entitlements, such as how much of the funeral and burial will be paid for by the government.

Currently, this amount stands at $13,005 (not including GST and PST) and is adjusted each April 1 to cover inflation.

The amount covers such things as a casket or urn; funeral director fees and services (i.e. registration and documentation, embalmer's professional services, use of the funeral home); limousine and hearse rental; the rental of a church or different facility, including seating attendants; interment or scattering of ashes.

The cemetery plot and a special casket, if necessary, are paid for as well, as is all transportation of the soldier's remains.

Once the service is over, a temporary wooden burial marker is provided indicating "the service number, rank, initials, surname, branch or regiment, date of death, and age of the deceased member."

If a permanent Department of National Defence headstone is not desired, a maximum of $2,300 will be put toward the creation of a private headstone.