Music for the funeral

So sorry for your loss firstly xxx

The music doesn't need to be decided until the minister/celebrant comes to visit you. We chose songs based on what she liked, So the first was Eric Clapton Tears in Heaven, second song was Faith Hill There you'll be which me and my brother chose as it's beautiful, then had bob Marley jammin at the end as it was her ringtone. 

I googled and listened to a million songs but they were all perfect for us. You'll get there. I wanted my mum's to be perfect and everyone said it was so I can only take some comfort in that as I remember none of it. You'll also know which songs are right as you'll bawl your eyes out like I did. Some I did even react so knew they weren't good enough. 

So sorry you find yourself part of this group now but they're fab here xxx 

Obviously she = my mum just realised looks like I selected what the celebrant liked x

So sorry for the loss of your mum. 

I found choosing the music for my mum's funeral incredibly hard, I spent a lot of time online listening to artists she liked, reading the lyrics. In the end Dad picked two songs, an artist she loved (Peggy Lee), a classical piece and I choice Eva Cassidy, Fields of Gold - it was a song that I could picture her singing along to.

Don't really know much music from the musicals, to make suggestions but perhaps look at some compilation album lists and see if something jumps out at you. 

Although we didn't go with any of her suggestions, the celebrant did share a few 'popular' choices, perhaps when you have this meeting, when you're talking about your mum they may have suggestions too. 

I have to say it was one of the things I found hardest to do, so much so that at 30 I decided on the music for mine, as just couldn't imagine someone having to go through the same and deciding! 

Hope you find some music soon, and sleep too xx  

Very sorry for your loss. 

Selecting music for the funeral service can be very daunting if not difficult. 

At one time you were limited to the music that the organist was able to play if in fact he had the sheet music but now it is all different with so many 1,000's pieces of music on tap. 

Picking a piece of music that friends and relatives will know and be able to join in with is another consideration plus trying to pick  the music that will make friends and relatives think about and remember your mother after the service. 

Most pieces of music have been adapted to suit ball room dancing. 

I have pulled the following list up which includes "the old favourites"

Apart from 

The Lords my Shepherd -, Abide with me-, Jerusalem - Make me a Channel of your peace etc you could have any of the following 

"Amazing Grace" (Elvis Presley) 
"Amazing Grace" (Susan Boyle)
"Angel” (Sarah McLachalan) 
"Angels Among Us" (Alabama) 
"As Long As I Can See the Light" (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
"Ave Maria”, (Perry Como)
"Because You Loved Me" (Celine Dion) 
"Beyond the Sea" (Bobby Darin)
"Better Days" (Dianne Reeves) - A song for Grandma
"Blessed" (Elton John) 
"Borrowed Angels (Kristin Chenoweth) 
"Bright Eyes” (Art Garfunkel)
"Butterfly" (Mariah Carey)
"Bye, Bye (Mariah Carey)
"Candle in the Wind (Elton John)
"Change The World" (Eric Clapton)
"Circle Of Life" (Elton John, from The Lion King)
"Close to You" (The Carpenters)
"Con Te Partiro/”Time to Say Goodbye " (Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman)
"Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” (Elton John)
"Evergreen" (Barbra Streisand)
"Everything I Own" (Bread) 
"Father and Son" (Cat Stevens)
"Fields of Gold" (Eva Cassidy) -
"Fly” (Celine Dion) 
"Have I Told You Lately" (Rod Stewart or Van Morrison)
"Hallelujah" (Jeff Buckley)
"Hero" (Mariah Carey)
"Home" Daughtry
"How Far is Heaven" (Los Lonely Boys) 
"I Can See Clearly Now" (Johnny Nash)
"I'll Be Missing You" (P. Diddy, Faith Evans)
"I Will Always Love You" (Dolly Parton or Whitney Houston) 
"I Will Remember You" (Sarah McLachalan) 
"If" (Bread)
"If I Could Be Where You Are" (Enya)
"I'll Remember" (Madonna)
"I'll Remember You" (Atlantic Starr)
"Imagine" (John Lennon)
"In My Life" (The Beatles)
"Keep me in Your Heart for Awhile" (Warren Zevon) -
"Knocking on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan)
"Last Kiss" (Pearl Jam) -
"Lean on Me" (Bill Withers)
"Let There Be Peace on Earth" (Jill Jackson and Sy Miller)
"Life Is A Highway (Tom Cochrane)
"Longer" (Dan Fogelberg)
"Memories” (Elvis Presley) 
"Memory" (Barbra Streisand)
"My Way" (Frank Sinatra) 
"One Sweet Day" (Mariah Carey (featuring Boyz II Men)
"Only the Good Die Young (Billy Joel)

I hope this helps but the list is endless. 

Thoughts are with you at this sad time. 

Ian

 Hi Grable 

I hope you don't mind me messaging you...I'm in the breast cancer group...I lost my mum five years ago 

You'll know the right songs and be brave and pick the ones you know shed love 

Mum loved line dancing and was a teacher...she sang (very badly) but loved hymns as well 

We chose all things bright and beautiful and plough the fields and scatter in church

I also read out a poem "She is gone" I read it out and.wobbled on the last line but deep breath as I knew mum would be cross 

At the crem it was imagine going in  ( we are f om Liverpool ) but we played "cotton eye joe" as the curtains closed...the shocked look at first was priceless. But then realisation its mums favourite line dancing song so many afterwards said they could see mum dancing to it and wanted to dance out of the crem...she would have loved that 

She loved pink so lots wore pink...some black with pink...I wore a black dress with her pink scarf and so did all the family wear mums scarves ( she had lots ) 

I'm writing this as the poem always brings tears.....your mum was 86 its a celebration of her life....I miss mum everyday but laugh more about how naughty she could be....its so raw for you now....but time heals it really does 

My thoughts are with you and if I can.help.let me know 

Hugs and Rainbows 

Debs xxxx 

A Poem for Mother

By an Unknown Author

Mother, you were just a girl,
So many years ago.
You had your loves and had your dreams,
You watched us come and go.

You watched us make the same mistakes,
That you had made before,
But that just made you hold us tight,
And love us all the more.

We haven’t always thought about
The things that you have seen.
To us you’ve just been ‘Mother’,
No thought of who you’ve been.

But we remember now in love,
Your life from start to end,
And we’re just glad we knew you,
As Mother, and as Friend.

For my poem I chose one I found online called "I am my mother's daughter" Which I adapted slightly to suit us but it was pretty much perfect and so many people told me how beautiful it was. 

The poem above is also lovely x

Hero Mariah carey

In the arms of the angel (Sarah mclallan)

I went and bought a pre paid funeral when I was diagnosed and picked out the music 

My favourite is 

Don't cry for me (a song of comfort) from Libby Allen songs 

Margaret