40 Funeral Songs for Grandma: Hymns, Classics and Songs She Would Have Loved

What is a good song for a grandma who passed away?

The best funeral songs for grandma are the ones that sound like her. If she sang hymns while she cooked, start with "Amazing Grace" or "In the Garden". If she danced in the kitchen, choose a classic from her youth, like "We'll Meet Again" or "Smile". If you want a song that is about grandmothers specifically, "Grandma's Hands" by Bill Withers and "Supermarket Flowers" by Ed Sheeran are the two families request most. Most services use three to five songs, so you can mix a hymn, a classic and something personal.

Songs written about grandmothers

1. "Grandma's Hands", Bill Withers: a soulful tribute to the strength and tenderness in her hands.
2. "Supermarket Flowers", Ed Sheeran: written after his grandmother's death, from his mother's point of view.
3. "marjorie", Taylor Swift: written for her grandmother, an opera singer, about the advice that stays with you.
4. "Holes in the Floor of Heaven", Steve Wariner: a country classic that begins with a grandmother's passing.
5. "Grandma's Feather Bed", John Denver: joyful memories of summers at grandma's house.
6. "Nan's Song", Robbie Williams: a grandson's goodbye to his grandmother.
7. "Grandma's Song", Gail Davies: a gentle portrait of the woman who raised a family.
8. "Remember Me", from Coco: the lullaby that a whole generation now links to their own grandmother.

Hymns for a grandmother's funeral

For many grandmothers, faith was the center of life. These are the hymns most often sung or played:

9. "Amazing Grace": the most requested funeral hymn of all.
10. "How Great Thou Art": grand and full of hope.
11. "It Is Well with My Soul": peace in the middle of loss.
12. "In the Garden": gentle and personal, a favorite of many grandmothers.
13. "I'll Fly Away": an uplifting gospel song for the end of a service.
14. "Abide with Me": a traditional evening hymn of comfort.
15. "Because He Lives": a gospel classic about facing tomorrow.
16. "Blessed Assurance": joyful and familiar to most congregations.
17. "The Old Rugged Cross": a traditional choice in country churches.

Classics from her era

The music she loved at twenty often says more about her than any hymn. For a grandmother born in the 1930s or 1940s, these songs were the soundtrack of her youth:

18. "We'll Meet Again", Vera Lynn: a wartime promise that has comforted families for generations.
19. "Smile", Nat King Cole: gentle encouragement to keep going.
20. "Unforgettable", Nat King Cole: simple and true.
21. "What a Wonderful World", Louis Armstrong: gratitude for a life well lived.
22. "You Are My Sunshine": the song she may have sung to you when you were little.
23. "Moon River", Andy Williams: dreamy and nostalgic.
24. "Over the Rainbow", Judy Garland: a song about a better place.
25. "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)", Doris Day: for a grandmother who took life as it came.

Country funeral songs for grandma

26. "Go Rest High on That Mountain", Vince Gill: the most-played country funeral song.
27. "I Will Always Love You", Dolly Parton: often played as the last song of the service.
28. "Coat of Many Colors", Dolly Parton: about a mother's love stitched into every piece of clothing.
29. "Take Me Home, Country Roads", John Denver: for a grandmother who always talked about home.
30. "When I Get Where I'm Going", Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton: a peaceful picture of what comes next.
31. "Temporary Home", Carrie Underwood: about life as a journey with a destination.
32. "The Dance", Garth Brooks: about being glad for every moment, even knowing how it ends.

Songs from a granddaughter or grandson

33. "In My Life", The Beatles: a short, tender look back at the people who shaped you.
34. "Angel", Sarah McLachlan: quiet comfort, often chosen by grandchildren.
35. "Slipped Away", Avril Lavigne: written about her grandfather, for a grandchild who did not get to say goodbye.
36. "Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World", Israel Kamakawiwo'ole: a ukulele medley that feels like a hug.

Uplifting songs for a celebration of life

Many families now hold a celebration of life rather than a traditional funeral, especially for a grandmother who lived a long, full life. These songs keep the mood warm:

37. "Well Done", The Afters: about hearing "well done" at the end of a faithful life.
38. "I Can Only Imagine", MercyMe: wonder rather than sadness.
39. "Dancing in the Sky", Dani and Lizzy: imagining her happy and free.
40. "Here Comes the Sun", The Beatles: a bright ending for the recessional.

Where do the songs go in the service?

• Prelude: soft instrumental or hymn music while guests arrive.
• Processional: a hymn or classic as the family enters.
• Reflection: the most personal song, after the eulogy or during a moment of silence.
• Slideshow: one or two songs while photos of her life play.
• Recessional: something hopeful as everyone leaves, like "I'll Fly Away" or "Here Comes the Sun".

If the service is in a church, ask the pastor or priest which secular songs are allowed. Funeral homes can usually play any recording you bring, but send the files ahead of time.

How do you choose the right songs?

• Start with what she loved. Ask the family which songs she hummed, sang in church or played on the radio.
• Think about her faith. A hymn may matter more to her generation than any pop song.
• Read the lyrics. Some popular "goodbye" songs are really about breakups.
• Balance the mood. One song to cry, one to remember, one to smile is a good rule.
• Ask the grandchildren. They often know exactly which song reminds them of her.
• Check her own wishes. Some grandmothers left notes, a Bible with marked hymns or a favorite record: look before you decide.

Songs everyone can sing together

A song the whole room can sing turns grief into something shared. For a grandmother's service, the best congregational choices are "Amazing Grace", "How Great Thou Art" and "I'll Fly Away". If there are young great-grandchildren, "You Are My Sunshine" is simple enough for them to join in, and it often becomes the moment people remember most. Print the words in the program so no one has to rely on memory.

Readings to pair with the music

Many families alternate songs with short readings. Popular choices for a grandmother include the poem "Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep" by Mary Elizabeth Frye, "She Is Gone" by David Harkins, Psalm 23 and the passage on love from 1 Corinthians 13. A grandchild reading a short memory of their own, followed by her favorite song, can be the most touching part of the service.

Music for a memorial slideshow

At four to six seconds per photo, a four-minute song carries 40 to 60 pictures. Two songs are usually enough for a slideshow: one from her youth for the early photos, and one gentler song for the later years with the grandchildren. Save your favorite photo for the last chorus. If you plan to post the video online, be aware that platforms often mute famous songs for copyright reasons.

A song written about her

Every song on this list was written about someone else's grandmother. A personalized tribute song is about yours: her name, the kitchen that always smelled of something baking, the card games, the garden, the way she called everyone "honey", the advice she gave you that you still use. Families play it during the service, at the reception afterward or on her birthday each year. It is ready within minutes, which matters when a funeral is only days away. Our guide to a memorial song for grandma explains how families approach it gently.

How to create a memorial song for your grandmother

1. Choose a gentle style from 14 genres: country, gospel-inspired, acoustic, folk or classic ballad.
2. Add her name, or what the grandchildren called her (Nana, Grandma Rose, Mimi), and up to two more names.
3. Share two or three memories with one concrete detail each.
4. Review the lyrics, edit or regenerate them for free, and add pronunciation hints for any unusual names.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose the one that feels like her.

The full song lasts 3 to 4 minutes and costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You receive the MP3 for the funeral home, a page to share with the family and the lyrics as a PDF for the program.

What to include in the lyrics

• the house, the porch or the kitchen everyone remembers;
• a recipe, a saying or a habit that was only hers;
• how she met your grandfather, if the family knows the story;
• what she taught her children and grandchildren;
• a goodbye that fits her faith or her spirit.
• the names of her great-grandchildren, so the youngest ones hear that they were part of her story too.

For other family members, see our lists of songs for a memorial service and songs about losing your mom, or the guide to a memorial song for grandpa.

If you would like a song that tells her story: create a tribute song for your grandmother and hear the previews for free.