The remains of the late Northern Marianas governor Eloy Inos, who died in the US, are due to arrive in Saipan on Friday.
The governor died of complications from diabetes in hospital in Seattle last week while recovering from heart surgery.
The administration of Governor Ralph Torres also is planning to have a state funeral either on Sunday or Monday.
Mr Torres decided not to fly to Seattle to escort his predecessor’s body back home.
President Barrack Obama has sent his condolences to Inos family and the rest of the CNMI, saying the late CNMI governor was a tireless advocate of the Commonwealth and its people.