But the ordeal is far from over for Febyanti Herewila, a bride of less than a week after she married Andrew Chan on Monday. After any other marriage, the newlyweds in their first week would be ensconced on their honeymoon without a care in the world. But Chan's execution on Wednesday means Ms Herewila faces this week as a widow having to make funeral arrangements.

At their brief marriage ceremony, Chan slipped a ring on to a finger on her right hand, but as she walked out of a side entrance at Sydney Airport to a waiting consular vehicle on Saturday morning, what appeared to be an engagement ring was now on her wedding finger of the left hand. Conspicuous by its absence, however, was any sign of a wedding ring. It seemed time had run out for finding a marital ring in the last hours.

After a decade of battling to save the lives of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, the journey finally ended back home for their families on Saturday at a suitably sombre and overcast airport shortly after 6am. The coffins of the two men were also understood to be on the flight but remained out of sight in a container.

Ms Herewila travelled back on the Qantas flight along with along with Sukumaran's mother Raji, brother Chintu and sister Brintha.

The small group was saved the indignity of walking through the public Arrivals hall. Instead, they were escorted to three waiting government white limousines.

Herewila got into the third vehicle but, looking tired and withdrawn, declined to make any comment to waiting media. The Sukumaran families got into the other vehicles, also without making any comment.

A well-placed source said the importation of bodies comes under quarantine rules and it is understood that the certification process at both ends was overseen by a funeral director. With a significant media presence awaiting the arrival, and camera crews keen for the first sight of the returned coffins, the procedure was carried out as discreetly as possible.

A spokewoman for Sydney Airport said that the families had requested their privacy be respected. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade declined to make any comment.