A look at the best funeral songs and hymns

Best and most popular songs for a funeral memorial or cremation

Choosing the Right Music sinafor A Funeral Can Seem Overwhelming in The Midst of Dealing with Grief so we have created some resources for you:

 
  • Tips for picking music for a funeral service

  • Top Tips for Selecting Funeral Songs

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  • Choosing Songs for A Mom or Dad

  • Choosing Songs for A Son or Daughter

  • Best Funeral Songs for A Wife

  • Best Funeral Songs for A Husband

  • Best Songs for Funerals for A Sister or A Brother

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  • The 50 Best Country Funeral Songs

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  • Managing Music Subscriptions after a death

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    Tips for picking music for a funeral service

    A memorial service is your change to allow people to celebrate life and memories and to have some space to grieve and achieve closure. Since these are different approaches to saying goodbye, the person planning the service needs to consider how the overall tone will be set at this event prior to selecting a playlist.

    There was a point in time in which choosing funeral songs meant reviewing a list provided directly by a funeral director and choosing only from a limited number of standard choices. Where possible, these would be arranged for an organ, sometimes even vocals and these songs were most often hymns.

    But times have changed and families are looking for something new when it comes to developing a funeral playlist to honor their loved one. Many different instruments can be used from violin to flute to guitar and sometimes soloists might even be able to perform along with an existing track.

    Top Tips for Selecting Funeral Songs

    The first stage in the process of choosing funeral songs is to think about the person being memorialized. Did this person have a favorite type of music that they often listened to or favorite songs that jump to mind. The funeral music that you select doesn’t have to be something that might fall under the traditional umbrella of funeral music.

    Today plenty of family and friends are choosing something that has a personal connection or meaning to the individual being remembered instead selecting from a list of standard choices.

    Decide what type of tone should be set over the course of funeral service. List all of the songs that you are considering with that in mind and then make edits. If you are trying to set a more reflective mood, then the music should be in line with that. Consulting other people who knew the person well, including family members, might lead you to suggestions that you wouldn’t otherwise have thought off. A good place to start with is looking at the person's own music library.

    If you have access to their music collection, you can get an idea about the kind of songs they listen to most often or the type of music that was most meaningful. Make sure that you review the words all the way through the songs. Sometimes the lyrics can be surprising if you look at them word for word.

    Best funeral songs for a son or daughter

    Choosing Songs for a Mother or Father

    Standout album for songs for a mother's funeral is Songs for my Mother by Irish artist, Ronan Keating, but here a some other top choices:

     

    Ill Divo Mama Lyrics Play Song Download Song View Album Browse Artist
    Celine Dion Goodbye's the Saddest Word Lyrics Play Song Download Song View Album Browse Artist
    Mercy Me Homesick Lyrics Play Song Download Song View Album Browse Artist
    Donna Taggart Jealous of the Angels Lyrics Play Song Download Song View Album Browse Artist
    Van Morrison Days Like This Lyrics Play Song Download Song View Album Browse Artist
    Ronan Keating This is Your Song Lyrics Play Song Download Song View Album Browse Artist
    Lady Gaga Joanne Lyrics Play Song Download Song View Album Browse Artist
    Kate Rusby Who Will Sing Me Lullabies? Lyrics Play Song Download Song View Album Browse Artist
    Michael Bolton Fathers and Daughters (Never Say Goodbye) Lyrics Play Song Download Song View Album Browse Artist
    Jon Barker Thank You for Being My Dad Lyrics Play Song Download Song View Album Browse Artist
    Mike and the Mechanics In the Living Years Lyrics Play Song Download Song View Album Browse Artist
    Brad Paisley When I Get to Where I'm Going Lyrics Play Song Download Song View Album Browse Artist
    Luther Vandross Dance With My Father Lyrics Play Song Download Song View Album Browse Artist
    Keith Urban A Song for Dad Lyrics Play Song Download Song View Album Browse Artist
    Louis Armstrong What a Wonderful World Lyrics Play Song Download Song View Album Browse Artist

     

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    Choosing Songs for A Son or Daughter

    If you have lost a younger child, one avenue to pursue a song selection is picking a simple child song. If the child or baby, son or daughter preferred a particular piece, consider that this could make a very touching addition to funeral songs. Some ideas could include:

    This Little Light of Mine Listener Kids Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    Amazing Grace Celtic Woman Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    Blessed Assurance Alan Jackson Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    How great thou art Carrie Underwood Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    Borrowed Angels Kristen Chenoweth Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    You raise me up Josh Groban Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    Tears in Heaven Eric Clapton Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    Where the river meets the sea John Denver Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    Goodnight my Angel Billy Joel Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    If I Die Young The Band Perry Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    Beautiful Boy John Lennon Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist

     

    Best Funeral songs for a death of a wife

    Best Funeral Songs for A Wife

    Of course, a husband choosing funeral songs for his wife will likely have some sentimental or significant decisions to make. Some of the most meaningful contemporary songs for funerals for a wife include:

    We'll meet again Vera Lynn Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    Angels Robbie Williams Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album

    Browse Artist

    Time to say Goodbye Sara Brightman and Andrea Bocelli Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album

    Browse Artist

    Wonderwall Oasis Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album

    Browse Artist

    Heaven was needing a hero Jo Dee Messina Lyrics Play song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    I wont let go Rascal Flatts Lyrics Play song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    Somewhere over the rainbow Judy Garland Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album

    Browse Artist

     

    Best and most popular funeral song for a husband

    Best Funeral Songs for A Husband

    A wife selecting a funeral playlist for her husband might choose some of these meaningful and touching songs:

    Hallelujah Jeff Buckley Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    Feels Like Home Chantal Kreviazuk Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    Asleep The Smiths Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    The Blower's Daughter Damien Rice Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    Live like you were dying Tim McGraw Lyrics Play song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    He didn't have to be Brad Paisley Lyrics Play song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    I'm already there Lonestar Lyrics Play song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    I'll be seeing you Billie Holiday Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    Follow the sun Xavier Rudd Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    Spirit in the Sky Norman Greenbaum  Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist

     

    Best song to play at funeral for brother or sister

    Best Songs for Funerals for A Sister or A Brother

    It can be devastating to lose a sister or a brother and creating the right funeral playlist requires consideration of your individual relationship with this person.

    Some examples of appropriate songs for a sister or a brother include:

     

    No matter how you choose a funeral song playlist, it should be informed by the overall tone of the service and who will be in attendance.

     

    Wind beneath my wings Bette Midler Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    Somewhere over the rainbow Israel Kamakawiwoʻole Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    My way Frank Sinatra Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    What a wonderful world Louis Armstrong Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    Unchained Melody The Righteous Brothers Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    If something should happen Darryl Worley Lyrics Play song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    If I don't make it back Tracy Lawrence Lyrics Play song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    Lead me home Jamie Johnson Lyrics Play song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    You raise me up Josh Groban Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    One sweet day Mariah Carey Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist
    Tears in Heaven Eric Clapton Lyrics Play Song Download song View Album Browse Artist

     

    Managing Music Subscriptions after a death

    Did you loved one have a membership to a music streaming site like Spotify or downloads on iTunes? These are a great place to review the kind of music that meant the most to your family member or friend.

    Once you have reviewed these accounts, keep note of the different streaming memberships and other subscriptions that should be closed out after a loved one passed away. Closing these digital accounts is an important step in protecting the finances of the estate from ongoing charges and could also prevent identity theft.

    Our service can help you close out music subscriptions and other memberships so that you can have peace of mind. Contact us today to learn more.