A Long Island couple residing in a Naval air station in Washington state died Thursday in a car wreck near their home.
Sam Cullen, 28, and Suzie Kedar, 27, were Farmingdale High School sweethearts, living together on Whidbey Island, where Cullen was stationed as a U.S. Navy petty officer 2nd class. While the Navy has ensured that Cullen’s body is being returned to his parents on Long Island, Kedar’s family is raising money to get her remains back home.
The two families want Cullen and Kedar to be memorialized in a combined service and laid to rest together, according to a GoFundMe established over the weekend. The fundraiser has accumulated over $51,000 from more than 570 donations. The original goal was $30,000.
In an update posted Tuesday on the GoFundMe page, the families expressed their appreciation “for the outpouring of love and support they have been receiving over the last couple of days.”
“All the shared memories prayers sent from around the world has touched them deeply and is helping them more than you can imagine,” the update reads.
Cullen and Kedar met at Farmingdale High School, where Cullen was a two-time All-County wrestler. Cullen graduated in 2014, while Kedar was a member of the Class of 2015. At the time of their deaths, they were about to become engaged, according to the GoFundMe page.
Cullen is survived by his parents, Shari and Tim Cullen; and his siblings, Suzanne, Hayden, Timothy, Emma and Gabby. Kedar is survived by her mother, Shama Kedar, and three sisters, Simy, Varsha and Shivanie.
Top photo: GoFundMe
