Music for the funeral

Unknown said:

Mum died on Saturday at 5.00am.  I'm now supposed to be trying to get a handle on her finances, but we're going to see the funeral director tomorrow.  I'm aware that we don't need to finalise arrangements then, but I can't stop fixating on the funeral.  I just want to get the music right!

So far, because of what's been happening to her over the last couple of years, I've come up with 'Fight the Good Fight' (Duke Street tune), but what else?  She was 86, loved musical and was an avid ballroom and sequence dancer.  Any ideas anybody?  I know it's a minor thing, but I'm not sleeping or getting on with my jobs for thinking about this!

Unknown said:

Mum died on Saturday at 5.00am.  I'm now supposed to be trying to get a handle on her finances, but we're going to see the funeral director tomorrow.  I'm aware that we don't need to finalise arrangements then, but I can't stop fixating on the funeral.  I just want to get the music right!

So far, because of what's been happening to her over the last couple of years, I've come up with 'Fight the Good Fight' (Duke Street tune), but what else?  She was 86, loved musical and was an avid ballroom and sequence dancer.  Any ideas anybody?  I know it's a minor thing, but I'm not sleeping or getting on with my jobs for thinking about this!

Sorry to here the sad news I've picked Time to say goodbye by Andrea Bocelle and Sarah Brightman lovely song for my funeral when it happens xx

I think the music was the hardest part. We new we wanted it to be a celebration, an our mum loved musicals so we had a song from hair spray "I can't feel the beat" mums favourite musical, and my dad chose a song that the used to dance to, " let's twist again" so mum came into let's twist an went out to hair spray! 

The hymns again were hard but we chose uplifting songs! 

The ironic thing days after the funeral we found a scrap of paper which mum had written down music an hymns and the nice thing about it was we had chosen what she had written down. 

It wasn't typical funeral songs, but they were uplifting and everyone commented on what we had chosen saying mum would of liked that, an that we had done her proud! 

We gave all our stuff to the undertakers so they sorted the music and sound system, and then gave the hymns to vicar! 

Like someone else has said u no when it's the right song because it will bring tears to your eyes, as memories come flooding back. 

Don't worry because you will do what's right

We played a lot of 50s rock and roll songs when my dad died as they were his favourites. Then the last song was Time to say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman as he loved Andrea Bocelli too. Then when my brother died a few years later, we played Time to say Goodbye again, as well as quite a few Bruce Springsteen songs as he was always bouncing round the house singing along with Bruce. 

You will know what's right to celebrate your mum's life, so don't stress too much.

Giving you a big hug.

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you all on this - but thank you for your help and advice. 

We ended up with the hymns 'Fight the good fight' (Duke Street tune), because it's what Mum has always done and is rousing.  'Morning has broken' was the other one - one that is eminently singable and reminded me of Mum's garden with all the birds in it.  We were told we could have anything from www.wesleymedia.co.uk, .  Mum's favourite musical was 'Joseph', but the sung version of that which was available, the version by Jason Donovan, was a bit slow and laborious, so we went with the musical one.  The oboe solo was just gorgeous as we were filing in.  The coup de grace, though - and thank you, in particular, to Rainbow (I think it was you) for putting this into my mind - was Fred Astaire 'Cheek to Cheek'.  Again, we had some strange looks at first, but everybody was able to leave with a spring in their step and a smile on their face.

I wrote the eulogy, which a cousin read out superbly, and we had 'She is Gone' as the poem. 

All in all, it was a good send-off for Mum.  The fact that 75 people turned out for the funeral of an quiet 86-year-old who had, basically, taken her leave from their lives a year or more ago (because of dementia) speaks volumes for the sort of person she was and shows how one life can touch so many. 

That's one hurdle passed.  What's next?!!!

That sounds lovely  Well done you for organising it. 

Next? Take it one day at a time and let life gently normalise. You'll never stop being sad for your mum but hopefully the good memories will outweigh the sad ones.

Wishing you the very best

So sorry for your loss. Listening to music has helped me grieve for my Dad. There are many ideas here:

http://funeralpotatoes.com/resources/music/funeral-music/

My mum who sadly passed away in May had Told us she wanted the same hymns as we had at my sisters funeral sadly only 1.5 years previously.  We went with that but I also wanted Jealous of the angels (Donna taggart) as the words were just perfect. Thankfully I was able to get it included. 

Sorry for the loss of your mum 

Top Funeral Song here some others The top ten

1. We’ll Meet Again – Vera Lynn

2. My Way – Frank Sinatra

3. Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler

4. Time To Say Goodbye – Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman

5. Unforgettable – Nat King Cole

6. Angels – Robbie Williams

7. Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel

8. Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Eva Cassidy

9. You’l l Never Walk Alone – Gerry & The Pacemakers

10 Smile – Nat King Cole