Funeral is held for NYC mom killed in Turkey


February 15, 2013 at 3:39p.m.

Funeral is held for NYC mom killed in Turkey

NEW YORK (AP) — A New Yorker killed while vacationing alone in Turkey is being remembered as a good-hearted and joyful person.

A funeral was held today on Staten Island for Sarai Sierra, a mother of two.

The service began with a prayer and “Amazing Grace” played by pipers from the transit system. Sierra’s husband is a bus driver.

Her body was found in Istanbul on Feb. 2, 12 days after she disappeared. Police say she suffered a fatal blow to the head.

The 33-year-old went to Turkey to explore her hobby, photography. A friend who was supposed to join her canceled for financial reasons.

Turkish authorities and the FBI are investigating her death. Turkey’s state-run agency says police have briefly detained the two brothers and a sister of a man wanted for questioning in Sierra’s death.