Whitney Houston burial: Hearse leaves funeral home, arrives at Westfield cemetery

Just after 11:10 a.m. today, Houston’s hearse followed behind a black Chevy pickup truck with a bed brimming with flowers — light purple roses, pink carnations and white lilies among the arrangement.

The police escorted funeral procession left from the rear of the funeral home, turning onto Shipman Street, to head to Fairview Cemetery some 20 miles away.

“We love you, Whitney!” fans called out trotting next to the hearse for about a block as it slowly pulled away. A backseat window displayed a black and white headshot photo of the star.

Barbara Davis waited outside since 8:30 this morning to get a glimpse of Houston. The lifelong Newark resident had already been to Whigham Funeral Home twice last week after news of Houston’s death.

“To be here at her home-going is an honor and a blessing,” Davis, 53, said.

On Saturday, Eva Aquino of Newark bought novelty T-shirts and buttons of Houston being peddled outside the funeral home. Today, her 13- and 10-year-old granddaughters wore them as the three snapped cell phone photos from the street corner.

“We came here and bought all these things of her to cherish the memories,” Nalani Velez, 13, of Kearny said.

The procession arrived at the Westfield cemetery just before 11:45 a.m. The driver of the hearse appeared to be crying as she played "I will always love you." Fans threw flowers.

Houston, who died Feb. 11 in the bathroom of her room in the Beverly Hills Hilton in Los Angeles, was memorialized in a moving funeral service at Newark’s New Hope Baptist Church Saturday. The service drew some of the biggest names in arts and entertainment, from Oprah Winfrey to Kevin Costner.
Like her funeral, Houston’s burial service is invite only and police are taking extra effort to insure the family’s privacy, authorities said. Several roads near the cemetery will also be closed ahead of the event.