Any ideas of funeral songs for an elderly parent's service?

I would suggest a song by the grateful dead." What a long strange trip its been". I think thats the name. Thats how i feel.

This is a very personal question, but I love "The Lord's Prayer" "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" "How Great Thou Art" and at my mother inlay's funeral we fondly remembered her college days with "The Eyes of Texas" as she was the first women cheerleader of University of Texas Austin. So special.

This is a personal one, but I love The Lord's Prayer, Just a Closer Walk with Thee, and at my mother inlaws funeral we had the Eyes of Texas (she was the first woman cheerleader at the University of Texas). I was so special.

If the person has attended a certain church all their lives, I would ask someone who also attends that is their age. If they didn't . then a series of songs that bring you comfort would be correct.

It has been so many years ago, but I just remembered my aunt suggesting my father's favorite be played at his funeral.....The Old Rugged Cross.

We played "What a Wonderful World" for my husband's grandmother's funeral. It was a lovely tribute to a very special person. She was past 100 when she past.

Swing Low Sweet Chariot is a lovely song.

So many good ideas here. For us it was "You are my Sunshine." Edit - I should explain we all used to sing it in the car when we were little when our Dad was driving and he sang too.  It was the only song he actually knew the words to. So when he died, that's what we sang. And also when he was in his last months, sometimes we would sing it as he went to sleep. 

the 2nd one was "Never Been This Homesick Before"

thought might have some answers today having go to the funeral but he was big Southern Gospel fan, so they actually had a, I think, local group sing a couple of their songs - the first one was "Not in a Million Years"

Depends on how close you were to them. Religious, moving, funny.  I'd vote for funny.

Not everyone has had adorable, lovable, kind much-missed 'loved ones'....'I'll Be Glad When You're Dead, You Rascal You'.....'Highway to Hell'....'So Long, Been Good to Know You'.....'I'm Free'........sorry for those who honestly mourn. Those who have been used, screeewed, and abused for decades: you might appreciate some truthiness here.

Mla, "I Can Only Imagine" is a beautiful song, best sung by a woman, I think, and it's about heaven.

I'm not sure I've heard the whole song; wonder if it was sung at the funeral of this elderly lady this week - she was my hub's coworker's mil but he didn't go to the funeral, just the visitation the night before, where he met the man who'd been asked and had agreed to sing it; think I'll try to ask him if he can find out

Tent Revival
as seen on youtube:
1 I’m just a weary pilgrim,
Plodding thru this world of sin;
Getting ready for that city
When the saints go marching in.
Refrain:
When the saints go marching in,
When the saints go marching in;
Lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in.
2 My father loved the Savior,
What a soldier he had been!
But his steps will be more steady
When the saints go marching in. [Refrain]
3 And mother, may God bless her,
I can see her now, as then;
With a robe of white around her
When the saints go marching in. [Refrain]
4 Up there I'll see the Savior
Who redeemed my soul from sin,
With extended hands He'll greet me
When the saints go marching in. [Refrain]

Source: Singing Revival #23

I went to a funeral of an elderly friend who had been divorced from his wife for 20-30 years and never remarried...as the service was ending and people were walking past the casket looking at him one last time..the song “He Stopped Loving Her Today” by George Jones started playing...made me cry thinking that man must’ve lived his life still longing for the love of his life 😞

When my stepfather passed away, I had to come up with something that was not particularly “religious” since he wasn’t.

George Winston has some wonderful piano instrumentals and I downloaded one to a CD to give to the funeral home for the service.

They raved about it and said they played it several times during the day.

The name of the song is Color Dance

seniorhelp04

No one can sing How Great Thou Art the way the late great Dixie Carter could.

I'm so sorry for your loss

Danny Boy

1. "We Remember You" Words and Music by Walt Harrah, Arranged by Lloyd Larson
2. "How Great Thou Art" ~ Lyrics ~ Carl Boberg, 1859 - 1940
~ English Translation ~ Stuart K. Hine, 1899 - 1989

Kinkytail
Your song lyrics for your dad reminded me of a cowboy song I always thought would have been perfect for my dad.

“ When the Sun Sets on the Sage”. By Commander Cody

When the sun sets on the sage I'll say how do you do
That's when cowboys go to sleep, oh dee, oh ee ley ee who
And my pony will be waiting in the dust for me
Say adiós when the sun sets on the sage

Fare thee well, Oh fare thee well I'll say goodbye to you
Supper's waiting on the table, oh dee, oh ee ley ee who
And the cattle, they are roaming, going home to rest
Say adiós when the sun sets on the sage

The sky is all aglow, the shadows are falling
Now it's high time to go, hear those gentle voices calling

No more weeping, no more tears, I want a smile from you
We'll be parted for a while, oh dee, oh ee ley ee who
But our hearts will still remember that our love was true
Say adiós when the sun sets on the sage

My dad, who loved the sea, died in 2007 at age 87. I had known for years that the song I would play at his memorial would be Shiver Me Timbers by Tom Waits. Here are the lyrics:

I'm leavin' my family
And leavin' my friends
My body's at home
But my heart's in the wind
Where the clouds are like headlines
On a new front page sky
My tears are salt water
And the moon's full and high
And I know Martin Eden's
Gonna be proud of me
And many before me
Who've been called by the sea
To be up in the crow's nest
And singin' my say
Shiver me Timbers
I'm a-sailin' away
The fog's liftin'
And the sand's shiftin'
And I'm driftin' on out
And Ol' Captain Ahab
Ain't got nothin' on me
So come on and swallow me, don't follow me
I travel alone
Blue water's my daughter
And I'm gonna skip like a stone
And please call my missus
Tell her not to cry
My goodbye is written
By the moon in the sky

And nobody knows me
I can't fathom my stayin'
And shiver me timbers
I'm a-sailin' away
And the fog's liftin'
And the sand's shiftin'
And I'm driftin' on out
Ol' Captain Ahab
He ain't got nothin' on me
So come on and swallow me, don't follow me
I travel alone
Blue water's my daughter
And I'm skippin' like a stone

And I'm leavin' my family
And I'm leavin' my friends
My body's at home
But my heart's in the wind
Where the clouds are like headlines
On a new front page sky
And shiver me timbers
I'm a-sailin' away

If I could edit I would - or maybe not since I wrote such a book before but I remembered my granma's song we wanted for my dad - O What a Beautiful Day for the Lord to come again (not O What a Blessed Day) seems kinda sad, can't remember if had found the lyrics or just didn't really look at it close, too busy trying to find the music, so not really sure but it would have been special

If you are looking for a Country and Western song, listen to “Can the circle be unbroken”. It is one of the most famous Carter family songs, written for their mother’s funeral. Johnny Cash (Carter relative by marriage) does a more modern version.

Agree with all how have said...WHATEVER they enjoyed.
There aren't any set rules stating that a funeral has to be somber; just look at how funerals are traditionally done in New Orleans.

As for me, I want a snarky comedian give my eulogy. Reason: look at the 1st 3 letters in FUNERAL...FUN!

Dvorak's New World Symphony (Goin' Home), Irving Berlin's Always, Ave Maria.

Lassie--I hadn't heard "Operator" for over 35 years. I never knew who did this song, but after reading your comment I went to YouTube and listened to several versions of it. Thanks for mentioning this song!

Twilight by Mary Chapin Carpenter. Here I am Lord hymn.

My dad wants the roy Orbison song 'pretty woman' played as loud as possible as he is being laid to rest...My mom passed a few years ago and he is expecting her to come get him when the time is here for him to join her. I'm bringing the loudest sound system I can! You gotta love it! Blessings to all, Lindaz.

'In My Life' by the Beatles is lovely, but still sad...how about 'Spirit in the Sky' - everyone has to clap their hands along with the music, and sing! 'Operator' by Manhattan Transfer is another great one: 'operator? long distance...get me Jesus on the line' - another uplifting gospel type thing!