funeral news stories on Newser

RFK Jr: 'I Did Everything I Could to Save Her'

Neal Colgrass — Sun, 20 May 2012 17:20:35 CDT

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told mourners yesterday that he was blameless in the death of wife Mary Richardson Kennedy, who hanged herself last week after a long battle with depression. “I know I did everything I could to help her,” Kennedy said in his eulogy at a church in Bedford,...

Lesbian Denied Communion —at Mother's Funeral

Kate Schwartz — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:31:45 CST

These certainly weren't the gentle and consoling words Barbara Johnson expected to hear at her mother's funeral on Saturday: When attempting to take Communion at the service at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Gaithersburg, Md., the priest "put his hand over the body of Christ and looked at me...

Enquirer Runs Photo of Whitney in Open Coffin

Mary Papenfuss — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:28:02 CST

Has the National Enquirer crossed a line? Many were horrified when the tabloid published a photo it claims is the body of Whitney Houston shown in an open gold coffin. The pic was taken at the Whigham Funeral Home in New Jersey, according to Enquirer editors, who have not revealed...

Whitney Houston Laid to Rest

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:15:05 CST

Whitney Houston was laid to rest today at a brief private ceremony in New Jersey, the end of a weekend that saw the pop star's family and friends gather at a star-studded funeral to mourn her loss while celebrating her career. Fans and onlookers gathered in several places along the...

Bobby Brown Walks Out on Houston's Funeral

Neal Colgrass — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:24:29 CST

Bobby Brown walked out on ex-wife Whitney Houston's funeral today in Newark, New Jersey, looking upset. He left with his entourage of nine people when it was denied seating in the front row and only Brown was allowed to stay, the New Jersey Star-Ledger reports. The Rev. Al Sharpton tweeted...

Celebs Speak at Whitney's Funeral

John Johnson — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:20:00 CST

Celebrities are flocking to Whitney Houston's funeral service today in New Jersey, where Houston's cousin Dionne Warwick is presiding, MSNBC reports. (It's being streamed here .) Among the remarks made by America's entertainers: Tyler Perry spoke about a constant in Houston's life: a "grace that kept on carrying her all...

Family, Teachers Remember Powell Boys

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:30:05 CST

The family of missing Utah woman Susan Powell thanked police, social workers, teachers, and everyone who cared about her two sons at a funeral today for the boys who were killed by their father in a gas-fueled blaze. The boys' grandfather Chuck Cox also thanked people of all faiths who...

Iran to Retaliate Against West Over Dead Nuke Expert

Matt Cantor — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:03:05 CST

Chanting "death to America" and "death to Israel," thousands gathered in Iran today to mourn slain nuclear scientist Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan , hauling his coffin through Tehran. Meanwhile, an independent news site suggested Iran is preparing a covert counteroffensive against the West in retaliation for the bomb blast. It quoted a...

Bad Economy Boosts Cremations Over Burials

Dustin Lushing — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 08:10:32 CST

The dismal state of the economy has prompted more Americans to choose cremation over traditional burial services to save money, reports the New York Times . Cremations have been steadily rising in popularity since 1985 (41% now vs. 15% then) but the spike has been more pronounced in the last decade....