Whitney Houston‘s funeral will be streaming on Livestream and on TV for fans around the world. The last time that a funeral service was streamed and televised was in 2009 for Michael Jackson.

The ceremony will be held at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, NJ, where the singer grew up. Gospel singer and pastor Marvin Winans, who is a long-time friend of the Houston family, will be delivering the eulogy, CNN reports. The service will be in a smaller and more cherished setting for family and friends of the ill-fated star. Publicists confirmed that of the 1,500 people attending the service, nearly a dozen celebrities will be sitting in the sought-after “invitation-only” seats.

The funeral service will be broadcast this Saturday, Feb. 18th at noon.

–Mufsin Mahbub

Just hours after his dismembered body was found, members of Leiby’s close-knit Brooklyn community gathered on Wednesday July 13 to mourn the death of the eight-year-old, murdered by the stranger he stopped to ask for directions.

As Leiby Kletzky‘s accused killer, 35-year-old Levi Aron, was charged with second degree murder after allegedly confessing he took the child’s life “in a panic” — Leiby’s family and friends gathered to say goodbye.

The funeral was delayed as Leiby‘s family struggled to fight their way through the crowds who had turned out to pay their respects.

Once the service was able to begin, his father addressed the crowd saying: “God gives and God takes. Thank you God, for giving you to us for nine years. We have to thank you for what You gave us.

– Ian Garland

More on HollyBaby:

1. Tragedy at a Ball Game: Father Falls to His Death as 7-Year-Old Son Watches
2. Kiddie Pools Will Kill One Child Every FIVE DAYS This Summer! Is Your Pool Safe?
3. Five-Year-Old Drowns Toddler In Bathtub For Crying! Can You Imagine?

The father also releases odd public statements surrounding the events.

The funeral for Lashanda Armstrong, the mother who drove her van into the Hudson River to drown her four kids, will be held today — April 21. But Jean Pierre, the father of the three kids who died in the tragedy, announced her services would be separate from their children!

The tragedy took place when Lashanda, 25, put her four kids — 10-year-old Lashaun, 5-year-old Landon, 2-year-old Lance, and 11-month-old Lainaina – in her van on April 12 and drove the vehicle into the Hudson River. All but Jean’s stepson Lashaun died, as he was able to escape through the window and swim to safety.

“My deepest sympathy goes out to Lashaun and the Armstrong family,” Jean wrote, in a statement reported by the Daily News. “I ask that I be given the opportunity to grieve the loss of my three children privately. I loved Landon, Lance, Lainaina, Lashanda and still love Lashaun will all my heart.”

Although Lashanda’s funeral takes place on April 21, the ceremony for the three kids she had with Jean will occur on April 25.

Along with the announcement of the funeral preparation, Jean also distanced himself from any involvement with the deaths, as it was reported he was acting aggressively toward Lashanda before the incident took place.

“I have been inaccurately portrayed as being directly responsible for the tragedy,” he wrote. “If I could, I would have changed some things in my past. (I) am shocked and distraught by what happened. This has been a very devastating tragedy for all concerned.”

What a heartbreaking occurrence in every way.

– William Earl

More About This Tragedy:

1. First Photo Of The Only Survivor Of Hudson River Tragedy, LaShaun Armstrong
2. Family Trying To Make Sense Of The Senseless After Mother Kills Her Three Children
3. Mother Kills Herself And Three Children By Driving Minivan Into River

Getty Images

25 family members and close friends gathered at LA’s Church of the Hills at Forest Lawn Memorial Park to remember and say goodbye to the 32-year-old actress.

Brittany Murphy was buried at a private service in Los Angeles yesterday, Dec. 24, with about 25 mourners in attendance.  The service was co-denominational, with both a rabbi and a pastor leading the service; the Kaddish, a traditional Jewish prayer of mourning, was recited, and “Amazing Grace,” the spiritual, was sung.

The service was complemented with music, including renditions of “My Funny Valentine” and, perhaps most poignantly, Brittany’s own version of Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile,” according to Radar.

Husband Simon Monjack remembered that Brittany’s favorite phrase was “thank you” and added, “She was always grateful for everything. She’d always want you to celebrate her life.” Actor Eric Balfour, a close friend, and brother Simon were among the pallbearers.

Brittany died on Dec. 20 of apparent cardiac arrest, though the official cause of death will not be known for several weeks.

UPDATE: Brittany’s family released the following statement about her life and yesterday’s service:

“Today a wife, a daughter, a niece, a cousin, a family member and dear friend to thousands was laid to rest. Brittany was an incredibly loving and passionate person and an artist to her core- she loved acting, singing, dancing, and performing. There are no words that can truly express the devastation felt by Brittany’s husband, mother, and everyone who attended the intimate service.

“At the funeral, Simon described his loving relationship with Brittany and how she was his best friend and soul mate. He went on to say that mystery is the nature of love, and you never know when or where it will strike or how quickly it will be taken from you. He also said that he knows the closeness and beauty of their love will live on forever.

“Several of Brittany’s closest friends and her cousin also recalled their favorite memories, concluding with an excerpt from The Little Prince, one of her favorite books.

“Brittany’s body was interred at Forest Lawn at twilight with the reading of the Kaddish and the singing of Amazing Grace. A bright light that lit the world is forever dimmed, but will live on in the hearts of those that Brittany touched.

“Christmas was Brittany’s favorite holiday. So the family asks that all those who wish to honor her light a candle and remember the beautiful angel that entertained, enlightened, and made the world a better place.

“Born 1977 – Died 2009. Brittany Murphy is survived by her husband Simon Monjack and her mother Sharon Murphy.”

Read more about Brittany Murphy:

1. Alicia Silverstone Remembers Brittany Murphy: “She Was So Talented, So Warm, and So Sweet”
2. Brittany Murphy’s Tragic New Year’s Resolution: “I Want A Baby”
3. How Could This Have Happened To Brittany Murphy? Expert Doctors Weigh In On Her Sudden Death

Could you miss the funeral of someone you loved so much?

Brittany Murphy will be laid to rest tonight during a private funeral at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills, but there’s one family member who says he won’t be attending — Brittany’s estranged father, Angelo Bertolotti. He tells Radar Online he never received an invitation to the ceremony, and even if he did, he says he would probably still be too sad to attend. “I just don’t want to see that happen,” he says. “I just want to remember her alive.”

Bertolotti and Brittany’s mom, Sharon Murphy, are divorced, and he has been estranged from his daughter for about eight years. Still, he says, he will honor her memory by visiting her grave when he feels he’s ready: “I’ll wait about a month to go out there.”

“Brittany was just a doll, she was good to everybody,” he says. “She was just a big-hearted girl, it’s a shame that she had to go like this. … She had health problems, that was a fact, but nothing that I thought would come to this.”

Getty Images

Family and friends will say goodbye to Brittany on Christmas Eve.

This is just such a sad way to spend a holiday for Brittany Murphy‘s loved ones.  The actress will be laid to rest Christmas Eve during a “strictly private” funeral service at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, Radar Online reports.

It’s unknown whether the funeral will be a Christian or Jewish ceremony, as Brittany was raised Christian but married husband Simon Monjack in a traditional Jewish wedding in 2007. Forest Lawn itself is a non-denominational burial ground.

Brittany passed away Dec. 20 after going into cardiac arrest in her home in the Hollywood Hills. She was transported to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. She was only 32-years-old.  

Get More on Brittany Murphy:

1. Exclusive! Matthew Lillard on Brittany Murphy “She Lit Up the World While She Was Here”
2. Brittany Murphy’s Tragic New Year’s Resolution: “I Want A Baby”
3. How Could This Have Happened To Brittany Murphy? Expert Doctors Weigh In On Her Sudden Death