This reads like it was more of another Hollywood "Red Carpet" event than a funeral. Can these people ever get enough of themselves?
"Saturday's celebrity-packed funeral ..."
Maybe all these 'celebrities' should have come up with a "celebrity-packed" intervention.
I hate to sound so insensitive but this is enough to make any 'normal' person sick. Can we please get this over with so these people can all go home. Maybe there'll be a 10-foot snowstorm and the news media will go into such a feeding frenzy that they will forget all about this. I was just getting over my concern about Demi Moore when this all happened. Now she'll have to come up with something else to get us all feeling sorry for her again.

Well, Paul, I'm glad your not sick, because your not normai. I think that you are insensitive. I think that you should keep your "smug" indefferent attitude to yourself. And if you let people greeve on there own time,you might learn something about the dynamics of the Human Race, We will all find closher on our oun accord. If you have nothing good to say about smething so sensative, that you have nothing to do with. Keep it to yourself.

The only one to make out in this mess is Bobby Brown.He no longer has to putup with this PIA "Whitney"....The only good druggy is a dead one !!!!!!"

I feel sorry for all of ya. The more i get to know people the more i get to really know my dog.

3 stories on the Brick Patch about a funeral for a woman that, in all likelihood, has never been to Brick. It's bad enough were inundated with this story in the national media, we don't need to hear about it when looking for local news. Especially not at a time when we just found out our mayor is essentially screwing us all.

The service was packed with celebrities because they were her 'friends' and cohorts and relatives. Who else would be there? But I agree; enough already.

Jim, the media isn’t allowing everyone to grieve on their own time or in their own way, we are all suppose to do it via streaming video!

Hollywood would never miss an opportunity for a gala event. It was a great show! Notables like Rev Jesse and Chris Christy even paid homage, in person, to the fallen star. Wonder if any of those Houston funeral attendees made it to the funeral of Lance Cpl. Osbrany Montes De Oca, in North Arlington, http://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2012/02/gov_chris_christie_issues_executive_order_for_flags_to_be_flown_at_half-staff_for_fallen_north_arlin.html
or any of the other recent funerals for NJ’s fallen warriors?

Oh well, that’s show biz! Ditto, politic!

P.S. Ms Houston’s songs and voice will live on long after all this is forgotten. That is her true legacy. RIP Whitney.

Whitney Houston was a great singer however. I still like Dolly's version better !

She died way too soon and it is sad but it is media & technology that allows the world to attend her private funeral services. Perhaps her mom & daughter can bury her today w/o all the outside hoopla.

Really?? Who cares! She was blessed with a great voice,but it really boils down to one less crackhead! How dare the Gov. have the flags lowered for this.She was not a person that gave her life to defend this great country! She was just another person lucky enough to make the big time that could not handle it.This sends a terrible message to kids .

I feel bad and I am truly sorry that her daughter has to now grow up without her mother..What people are saying is there are so many people in this world who have done many wonderful things for many people, and they are never recognized. Why do we make Entertainers so much more important than everyday people who do good for others. I have empathy for the lose of a mother, daughter,aunt,cousin,sister​....But I have a hard time making someone who is paid to entertain us any better than someone else. If we are going to recognize people then we should recognize all good people, not just people who are paid big bucks to entertain us

commonsense, while we may be tired of hearing about it, how about a little class and respect when speaking of someone's mother and family/friend that just passed away. That "crackhead" touched enough people to sell 170 million records, and win over 400 awards for the art that she contributed to the world. She gave selflessly to numerous charities (http://www.whitney-fan.com to see the massive list of her philanthropic efforts). What kind of message are we sending to children? That people make mistakes and can be forgiven for them. That it's ok to honor someone who gave so much to the world with their talent and their money. What message are YOU sending to the children? That it's ok to be an ass and speak ill of the dead. That you have no class, and it's ok to be a douchebag thanks to the anonymity of the Internet. Try to use "common sense" when opening your yap from now on.

Crack was wack for Whitney.

Simon Pignataro-Newark
Yes she had a nice voice, but as many other talented people in the arts such as James Brown, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Rickey Nelson, Billy Holiday, she was a damm drug addict. When people become too popular and too greedy and make more money than they can handle, they get involved with bad habits such as drinking, gambling, drugs, and fornication. Their interpersonal relationships mean nothing to them./ They do not trust and are not faithful to the people they l;ove and they are incapable of loving.

I'm surprised that no one mentioned the disease of addiction. So sad that we say crackhead instead of chemical dependency. If you read anything other than Star Magazine, you might know there has been new findings confirming chemical dependency is a serious disease of the brain not a weakness caused by celebrity or excessive wealth. It's no wonder we have so little research and funding. If the above is a representation of our understanding of this disease ; God help all of us and our affected children. Walk a mile in Whitney's shoes and then blog. Thanks for letting me comment.
Cathy McCudden Freehold NJ

It's ironic that all of the people commenting don't care for the attention WH's death is receiving yet... THEY are here on patch commenting- perpetuating the "coverage".

The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. Proverbs 15:2
Jessica is correct this is a time to reflect on her accomplishments, not tear her down for making mistakes in life. Let's put your lives under the microscope and see how well you fare. Find peace with this people.

Actually, Christina, I didn't say any of that.

Any chance the comment sections can be closed on the Whitney Houston articles. Her funeral was two days ago and Cinnaminson has a lot more pertinent issues than Miss Houston's funeral that should be addressed on Patch. Thank you.

ALL I CAN SAY IS **** REST IN PEACE WHITNEY. PEOPLE, LIGHTEN UP!!!!

Why can't we just accept that she was a terrific singer and her voice will never be replaced by anyone, and how she died,. she lost out, but we also did,. by never hearing her sing a new song again, R I P Whitney, and yes you were GREAT.

While opinions and degrees of sympathy vary wildly in the threads posted on this forum, few deny Ms. Houston was entitle to be eulogized and buried by family and friends. It was the ‘Hollywood’ style in which those proceedings were handled that has many opining.

Perhaps, Ms. Houston’s Last Will and Testimony provided for the type of funeral services she received. If not, then the family controlled the funeral arrangements. In either case, it was an extraordinary event. But who pays for all the extraordinary costs the City of Newark and the State of New Jersey were compelled to spend for security and crowd control; the Houston estate, the wealth celebrities who came in droves or the taxpayers of Newark and NJ? If Stars or their family and friends wish to hold funerals of the type bestowed on Ms. Houston, they should bear or defray the costs to the public. How much money was generated from the camera in the church and to whom did the proceeds go?

Oh boy Tom, you just opened a new can of worms!! She was a great singer. I will not pass judgement on her though. She payed dearly when it comes to the stardom. I am sure if she were left a church going girl with a great voice it would not have cost her her life. Money and fame pulled her away from God long enough for the Devil to have whispered into her ear and the rest is history. Rest in Peace.

Ms. Warren,
Believe I asked the question of who pays. I assumed nothing. Perhaps an OPRA (Open Public Records Act) request to Newark and the State could provide the answer.