The 40 Best Funeral Songs for Grandma is part of our series on the best and most popular songs for funerals. Read the main article here. You will find a list of the top 100 funeral songs, music by genre, and much more.
The bond between a grandmother and her grandchildren is one that cannot be matched. Grandma has been there for you throughout your whole life… you can’t even remember a time when she wasn’t there.
And now that she’s gone, you are at a loss of words.
The loss of words and the pain you are feeling is completely normal. At this time, when the grief you are feeling over the loss of your grandma knows no words, why not let music speak?
Below you’ll find our carefully curated list of funeral songs for an older generation. Listen to these songs in honor of your grandmother, or use them as a starting point for creating the playlist for her funeral service.
It is our prayer that this unique list of musical tracks, which spans time and genres, will bring you a bit of comfort as you begin to process your loss.
Each of the songs listed below have been carefully selected for lyrics, melody, and appropriateness in order to make it into our 40 Best Funeral Songs for Grandma list.
As you go through our list of songs you will notice that there is a little bit of everything. From country music to pop to classic Christian hymns, these are the best of the best.
So no matter what kind of special lady your grandmother was, we think you will find something here worthy of honoring her memory.
Our website is supported by our users. We sometimes earn a commission when you click through the affiliate links on our website. See our privacy policy & disclosures for more information.
Urns Made in the USA
Beautiful Funeral Songs for Grandmas
Listed in alphabetical order by song title, here are our 18 favorite funeral songs for mother and grandmother. Keep reading for even more selections.
- All Love Can Be by Charlotte Church (2001)
- Ave Maria by Franz Schubert (1825)
- Goodbye by Avril Lavigne (2011)
- Grandma’s Hands by Bill Withers (1971)
- How Can I Help You Say Goodbye by Patty Loveless (1993)
- I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston (1992)
- I’ll See You Again by Westlife (2009)
- I’m Going to Miss You by Dolly Parton (2003)
- My Angel by Kellie Pickler (2006)
- My Love by Sia (2010)
- Smile by Nat King Cole (1954)
- Supermarket Flowers by Ed Sheeran (2017)
- Take My Hand, Precious Lord by Elvis Presley (1957)
- The Old Rugged Cross by Gaither Vocal Band (1993)
- The Prayer by Josh Groban and Charlotte Church (2001)
- Time to Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman (1995)
- To Where You Are by Josh Groban (2001)
- When We Were Young by Adele (2015)
Please see below for descriptions of each of the songs listed above, as well as video/audio clips and options for downloading.
1. All Love Can Be by Charlotte Church (2001)
Cloaked in a classical-style melody and performed by Welsh musician Charlotte Church, All Love Can Be may be the perfect choice for a grandma’s funeral.
This track depicts the lengths and depths love will go to in order to ensure the happiness and safety of someone who is cared for very much.
The song was originally featured in the 2001 Oscar-winning drama “A Beautiful Mind.”
2. Ave Maria by Franz Schubert (1825)
Arguably Austrian composer Franz Schubert’s most popular piece, Ave Maria continues to both comfort and move listeners to this day. The song was first featured as a poem in Schubert’s Opus 52 as “Ellen’s Third Song,” serving as a prayer to the Virgin Mary.
Ave Maria has been covered throughout the years by everyone from Luciano Pavarotti to Jewel. It has a marvelous spiritual resonance, and because it can be found within almost any genre of music it is certainly a good choice for your grandma’s funeral.
3. Goodbye by Avril Lavigne (2011)
A far cry from her usual punk rock songs, Avril Lavigne’s Goodbye (from her 2011 album Goodbye Lullaby) is a soft, memorable track with wholesome lyrics befitting of a funeral for a grandma or anyone with whom you shared a special relationship.
Goodbye may be one of the saddest songs to make our list of the top funeral songs for grandmothers, but it’s also one of the most comforting.
You’ll treasure the gentle reminder that you were loved very much by the person you are now missing the most.
4. Grandma’s Hands by Bill Withers (1971)
Grandma’s Hands comes to us from Bill Withers, the legendary soul and R&B singer who brought us such classics as Lean on Me and Ain’t No Sunshine.
From Withers’ 1971 debut album “Just As I Am,” Grandma’s Hands tells the story of someone recently bereaved over the loss of his grandmother.
In the song he reminisces about who his grandma was, all the ways she meant the world to him, and how he looks forward to seeing her again one day.
This is one of the all-time greatest songs about grandma passing away.
5. How Can I Help You Say Goodbye by Patty Loveless (1993)
Ever since its release in 1993, How Can I Help You Say Goodbye has proved a timeless choice for the funerals of mothers and grandmothers alike. Country singer Patty Loveless does a wonderful job with the lyrics, giving them justice through her soft and comforting croon.
Was your grandmother a caring, doting woman who would do anything she could to help you through a tough time? Then this song may be the perfect pick to be played at her funeral.
6. I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston (1992)
Another song written by Dolly Parton, I Will Always Love You was given a new vibrancy in 1992 thanks to Whitney Houston. The song was featured that year in the film “The Bodyguard,” and subsequently enjoyed a fourteen-week streak at the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
Whitney’s rendition of I Will Always Love You starts off softly and slowly, but builds in power while yet remaining true to the original lyrics and the reassurances they represent.
Pick this song if your grandmother was a vibrant lady herself and would have enjoyed such a moving ballad in her honor.
7. I’ll See You Again by Westlife (2009)
Dublin-based pop group Westlife released I’ll See You Again in 2009 to critical acclaim. From their ninth studio album “Where We Are,” I’ll See You Again made it to our list of funeral songs for grandma for its breathtaking ambiance as well as its reassuring lyrics.
Everything about this song is like a breath of fresh air for anyone who has been immersed in their grief for a while, and may therefore be a welcome addition on the funeral song playlist.
8. I’m Going to Miss You by Dolly Parton (2003)
Did your grandmother serve in the military? Was she a fan of country music? If so, consider Dolly Parton’s I’m Going to Miss You.
Released in 2003 as part of her patriotic album “For God and Country,” this song honors those who have served our country and who have now passed away, making it an appropriate choice to be played at grandma’s funeral if she was a veteran or served in any capacity.
9. My Angel by Kellie Pickler (2006)
American Idol alumni Kellie Picker stays true to her country roots in My Angel.
Describing her late grandmother as like a mother to her, Kellie does a wonderful job keeping things simple with this song, while also paying tribute to a woman who was not only a loving caregiver but also a close friend.
10. My Love by Sia (2010)
A graceful yet haunting song, My Love by Australian artist Sia is one of the most beautiful tracks to make it on our list.
Featured in the 2010 film “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” My Love describes a longing for someone who has left, memories of previous times spent together, and a final reconciliation of their lasting legacy.
11. Smile by Nat King Cole (1954)
Nat King Cole’s rendition of the classic tune Smile was originally composed as a melody in 1936 by none other than Silent Era legend Charlie Chaplin.
A wonderful, grin-inducing tune, Nat King Cole’s Smile may be just the song your grandmother would have wanted played at her funeral, especially if she was a woman of glad nature.
12. Supermarket Flowers by Ed Sheeran (2017)
This sweet track by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is one of the more contemporary songs to make our list of the best funeral songs for grandma.
Sheeran wrote Supermarket Flowers for his own grandmother (in the song he calls her “mum”) following her death, and played it at her funeral.
In the heartwarming lyrics Sheeran describes his grandma as an angel on earth who has now returned to heaven. It’s the perfect song for a grandma who truly was an angel.
13. Take My Hand, Precious Lord by Elvis Presley (1957)
Was your grandmother a big fan of gospel music? If so, there’s a good chance that she was also a big fan of Elvis Presley.
Elvis covered several gospel hymns throughout his career, including the iconic Take My Hand, Precious Lord. This is a classic Christian hymn with lyrics provided by the Reverend Thomas A. Dorsey.
The hymn comforts the grieving listener with the knowledge that, as Christians, Christ guides us hand-in-hand through our sorrows. Just as he has guided your loved one home, he is here with us now.
Elvis is just one of many legendary singers who have covered this funeral hymn. Other popular versions include:
14. The Old Rugged Cross by Gaither Vocal Band (1993)
The Old Rugged Cross is one of the most – if not the most – famous gospel hymns we are blessed to have. Penned in 1912 by George Bennard, this song was covered by Gaither Vocal Band in one of the most definitive versions of the hymn.
In their rendition of The Old Rugged Cross, the band provides the harmony and vigor the song deserves while keeping true to its original beauty and simplicity. This combination makes it a good choice for your grandma’s funeral playlist.
15. The Prayer by Josh Groban and Charlotte Church (2001)
This song would be an excellent choice for your grandmother’s service if she was a religious woman and also a woman of happy, quiet disposition.
The Prayer, sung here by Josh Groban and featuring Charlotte Church (or Celine Dion in an equally beautiful live version), is about trusting God to guide and protect you as you go through life.
16. Time to Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman (1995)
An absolutely beautiful song exuding a classical air, Time to Say Goodbye is sung, for the most part, in Italian.
Originally titled Con te Partirò, this cover by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman is worthy to be played at your grandma’s funeral, especially if she loved classical music or was of Italian heritage.
17. To Where You Are by Josh Groban (2001)
Here is another gorgeous and massively popular song by Josh Groban. To Where You Are is perfect to serve as a funeral song for anyone who you have loved and lost.
Groban wrote this song after the passing of his own grandmother. He released it as a ballad on his debut album in 2001 and it has been played at funerals ever since.
18. When We Were Young by Adele (2015)
British singer and songwriter Adele released When We Were Young in 2015. From her third studio album “25,” this song aches of old memories and times gone by.
The song has a vintage sound to it – like a dusty old record that still plays like it was new – and has the reminiscing lyrics to go with it.
Themes depicted in When We Were Young include memories, longing, aging, and wishing that time would stand still. Adele weaves these themes perfectly with her old-school style. A truly beautiful and fitting memorial song.
Related: Instrumental Songs for Funerals
Classic Funeral Songs for Grandma
Anglican clergyman John Newton penned the classic hymn Amazing Grace in 1779. He wrote it as a poem after his conversion to Christianity, following a trial at sea from which God saved him.
Amazing Grace has been sung and played for hundreds of years and is considered an appropriate funeral song for grandma or anyone who has passed whose faith was in Christ.
It’s an ideal song for congregational singing, however, if you want it played over a slideshow there are many wonderful versions available, including Alan Jackson’s timeless rendition above.
Some of the more popular renditions of Amazing Grace that are ideal for funerals include those by Aretha Franklin or Celtic Woman. The instrumental bagpipe version from Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band is always a good choice, as is the folk classic rendition by Judy Collins.
More classic funeral songs for a beloved grandmother:
- Grandma’s Feather Bed by John Denver (1974)
- I’ll Be Seeing You by Billie Holiday (1944)
- Mansion Over the Hilltop by Elvis Presley (1960)
- Moon River by Frank Sinatra (1961)
- On the Road Again by Willie Nelson (1980)
- Sentimental Journey by Doris Day (1944)
- Traumerei by Robert Schumann (1838)
- We’ll Meet Again by Vera Lynn (1939)
- Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler (1988)
Songs for Grandma’s Celebration of Life Service
Indie artist Lana Del Rey is known for adding a modern twist on the sounds of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, and she does just that in her song Old Money. This song may therefore be a perfect choice for grandma’s funeral if she came of age during the Golden Era of music.
While Old Money conjures up images of the “good ol’ days,” it also includes sentimental lyrics which illustrate gladly answering a loved one’s every beck and call… making this song especially appropriate for your nana’s funeral in the case that you were her caretaker.
Other contemporary songs ideal for funerals include:
- Blessed by Rachael Lampa (2000)
- Dancing in the Sky by Dani & Lizzy (2016)
- Go Rest High on That Mountain by Vince Gill (1994)
- I Will Remember You by Sarah McLachlan (1993)
- My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion (1997)
- Nan’s Song by Robbie Williams (2002)
We’ve actually curated a list of Modern Funeral Songs so that you can have even more options.
Songs for Grandma’s Memorial Service
Singer-songwriter Kieran Brennan blends the sounds of Irish folk music and classic country into a perfect melody in Heaven’s Garden, a track from his 2015 album “Country Streams.”
Slightly melancholy but with just the right amount of twang, this tune may be your best bet for the funeral if your grandmother was a country music lover and/or was of Irish heritage.
More memorial-themed songs:
- A River Like You by Vince Gill (2006)
- Candle in the Wind by Elton John (1973)
- Holes in the Floor of Heaven by Steve Wariner (1998)
- I Will Follow You into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie (2005)
- Love, Me by Collin Raye (1991)
We hope that you have enjoyed listening through our list of the 40 Best Funeral Songs for Grandma.
We pray that these songs bring you some comfort and hopefully a little bit of inspiration as you choose the best songs to play at your grandmother’s funeral service.
Are you interested in hearing more beautiful funeral songs? Then check out our master list of funeral songs here, in which we feature an extensive catalog of the best funeral songs ever recorded.
Sorted by genre, style, “feel”, and person, plus the ultimate list of 100 popular funeral songs, you’ll be sure to find the perfect song for your beloved grandmother.
