Whitney Houston Private Funeral Set For Saturday In New Jersey

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Whitney Houston’s funeral will take place at the church where she grew up in Newark, New Jersey this Saturday.

The funeral will be private and will take place at the New Hope Baptist Church in Houston’s hometown of Newark. There will be no public service.

Carolyn Whigham, owner of Whigham Funeral Home, told the NY Daily News that the singer’s family had personally made the arrangements and the service would be by “invitation only.”

Speaking on behalf of Houston’s grieving family, Whigham said:

“They thank all of the fans and friends and the media, but at this time this is their private time. They shared her for 30 some years with the city, with the state, with the world. This is their time now for their farewell to their daughter, mother.”

Whigham said the family collectively made the decision to have the funeral at New Hope Baptist Church, where Houston sang as a child.

“I’ve know this family for many, many, many years,” said Whigham. “From an emotional standpoint, this is very difficult for all of us. It’s a double-sided sword. You have a mother grieving. You have a daughter grieving. You have two brothers grieving. This is really hard. They’re very close. They are our family and we are grieving along with them.”

Whigham said Houston’s body would not be buried in Newark but declined to elaborate on the location of her final resting place.

Houston’s body was flown to New Jersey by a private jet belonging to film director Tyler Perry from Los Angeles on Monday.