21 Beautiful funeral poems for Grandma

Funeral Planning
funeral poems for grandma

It’s always hard when a loved one passes away, but that's especially true when it’s your grandmother. 

One of the most difficult things to do is to choose the right words to say at her funeral. Reading a poem can be the perfect way to express the words we want to say, but have difficulty articulating. 

If you have been tasked with saying a few words or reading a poem at Grandma’s funeral, we’re here to make your job a little easier, with 21 beautiful poems for Grandma. We hope that these poems will help you find comfort during a difficult time, while the right one provides the perfect words to express your feelings and memories about your grandmother.

1. Grandma

- Unknown Author

You fed me well, you made me strong.

You taught me to know right from wrong.

You made me feel that I belong.

You showed me the value of a song.

You gave me life, you gave me love.

You always knew the way I felt.

You used the words you thought might heal.

You convinced me it was no big deal.

Your advice would keep it real.

You gave me life, you gave me love.

Broken hearts you liked to mend.

It was not in your nature to offend.

Birthday cards you’d always send.

You knew the value of family and friends.

You give me life, you give me love.

You left me now, you’ve gone away.

I’m left behind, I have to stay.

So I’ll just have to pray.

I’ll meet you again another day.

You always had that ‘special touch’.

I loved you so very, very much.

You gave me life, you gave me love.

Please watch over me from above.

2. Memories in The Heart

- Unknown Author

This moving verse has a comforting message and is a good funeral poem for Nan. The words remind us how talking and remembering can keep someone alive in our hearts, long after they are gone.

Feel no guilt in laughter, she knows how much you care

Feel no sorrow in a smile that she’s not here to share.

You cannot grieve forever, she would not want you to.

She’d hoped you could carry on, the way you always do.

So talk about the good times and the way you showed you cared

The days you spent together, all the happiness you shared.

Let memories surround you,

A word someone may say

Will suddenly recapture a time, an hour, a day

That brings her back as clearly as though she was here

And fills you with the feelings that she is always near

For if you keep these moments, you will never be apart

And she will live forever, locked safely within your heart.

3. Remember Me

by Christina Rossetti

Remember me when I am gone away,

Gone far away into the silent land;

When you can no more hold me by the hand,

Nor I half turn to go, yet turn to stay.

Remember me when no more day by day

You tell me of the future that you planned;

Only remember me; you understand

It will be late to counsel them or pray.

Yet if you should forget me for a while

And afterward, remember, do not grieve:

For if the darkness and corruption leave

A vestige of the thoughts that I once had,

Better by far that you should forget

And smile than that you should

Remember and be sad.

4. Nanny

- Laura White

Such wonderful memories of Nanny

The Nanny we all used to know

We kept you too long and there waiting

The angels have said you can go

Bright golden gates that are shining

Full of family to bid you hello

So blow us a kiss as you’re leaving

Our sadness we’ll try not to show

Such wonderful memories of Nanny

We all have our favorites you see

As you enter those gates you’ll be thinking

They’re all there thinking of me!

5. When I Must Leave You

- Helen Steiner Rice

When I must leave you

For a little while

Please do not grieve

And shed wild tears

These lines are the work of Helen Steiner Rice, a well-known writer of religious and inspirational poems. With its comforting words that tell us to dry our tears and live a good life, it sends a heartwarming message of hope for a grandmother’s funeral.

With a grandma’s good sense, it reminds us to fill our waking hours in useful ways and brings comfort with final words of faith and wisdom. The final lines are reassuring:

Never, never

Be afraid to die

For I am waiting for you in the sky!

6. Warning

- Jenny Joseph

This delightful poem is a perfect funeral poem for a grandma who had a lot of fun. It is written from the point of view of a woman who wants to make up for the "sobriety" of her youth in mischievous older age.

The words describe growing old in a wonderfully outrageous style.

Here’s how it begins.

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple

With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

And satin sandals and say we’ve no money for butter.

7. Legacy of Love

- Unknown Author

This is an uplifting poem for a celebration of a remarkable woman’s life. The words remind us that our nans can be strong as well as kind and loving.

This funeral poem for a grandmother also comforts us with the thought that our love for her will always live in our hearts.

A wife, a mother, a grandma too,

This is the legacy we have from you

You taught us love and how to fight

You gave us strength, you gave us might.

A stronger person would be hard to find,

And in your heart you were always kind.

You fought for us all in one way or another

Not just as a wife, not just as a mother.

For all of us you gave your best

And now the time has come for you to rest.

So go in peace, you’ve earned your sleep,

Your love in our hearts we’ll eternally keep.

8. She’s in the Sun, the Wind, the Rain

- Christy Ann Martine

She’s in the sun, the wind, the rain,

she’s in the air you breathe

with every breath you take.

She sings a song of hope and cheer,

there’s no more pain, no more fear.

You’ll see her in the clouds above,

hear her whisper words of love,

you’ll be together before long,

until then, listen to her song.

9. Richer Than Gold

- Strickland Gillilan

You may have tangible wealth untold;

Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.

Richer than I you can never be –

I had a Grandmother who read to me.

10. Grandmother

- Unknown Author

God looked around his garden

and found an empty space.

Then he looked down upon this earth

And saw your tired face.

He put his arms around you

And lifted you to rest.

God’s garden must be beautiful

He only takes the best.

11. Her Smile

- Unknown Author

Though her smile is gone forever

and her hand I cannot touch

I still have so many memories

Of the one I loved so much.

Her memory is now my keepsake

Which I'll never part with.

God has her in her keeping

I have her in my heart.

Sadly missed, but never forgotten.

12. Memories in the Heart

- Unknown Author

Feel no guilt in laughter, she knows how much you care.

Feel no sorrow in a smile that she’s not here to share.

You cannot grieve forever, she would not want you to.

She’d hope that you can carry on, the way you always do.

So talk about the good times and the ways you showed you cared.

The days you spent together, all the happiness you shared.

Let memories surround you.

13. A Tear for Nana

- J. Allen Shaw

Grandmother, when I think about you being gone,

My heart is saddened, and I don’t know how I’ll go on.

You always had time to listen to my complaints,

I’ve said so many times, “That woman’s a saint.”

You taught me more about life than anyone at all.

And were always available, anytime I would call.

I shed a tear because my “Nana’s” was gone.

Now somehow I’ll find the strength to go on.

14. A Grandmother's Love Never Fades

- Amelia Vandergast

The smell of your perfume 

your favorite song on the radio 

it all brings me back to you. 

When my eyes were brand-new 

you were keen to show me the world 

the sights I would see were more than just images in the periphery 

They are rooted in my mind as my fondest memory. 

I recall them when the world seems too much 

or just when I miss your touch 

your soft embraces 

Your love left traces of you inside me. 

I wish I could have known you for longer 

I wish I could have known you when you were younger 

every second with you made me stronger. 

Your love is unforgettable 

it still grows each day 

you live inside of me

even if you’re not around 

to take pride in me.

15. A Wonderful Grandmother

- Unknown Author

We had a wonderful grandmother

One who never really grew old

Her smile was made of sunshine

And her heart was solid gold

Her eyes were bright as shining stars

And in her cheeks fair roses you see.

We had a wonderful grandmother,

And that’s the way it will always be.

But take heed, because

She’s still keeping an eye on all of us,

So let’s make sure

She will like what she sees.

16. The Watcher

- Anne Widdemer

Her thoughts were all so full of us,

She could never forget!

And so I think that where she is

She must still be watching yet.

17. Gone From Us

- Unknown Author

Gone from us that smiling face,

The cheerful pleasant ways,

The heart that won so many friends,

In bygone, happy days.

A life made beautiful by kindly deeds,

A helping hand for others’ needs.

To a beautiful life,

Comes a happy end,

She died as she lived,

Everyone’s friend.

18. You Only Have One Grandmother

- Unknown Author

You can have one special grandmother

Patient kind and true;

No other friend in all the world,

Will be the same to you.

When other friends forsake you,

To Grandma you will return,

For all her loving kindness,

She asks nothing in return.

As we look upon her picture,

Sweet memories we recall,

Of a face so full of sunshine,

And a smile for one and all.

Sweet Jesus, take this message,

To our dear Grandma up above;

Tell her how we miss her,

And give her all our love.

19. You’ve Just Walked On Ahead of Me

- Joyce Grenfell

You’ve Just Walked On Ahead of Me

And I’ve got to understand

You must release the ones you love

And let go of their hand.

I try and cope the best I can

But I’m missing you so much

If I could only see you

And once more feel your touch.

Yes, you’ve just walked on ahead of me

Don’t worry I’ll be fine

But now and then I swear I feel

Your hand slipped into mine.

20. She Is Gone

- David Harkins

You can shed tears that she is gone

Or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back

Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her

Or you can be full of the love you shared

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday

Or you can be happy for tomorrow, because of yesterday

You can remember her and only that she’s gone

Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back

Or you can do what she’d want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on

21. God Looked Around His Garden

- Melissa Shreve

God looked around his garden

And found an empty place

He then looked down upon the earth

And saw your tired face

He put his arms around you

And lifted you to rest.

God’s garden must be beautiful,

He always takes the best.

He knew that you were suffering

He knew you were in pain

He knew that you would never

Get well on earth again.

He saw the road was getting rough

And the hills were hard to climb.

So he closed your weary eyelids

And said, “Peace be thine”.

It broke our hearts to lose you

But you didn’t go alone.

For part of us went with you

The day God called you home.

Another way to honor her life

When the funeral is over, we can be left feeling empty and alone in our grief. Creating an online memorial for your Gran is both therapeutic and helps to keep your memories of her alive. You can also share the memorial with friends and family, who can contribute their own memories, and pass the memorial on to future generations. With an online memorial, your grandmother's memory will never be forgotten. 

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