𝐌𝐎𝐂𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐀 𝐏𝐂𝐎 𝐄𝐓𝐀 𝐊𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐄

The Love of Work and Love of Family were two most prominent values in the life of Principal Corrections Officer Eta Katonivere in her 21 years of service with the Fiji Corrections Service.

PCO Katonivere, who enlisted in May 2004, finally succumbed to an illness she was battling for over a year on 16 October, 2025 at the Oceania Hospital where she had been admitted.

This message was shared in an emotional eulogy by her eldest daughter Adi Laisa Loaloavuna, 20, who said her mum not only gave advice but led by example.

“O tinaqu, na marama kaukauwa, e na vosota tu na mosi se na tauvimate me rawa na ka baleti keitou, she was a woman of strength. Even when she was sick she would still go to work, returning again to prepare our dinner at her insistence.

“She was our first teacher and first friend, Kindness was her greatest strength, even when at times we had nothing she was always generous to others.”

PCO Katonivere was ready to move on, she even prepared her own funeral hymn songs and also made arrangements for her four children.

Supervisor National Headquarters, Superintendent Lemeki Rokovesa said PCO Eta had an unbreakable spirit. “This is a lady who loved her work and her family and nothing deterred her from it, even when she was getting weak from her illness, she still turned up to work.

“She was a devoted Corrections Officer to the end.

“Her famous line, Sir au set tu, I will always remember, because it’s the answer she gives when we worry about her.”

PCO Katonivere’s first posting was at the Suva Womens Corrections Center in 2004 before moving to NHQ under the Corporate Service Unit in February 2009. In May 2017 she resigned but re-enlisted in March 2018 as a registry clerk. Then in 2019 she moved back to her old Unit in the Corporate Service

In 2022, she was posted to Naboro as Staff Officer for the Supervisor before moving back to NHQ in October 2024, joining the Operations Center as Duty Officer before she passed away.

She is survived by her husband COA Orisi Katonivere (Also a Corrections Personnel) and their four children, Adi Laisa, Laisani Nai, Orisi Jnr and Emosi Rabune.