Whitney Houston's funeral later this week (+ her life in photos)

Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, died Sunday. She was 48. Photo / AP

Whitney Houston's funeral may take place as early as Friday, local time.

The Million Dollar Bill' hitmaker's body has now left the Los Angeles County Morgue, where it will be transferred to a funeral home and be taken into the possession of her family, TMZ.com reports. It is then expected it will be taken via private jet to Newark, New Jersey, where she was raised.

According to CNN, the funeral will then take place later this week.

A source told the news channel: "A funeral service will be held there either Friday or Saturday."

Whitney - who died in a room at the Beverly Hilton hotel on Sunday - first found her voice in the local area performing at the Hope Baptist Church in Newark, where she also learned to play the piano.

Mourners have been heading to the church since her death, with local Shawn Cooper saying yesterday: "The Houston family means a lot to this community, they have done a lot for this community, and being there for them is the best thing we can do as a community today."

- BANG! Showbiz