The broadcaster received 118 complaints about the Channel's coverage of the four-hour service on Saturday.
The corporation said it was "part of the News Channel function to be there when major stories take place".
Another 34 complaints were received from people upset that the service had been interrupted.
Live coverage of the service began at 17:00 GMT and continued until just before 20:30 GMT, with the BBC continuing to report on the story afterwards.
"The News Channel's coverage of Whitney Houston's funeral reflected the significant interest in her sudden death as well as acknowledging the impact she had as a global recording artist," said the corporation in a statement.
It acknowledged that "some people felt there was too much coverage" but said BBC One's teatime bulletin, radio bulletins and other services had still given viewers "the best access to the day's other news stories".
Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys and R Kelly performed at the service, which took place in Newark, New Jersey. Actor Kevin Costner, who starred with Houston in The Bodyguard, gave a eulogy.
The 48-year-old singer was found in a bath in her hotel room at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on 11 February.
The cause of her death will remain unclear until the results of the toxicology tests are announced.

The crash happened on the New Road, at its junction with Legmoylan Road, and was reported to police shortly after 05:40 GMT on Wednesday.
The van driver was in his 40s but his name has not yet been released. No other vehicle was involved in the collision.
The road remains closed and diversions are in place.

Ian Gillies, the new executive member for transport at York council, said the idea was "a waste of money".
A previous council attempt to cut congestion by banning motorists from using Lendal Bridge across the River Ouse was abandoned last year.
Mr Gillies said the city had an air pollution problem but could come up with a solution itself.
"Let's take stock and see if there's anything we can do," he said. "I don't believe bringing somebody in to have a traffic congestion commission is money well spent.
"I think if we can't solve our own problems then it's a bad job."
The commission was approved by the council's cabinet as recently as February and was due to report in October. It was expected to cost about Â£135,000.
During a trial closure of Lendal Bridge from August 2013 to April 2014 to tackle congestion, general traffic was banned from using the bridge between 10:30 and 17:00.
About 47,000 fines totalling more than Â£1.3m were issued but drivers have since been told they can claim refunds.
The BBC has defended its coverage of Whitney Houston's funeral on its News Channel following complaints from viewers about its duration.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
A man has died after the van he was driving crashed in Silverbridge, County Armagh.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
Plans to set up a commission to investigate traffic congestion in York city centre have been shelved.