Memorial Service for Whitney: family, fans and celebrities say goodbye

The fans have gathered with banners 

in front of the church in Newark.

Before the funeral of Whitney Houston's coffin with the mortal Estonians of the pop stars of the church in their community has been brought. The coffin arrived Saturday morning (local time), at a Baptist church in Newark, near New York, as an AFP correspondent reported. Houston had sung in the church as a child in the gospel choir.

For the funeral service at noon (18.00 GMT) have announced a number of musicians and actors, including soul legend Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and actor Kevin Costner, with the Houston "Bodyguard" spielte.Newark. The police closed the area around the church in New Hope from a wide area, officers were patrolling on horseback in the street. Before the church was a flashing neon sign that with purple letters on the 11 February deceased singer recalled. "Whitney Houston 1963-2012," was read out, and "We will always love you" in reference to Houston's hit "I Will Always Love You". Numerous sympathy cards were attached to the bars of the red brick church, many with heart-shaped balloons. On the floor were burning candles, some worshipers took off flowers and teddy bears.

For security reasons, the pop star's fans were asked to stay home and not come to church. A few tried yet in the very cold morning, approaching the place of burial. Journalists have had to wait at some distance behind metal barricades.

Whitney Houston was found dead on Saturday last week, in the bathtub of her hotel room in Beverly Hills. The cause of death is unclear for now. According to speculations, the 48-year-old died from a lethal mix of drugs and alcohol.

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