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NEW YORK - The funeral for pop icon Whitney Houston is expected to be a private gathering for family and friends rather than a large-scale public remembrance.
The service will be held Saturday at noon at Newark's New Hope Baptist Church, where Houston first turned heads as a singing prodigy, according to Fox New York.
There will be no wake and no public memorial at the Prudential Center, which the family had discussed as a possible venue. Houston, whose career started in New York City's music venues, was born and raised in Newark.
Houston, 48, was found dead in her hotel room in Beverly Hills on Feb. 11. Police said there were no immediate indications of foul play.
Her body was flown to New Jersey on Monday night.
