Longtime friend of NEWDradio personality Andre Harrison, Sarai Sierra, found dead near the remnants of ancient city walls in Turkey, will be honored at a wake on Valentine's Day in Staten Island, New York where she and her husband were raising their two sons.
The body of Sarai Sierra was flown back to the U.S. by Turkish Airlines on February 7.
Two viewing periods are set for Feb. 14 at the Christian Pentecostal Church, 900 Richmond Road, where Harrison served as youth pastor. They will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
While the costs were almost prohibitive for Sarai Sierra's body to be flown back to the U.S., the family sold photos from her collection of photography in order to defray the costs.
The 33-year-old woman was found dead 12 days after she disappeared in Istanbul. Police said she was killed by a blow to the head. No arrests have been made.
The grieving husband of Sarai Sierra, Steven, said that the
reports that she flew to Turkey and had multiple affairs while abroad do not
change his view on the murder for him.
"Even it were true, it wouldn't matter to me, I would marry
her all over again," Steven Sierra said.
Sarai Sierra allegedly met up with at least two men during
her trip abroad, including one Dutch national who she connected with via
Instagram and a Turkish man who claims he had sex with her on the night before
she died.
The funeral will be Feb. 15 at Christian Pentecostal Church, where she met and married her husband, Steven. Burial will follow at Silver Mount Cemetery, a few blocks from the family's Staten Island apartment building.
Steven Sierra and his wife's brother, David Jimenez, returned to New York from Istanbul on February 6 after flying there to help in the search and investigation. Jimenez said Steven informed the two boys, ages 9 and 11, of their mother's fate when he returned.
Sarai Sierra's parents said earlier in the week the family was waiting for Steven to return before telling the boys what
happened to their mother. They had been told their father went to get her after she missed her plane home on Jan. 21.
"With children, it's very difficult," said John Rocco Carlo, the pastor of Christian Pentecostal Church, who said he advised the family on how to talk with the youngsters. "Fortunately, they have a wonderful family to lean on."
Jimenez said the remaining photos will be up for sale on the photo-sharing site Instagram to continue to raise money for her sons' education and other future needs.
Sarai Sierra is survived by her husband, two sons, her mother, father and brother.