I am sorry for your loss. Putting together the service for my Mother was very healing for me. I was also one of the last things I could do for her. We used It's a wonderful world by Louis Armstrong and My Sweet Lord by the Beatles in my Mother's service. It's a Wonderful World was playing along with the photo presentation.
I would say, whatever the parent liked. Did your parents have a "song" that was them? Back in the 50's and 60's this was very common - couples had favorites songs. Surely you've heard, "that's Our song."
It shouldn't matter if it is "appropriate" - pick something You like. Personally, with my DH, I would choose "You Are My Sunshine" - because he is.
I remember talking with a colleague a few years ago, and he half-jokingly said he liked "Another One Bite the Dust" (by the rock group Queen), and I mentioned I had occasionally thought of that. However, more seriously I had thought "Stairway to Heaven" (by Led Zeppelin) is nice--and it would be especially so if one hired Courtney Kania to play her harp (one can hear this on YouTube).
What a beautiful thought, 97yroldmom! That's what I'd like at my own funeral. I was going to add that non-secular music is increasingly popular. For either of my parents, I'd like to include We'll Meet Again (Vera Lynn) and Angels Among Us (Alabama).
My mother wanted On A Clear Day (from Camelot) and an old radio theme song from the 30s, Brighten the Corner Where You Are. Found it online and the funeral home pianist could play it and we had the words printed so we could read the message of the song. It has kind of become my own motto. Also, not long before she died in the nursing home the four grandchildren and my mom all sang Jesus Loves Me together in a child's way. At the service I had my co-worker do a moving a capella gospel version of the same song. It was very touching.
Like others have said, I based it some on what my mother liked plus what I thought might fit the mood....My mother died 2 years ago; our birthday was on the same day, March 31.....These are the songs I chose....The Long and Winding Road(Beatles), La Vie En Rise(James Galway, Ave Maria(Josh Groban), The Ash Grove(London Promenade Orch), Time to Say Goodbye(Sarah Brightman), Autumn Leaves(Roger Williams), Dust in the Wind(Kansas), ‘Tis the Last Rose of Summer(Winston Marsalis Orch), The Rose(Bette Midler), Song Bird(Bee Gees), Shenandoah(Sissel), Shepherd Moons(Enya)........I think I would have picked another version of Shenandoah if I had more time to get it together, but overall it worked for us and was quite moving. So sorry for your loss.
Choose music that comforts you. However, if the service is being held in a church, keep the music respectful for the setting it is in. Elvis or Frank Sinatra is not appropriate. As with most things, if in doubt......... don't.
When my 51-year-old sister passed away, she wanted Aerosmith's "Dream On" played at her memorial service. It was her favorite song and everyone else loved it too.
My Husband was a Cubs fan. At the Funeral home I had several songs going along with photos that were shown. The songs I had were.. Dying Cubs Fan Last Request. Love You Like I'm Gonna Loose You All Of Me Go Cubs Go There was no Church Service so I did not have to pick songs for that.
bottom line...play what they would have liked. Or play what you want to convey, a thought or memory. I Volunteer at the Hospice that was so wonderful to us and when a Patient dies in the inpatient unit they have a wonderful process. Once the funeral home arrives to take the person (body) they chime a bell, that is heard throughout the building. The family or patient has previously selected a song and the person (body), covered in a quilt is brought to the waiting vehicle while the song is played. I have heard all sorts of songs sad, funny, religious but they all have some meaning to the person or the family.
Very sorry for your loss. My mother died at 95 in September and we also had to decide on the music. We chose uplifting hymns from her denomination's hymnal: "I Sing a Song of the Saints of God"; "All Things Bright and Beautiful"; "Holy Father, Great Creator." These were all hymns that she enjoyed singing and playing on the piano. I hope you discover just the right music for the service you are planning. Many hugs.
My mom loved happy music - she loved a good polka. She was also very religious. I have a dear musician-friend who was raised in the spirited Pentecostal tradition try parents were mainline Protestant), so I asked him to play the piano for the service. He played our selections for her memorial service in very heartfelt ways - we used printed the words and everyone sang with a lot of gusto with the upbeat tunes and more reflectively for the one that was played during communion (her favorite, "Old Rugged Cross"). The upbeat ones were "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" and "Victory in Jesus". We also sang "Blest Be the Tie that Binds" (at my dad's request for her service). We didn't sing my favorite, though - "I'll Fly Away".
I googled 'funeral songs ' and a whole list of them came up. I'm planning my own funeral so that noone is left with this to do. I'm from a large country type family and I've done all the funeral services for all of them because noone else would take the time to do so. I'm 80 years old and I've been through (and still going through) many illnesses myself, so I thought it best to take care of as much as possible before I leave here. After that they're on their own. I try to teach them as much as I can, but I'm ill and getting tired. God bless you, my friend! 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Loved reading the suggestions here. I like the old spirituals and black gospel songs. I told my sister that I want a black choir at my funeral to sing "I'll take you there" which was made famous by the Staple Singers. It’s uplifting and also spiritual. We had my mom's favorite hymns sung at her funeral and now when I hear them at church they make me sad. So I kind of hate that...songs in the minor key are more sad and melancholy. I prefer uplifting songs at my funeral. How about ."swing low, sweet chariot". I also love Be Thou My Vision. My dad is still living and not a church going guy. So I don’t know that we will have music unless it’s a country western song. He loved Hank Williams.
In The Sweet By and By (we shall meet at the beautiful shore) It Is Well With My Soul precious Lord, Take My Hand Soon And Very Soon (we’re going to see the King...no more sorrow there..)
well you can try mumsford sons version google it amazing grace ..i like or my favorite is daughtry home google it to see ..i think it is a perfect fit .. youtube.com/watch?v=p2nr9oBRsRg i dont know if they will accept a link .. also if you what a good message from billy graham .. called last message from billy graham to america & the world -google that if this dont work you can use it you like listen a lot it to me makes a lot of sense youtube.com/watch?v=b4TMuee7Ir8 so that is what i came up with
Randy Travis has a collection called Hymns. It has so many of the old hymns. Peace in the Valley is great. I played it for my mother who had Alzheimer's when she was alive. She would sing along. Has I will Fly Away, Gather at the River- so many more and simply done.
My mum passed suddenly last month, only four weeks after she’d transferred from us to a care home. We had Pie Jesu on the entrance and What a Wonderful World on the exit. We also had Abide with me because she liked it. Sometimes when looking through stuff to find hints on what people want but if you don’t then think of the person and their era and how they viewed life. Hope this helps. So sorry for your loss. I totally understand where you are at. X
Not traditional but a great song is MercyMe's (band) song titled I Can Only Imagine -- the film is out in theaters now. It is a beautiful song with a great message imaging what it will be like being in God's presence in heaven.
The music from the film Ordinary People, Pachelbel Canon in D Major. Very beautiful, dignified, always makes me cry. Also, The Wind Beneath My Wings sung by Bette Midler
It shouldn't matter if it is "appropriate" - pick something You like. Personally, with my DH, I would choose "You Are My Sunshine" - because he is.
Huggers,
lidna
I was going to add that non-secular music is increasingly popular. For either of my parents, I'd like to include We'll Meet Again (Vera Lynn) and Angels Among Us (Alabama).
We played "My Immortal" by Evanescence at my father's funeral and it was beautiful.
At the Funeral home I had several songs going along with photos that were shown. The songs I had were..
Dying Cubs Fan Last Request.
Love You Like I'm Gonna Loose You
All Of Me
Go Cubs Go
There was no Church Service so I did not have to pick songs for that.
bottom line...play what they would have liked. Or play what you want to convey, a thought or memory. I Volunteer at the Hospice that was so wonderful to us and when a Patient dies in the inpatient unit they have a wonderful process. Once the funeral home arrives to take the person (body) they chime a bell, that is heard throughout the building. The family or patient has previously selected a song and the person (body), covered in a quilt is brought to the waiting vehicle while the song is played.
I have heard all sorts of songs sad, funny, religious but they all have some meaning to the person or the family.
Youtube it.
God bless you, my friend! 🙏🏻🙏🏻
It Is Well With My Soul
precious Lord, Take My Hand
Soon And Very Soon (we’re going to see the King...no more sorrow there..)
i dont know if they will accept a link .. also if you what a good message from billy graham .. called last message from billy graham to america & the world -google that if this dont work you can use it you like listen a lot it to me makes a lot of sense
youtube.com/watch?v=b4TMuee7Ir8 so that is what i came up with
We had Pie Jesu on the entrance and What a Wonderful World on the exit. We also had Abide with me because she liked it. Sometimes when looking through stuff to find hints on what people want but if you don’t then think of the person and their era and how they viewed life.
Hope this helps. So sorry for your loss. I totally understand where you are at. X
OR
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Also, The Wind Beneath My Wings
sung by Bette Midler