Whitney Houston Greeting Card
When a celebrity dies, skeletons can and do come out of the closet; but, despite whatever sort of sordid past that individual might have had, jokes at the deceased individual's expense are quite taboo. That is why a Whitney Houston greeting card has been pulled from the shelves at target for its offensive nature. Reuters

Whitney Houston's death shocked the world on Saturday. The 48-year-old's unexpected passing stunned family, friends and fans who knew her as healthy and happy in the weeks before her death. She was preparing for the Grammys and busy working on professional projects like Sparkle. All seemed good. Despite her struggle with drug and alcohol addition, Houston told Oprah Winfrey that she was clean and sober in 2010.

However, Whitney Houston's death might not have been a surprise to Whitney herself.

TMZ reported Wednesday morning that Houston told friends she really wanted to see Jesus in the days before her death. Supposedly the superstar singer felt like her time was coming and wanted to spend her life praising her Lord and Savior.

TMZ learned from sources close to Houston that the I Will Always Love You singer had become exceptionally spiritual in her final days. She would quote the bible, single hymns and engage friends and family in intense conversations about Jesus Christ and the afterlife.

On Thursday, Feb. 9, Houston performed Yes Jesus Loves Me at Tru nightclub in Hollywood with gospel/R&B singer Kelly Price. The next day, she supposedly told one of her friends I'm gonna go see Jesus... I want to see Jesus.

Just hours before her death, Whitney Houston was supposedly talking about a bible passage relating to John the Baptist and Jesus. During this particular conversation, Houston smiled and said, You know, he's so cool ... I really want to see that Jesus.

Whitney was a religious woman, who grew up in the church and had reportedly gotten reconnected with her God before she died. It was originally rumored that Houston's funeral would be held at the Prudential Center in her hometown of Newark, NJ. However, the service has been planned for Saturday at the New Baptist Church, where Houston sang as a child with her mother Cissy and her cousin Dionne Warwick.

Houston grew her singing roots at the New Baptist Church. At the age of 11, she began performing in the junior gospel choir. Her first solo performance of Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah amazed the entire congregation, according to The Christian Post.

I looked up to her prior to becoming an artist, when I was a background singer. She was just the premiere artist to me, she was so amazing, Price told Ryan Seacrest during a red carpet interview at the Grammys. In my heart I was praying that it was an Internet hoax. I hate them, but I was hoping that it was one. To realize that it wasn't, I don't even know how to explain it.

Hollywood Oprah winfrey Hollywood Oprah winfrey