Funeral songs for Grandma
Updated
For a grandmother's funeral, the songs most families choose are hymns she knew ("Amazing Grace", "In the Garden"), songs from her own era like "We'll Meet Again" (Vera Lynn) or "Moon River", and "Supermarket Flowers" (Ed Sheeran), which was written after the loss of a grandmother.
Hymns she may have sung
| Song | Artist | Year | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazing Grace | Traditional hymn | 1779 | Familiar to every generation in the room. |
| In the Garden | C. Austin Miles | 1912 | A gentle hymn for a grandmother who loved her garden. |
| The Old Rugged Cross | George Bennard | 1912 | A much-loved hymn for older churchgoers. |
| How Great Thou Art | Traditional hymn | 1949 | Uplifting and widely known. |
| It Is Well with My Soul | Horatio Spafford & Philip Bliss | 1873 | About peace in grief; written after a family tragedy. |
| Abide with Me | Traditional hymn | 1847 | A traditional British funeral hymn. |
Songs from her era
| Song | Artist | Year | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| We'll Meet Again | Vera Lynn | 1939 | For a grandmother who grew up with the wartime songs. |
| I'll Be Seeing You | Billie Holiday | 1944 | Seeing someone everywhere you used to be together. |
| You Are My Sunshine | Jimmie Davis | 1940 | The song many grandmothers sang to their grandchildren. |
| Moon River | Andy Williams | 1962 | Dreamy and nostalgic; a favorite of her generation. |
| Unforgettable | Nat King Cole | 1951 | A warm classic that says exactly what you feel. |
| Edelweiss | The Sound of Music (Broadway) | 1959 | Simple and tender; perfect for a grandmother who loved musicals. |
| What a Wonderful World | Louis Armstrong | 1967 | Gratitude for a long, full life. |
Songs about grandmothers and family
| Song | Artist | Year | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supermarket Flowers | Ed Sheeran | 2017 | Written after his grandmother died; it describes the family carrying on. |
| Grandma's Hands | Bill Withers | 1971 | A grandson remembering how his grandmother cared for him. |
| Wind Beneath My Wings | Bette Midler | 1988 | For the grandmother who held the family together. |
| Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World | Israel Kamakawiwo'ole | 1993 | Soft and hopeful; works well for a slideshow. |
| Angel | Sarah McLachlan | 1997 | Comforting piano ballad. |
| Time to Say Goodbye (Con te partirò) | Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman | 1996 | A moving way to end the service. |
How to choose
If you're not sure what she liked, ask the oldest relatives which songs she sang around the house. Those make the most personal choice.
Songs from the 1940s-60s will be recognised by her friends; a modern song from a grandchild can sit alongside them at the gathering.
A song in their own words
Some families create an original tribute song from their memories, with her's name in it, to play at the service. You read the lyrics and hear a preview before deciding.
Create a tribute songQuestions
What is a good funeral song for a grandma?
A hymn she knew, such as "Amazing Grace" or "In the Garden", or a song from her era like "We'll Meet Again" or "Moon River". "Supermarket Flowers" is a popular modern choice.
Can grandchildren choose a song?
Yes, and it often means a lot to the family. A grandchild's choice works well as the closing song or at the gathering.
Sources
Song titles, artists and years are taken from the artists' published discographies and the songs' Wikipedia pages. Hymn years are when the text or tune was first published. Spotted a mistake? Email hello@bestsonggift.com and we'll fix it.