WHY DID WHITNEY HOUSTON GET A GOLD HEARSE?

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By John W. Ferguson, Getty Images

Anyone who saw Whitney Houston’s funeral procession couldn’t have helped but notice: Instead of a somber black hearse, followed by black limousines, her cortege featured gold-colored vehicles.

It seemed so appropriate for one of the music world’s brightest stars. A sad occasion, yes, but Houston was carried to her grave in grand style. Just for her?

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By John W. Ferguson, Getty Images

It turns out, no. That golden Lincoln hearse and the trio of gold Lincoln Town Car stretch limos that came behind it are a signature of the Whigham Funeral Home in Newark, N.J., that handled the arrangements. A woman who would only give her name as “Sheila,” answering the phones today at the home, said that the home has used gold vehicles for years.

“That’s our trademark,” Sheila said.

The cars were seen around the world as they took Houston’s casket Sunday to her final rest at the Fairview Cemetary in Westfield, N.J. That italicized “W” on the rear window of the hearse? We don’t think it was for Whitney, the singer; we suspect it was for Whigham, the funeral home.