While those with invitations were able to give an intimate farewell to pop diva Whitney Houston today, many of her fans were left out in the cold.

Dozens of Whitney Houston's fans tried to get as close as they could to today's funeral services at the New Hope Baptist church in Newark. Police however, shut down several blocks surrounding the church to keep fans at bay.

The roadblocks did not shake Houston's devoted fans. As they have all week, the public found its way to pay their respects at public memorials for the singer. Those who heeded the Newark Police Department's warning, opted to gather around their TVs to watch the service unfold.

Houston died Saturday in Beverly Hills, Calif., at the age of 48. Her ties to New Jersey continued after her rise to stardom in the 1980s. In 1997, the Franklin School in East Orange was renamed to The Whitney E. Houston Academy School of Creative and Performing Arts.