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Services Planned For Chicago Woman Killed At Indiana State Fair

Christina Santiago (Facebook)

Christina Santiago (Facebook)

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CHICAGO (CBS) — The Chicago woman killed in the Indiana Fair stage collapse last Saturday will be buried later this week.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Dave Marsett reports, funeral services will be held Thursday for Christina Santiago, in her hometown of New York City. Mourners will gather at the Riverdale-on-Hudson Funeral Home, at 6110 Riverdale Ave. in the Bronx.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Dave Marsett reports


Burial will be held at St. Raymond’s Cemetery at 2600 Lafayette Ave., also in the Bronx, on Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Santiago, who lived in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood, was one of five people killed when a gust of wind ripped the stage down at the Indiana State Fair on Saturday.

Concert-goers said opening act Sara Bareilles had finished performing, and the crowd was waiting for Sugarland to take the stage when the storm hit just before 9 p.m.

Meteorologists believe the wind storm might have been what’s known as a “gustnado” — which forms when a strong wind just before a thunderstorm causes the air to circulate like a tornado.

Santiago was a program manager for the Lesbian Community Care Project at the Howard Brown Health Center, which provides health and services for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.

On Sunday, more than 100 people came to the health center, 4025 N. Sheridan Rd., to pay tribute to Santiago, Gay Chicago reported. Howard Brown and the Latina lesbian women’s service organization Amigas Latinas – of which Santiago was a board member – are planning a more formal memorial service in Chicago, the publication reported.

Jamal Edwards, president and chief executive officer of Howard Brown, called Santiago “a fierce advocate. She was as brilliant as she was beautiful. She was the greatest advocate for equal health care for all.”

Santiago’s life partner, Alisha Brennon, was injured at the fair and was recovering at a hospital in Indianapolis Monday morning.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.

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