WHITNEY HOUSTON INVITE
% `6 L1 ]) H0 ttvb now,tvbnow,bttvbIt's NOT a Funeral
* T0 M+ ~- d' X" y' \0 p, F4 U5.39.217.76It's a 'Home Going' Service
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9 B% I3 B) d3 Rtvb now,tvbnow,bttvbHere's the official Whitney Houston invitation ... and Whitney's family is not referring to the singer's burial ceremony as a "funeral" ... but rather a "home going service."
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+ X& d {: q5 q" K5 \9 J: ?5.39.217.76The invite -- obtained by TMZ -- reads, "With heartfelt gratitude, the Houston Family requests the honor of your presence at the home going service for Whitney Elizabeth Houston."
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A "home going" service is more common in the black community and is usually more upbeat and positive than a typical funeral. The focus is to honor the deceased as they go "home" to Heaven to be with God. 5.39.217.76- f& c. m1 ]$ G6 K/ |8 T, j
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As we previously reported, the ceremony at The New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, NJ will be a very exclusive affair ... with a guest list hand-selected by Whitney's family.
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The event will begin at 12:00 PM EST -- with several of Houston's famous friends expected to participate in the service ... including Kevin Costner, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin.tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb! Z/ q1 f% a$ m2 g# [! b9 n
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