Whitney Houston’s “Home Going Service,” Sunday Burial and Ray J Shares Thoughts

Putting a positive spin on a tragedy, Whitney Houston's family is planning a ‘home going’ service rather than a funeral to celebrate her life tomorrow (February 18).

On the official invitation, the late “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” songstress’ family wrote, "With heartfelt gratitude, the Houston Family requests the honor of your presence at the home going service for Whitney Elizabeth Houston."

On Sunday, family and friends will lay her to rest in Newark, New Jersey at a plot adjacent to her late father, John Russell Houston, who died in 2003.

Meanwhile, Whitney’s rumored boyfriend at the time of her death, singer Ray J, told press that he’s been trying to make sense of the grief he feels from losing his ‘close friend.’

He shared, “Over the past few days, I’ve tried to process the emptiness that I am experiencing. What my heart feels cannot be expressed in words. The world lost an icon, but I lost my close friend. Nippy, I miss you so much! You were so happy and full of love. Your smile will live in my heart forever.”