Whitney Houston's Body Arrives in NJ, Arena Funeral Expected
A plane carrying the body of Whitney Houston arrives in New Jersey late Monday. Photo: WABC-TV
Whitney Houston's body arrived by private plane in New Jersey last night and was transported to a funeral home in Newark, where preparations were being made for a loving sendoff to the iconic queen of pop.
A plane belonging to actor-director Tyler Perry carried Houston's body home from California, arriving at northern New Jersey's Teterboro Airport at about 10:35 p.m., according to WABC TV.
The body was then transported by a golden hearse to Whigham Funeral Home in Newark, according to NJ.com.
A memorial for the singer, who died Saturday in her Beverly Hilton hotel room of as yet undetermined causes, was likely to be held at Newark's 19,000-seat Prudential Center. A large screen on the face of the arena was lit up last night with the singer's face.
A local community leader who declined to be identified because he wasn't authorized to speak for the family told NJ.com that Houston would be eulogized at the center on Friday.
Houston's family and Prudential Center officials couldn't be reached for comment. The event would have to be held much earlier than 7 p.m., when a New Jersey Devils game is scheduled, to allow sufficient time to convert the arena floor, according to the report.
Houston's body was released to her family yesterday by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office. The official cause of death is pending toxicology results.
