NEWARK – Whitney Houston’s funeral will be held Saturday in the church where she first showcased her singing talents as a child.
The owner of the Whigham Funeral Home here said today the funeral would be held at noon at the New Hope Baptist Church.
The funeral home said a wake would not be held and that there would not be a public memorial at Newark’s Prudential Centre, the sports arena that the family had discussed as a possible venue.
The funeral service will be by invitation only, Carolyn Whigham said, reflecting the family’s desire to keep the memorial more personal.
“They have shared her for 30 some years with the city, with the state, with the world.
This is their time now for their farewell,” she said.
“The family thanks all the fans, the friends and the media, but this time is their private time.”
The 48-year-old Houston died Saturday at a hotel in Beverly Hills, California, just hours before she was set to perform at producer Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy Awards bash. Officials said she was under water and apparently unconscious when she was pulled from a bathtub.
After an autopsy Sunday, authorities said there was no indication of foul play or obvious signs of trauma on Houston. It could be weeks, however, before the coroner’s office completes toxicology tests to establish the cause of death.
Los Angeles County coroner’s assistant chief Ed Winter said bottles of prescription medicine were found in the room. (AP)
