Grandma’s are special people. They’re the ones who always take your side during arguments. The ones who’ll stuff you with food even when you’re full. Losing such a sweet person in your life can hit hard, and it can be hard to express how you feel through words.
By making a playlist of funeral songs for grandma, you can say what she meant to you while also letting people know the kind of person she was.
When choosing the songs to include in the playlist for your grandma’s funeral, it’s important to keep in mind that the song selections should be in accordance with her tastes, rather than just playing the popular ones. If there were any songs that were precious to her or describe her, be sure to include them in your playlist.
But with the vast variety of songs that exist, coming up with a mere 10 or 20 songs can seem like a daunting task. Which songs to include? Which ones would be apt? Well luckily for you, we’ve made a list of the 23 best funeral songs for grandma.
1) Candle in the Wind (Elton John)
Perhaps the most well-known funeral song given its context, Candle In the Wind was written in memory of Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years prior. It was re-written and released 25 years later following the tragic death of Princess Diana.
2) Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Israel Kamakawiwoʻole)
There’s a certain magical charm to this song that brings a smile to anyone’s face when they hear it. Perhaps it’s Israel’s singing, perhaps it’s the simple ukelele, or maybe it’s the beautiful lyrics. But what’s certain is that this song will remind you that it’s not all doom and gloom. It never is. Happy songs can also be included in a playlist of funeral songs.
3) Forever Young (Rod Stewart)
Stewart has said that Forever Young was one of his favorite songs due to the fact that it was a song about his children. For most parents, their children are a big part of their lives and are always on the back of their minds.
4) You’ll Never Walk Alone (Judy Garland)
A song about having your loved ones by your side, even when it might seem like they’re not, Garland sings that whatever happens in life, you’ll never walk alone.
5) Smile (Nat King Cole)
Your parents play a major role in shaping who you are as a person. Cole sings about how this influence is carried through by singing about the advice that would be given to your younger selves.
6) I’ll Be Seeing You (Billie Holiday)
Popularised by its appearance in The Notebook, Holiday’s jazzy vocals serve the ultimate ending to the perfect love story. For your loved one, this could be the sending-off that both of you wish for.
7) Don’t Worry, Be Happy (Bobby McFerrin)
The iconic whistle, the straightforward, almost too simplistic lyrics, McFerrin’s jovial voice. This song was meant to lift moods, and it does a very good job of doing that. No matter how bad things may get, just weather through it because good times will come.
8) I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston)
A timeless classic, I Will Always Love You is a song about the eternal nature of love, and how love transcends everything.
9) Live Forever (Oasis)
This is a song that reminds us that our loved ones never truly leave us, for they live on through our memories of them. A funeral service is about remembering our loved ones, and this classic song reminds us that it’s never really over.
10) Bye And Bye (The Georgia Mass Choir)
If your grandma was all about church, this song is perfect for her send-off. Because sometimes, you just need a good gospel song to start moving on from the loss of your loved one. And which song would be a better candidate than Bye and Bye?
11) Amazing Grace (Jennifer Hudson)
While Amazing Grace is an uplifting funeral song in and of itself, this rendition by Jeniffer Hudson takes the cake for her masterful technique in conveying the beauty of the song.
12) When We Were Young (Adele)
A song that reminds you of the past, When We Were Young is about how we reminisce about the good old days. Adele sings about photographing moments before they change forever.
13) There You’ll Be (Faith Hill)
Throughout our lives, there are some people that we grow to rely on. These people are with us throughout thick and thin and they could be your friend, parent, better half, or even your pet. This song is a ‘Thank You Note’ to those who have always been there for you.
14) In My Life (The Beatles)
A song about introspection, In My Life talks of how everyone leads different lives that ultimately has some meaning.
15) My Way (Frank Sinatra)
Being your own person is the central theme of the song, and that could exactly be the send-off that your loved one deserved and needs. A popular funeral song for older generations, this song’s relevance makes it a perfect song that is apt for an older loved one.
16) If Tomorrow Never Comes (Garth Brooks)
Human beings are often victims of not living in the moment. They worry about what may be or what was rather than focusing on the present. If Tomorrow Never Comes is about not taking our lives for granted and living every day to the fullest.
17) Troubadour (George Strait)
Growing old is something that everyone goes through. Although it’s a universal phenomenon, people treat it very differently. Troubadour is a song about how people can remain young at heart even if they age physically.
18) Holes in the Floor of Heaven (Steve Wariner)
Sometimes, the ones who guided us through life might eventually leave us behind. Holes In The Floor Of Heaven is a sort of reassurance that even though they might’ve passed on, your loved ones are watching over you from the beyond.
19) Let It Be (The Beatles)
One of the most popular songs by the Fab Four, Let It Be is a song about just letting things be when it is clear that there’s nothing that we can do.
20) You Are the Sunshine of My Life (Stevie Wonder)
For all the jazz lovers out there, this timeless Wonder song encapsulates what many parents considered their children to be. As such, this song could be the perfect reminder of the happy times you shared with your loved ones.
21) Ave Maria (Franz Schubert)
One of the most popular funeral songs, this timeless classical piece brings in a sense of tranquility and peace to the funeral service while also allowing us to reminisce the memories of our loved one.
22) What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
Another classic and uplifting song, What A Wonderful World never fails to give you the hope that you would require following the death of a loved one. For all its flaws, humanity still has a way of redeeming itself. And that is the wonderful world that Armstrong is singing about.
23) Broken Halos (Chris Stapleton)
Grandmas are our angels on earth. But just like us, the ones we lost should also move on. Because life goes on. Broken Halos is a song about how your loved ones eventually become angels that guide others., thereby memorializing our Grandma.
Funerals can be somber affairs, and it should be noted that creating a playlist and playing it is done in accordance with the deceased’s wishes from when they were alive. Now that you’ve read about best funeral songs for grandma, check out the Top 30 Funeral Songs of All Time for a more comprehensive guide on creating a general playlist.
