Music for funeral

[Iggy]

I need to select some music for my Mother-in-laws memorial service. I have looked at some of the hymns that the hymnal suggests for funerals.

I want hymns that are fairly easy for the congregation to sing. Most of the mourners are not LDS, and are not used to singing at a funeral/memorial service.

I have until 28 March to get this together, though I would like to have it all decided within two weeks of the service.

Oh, can anyone tell me the set up for the program: I will be doing the programs and taking them to be printed. We want some pictures of Mom on the front.

[Elgama]

my favourite is Lead Kindly Light - Count Your Many Blessings is good and I love Jesus Saviour Pilot Me - all are in the hymn book

-Charley

[pushka]

At my grandma's funeral, back in the 90's, we had How Great Thou Art.

[Silver Girl]

How Great Thou Art and Abide With Me are hymns that non-members would be familar with...

Silver Girl

[NateHowe]

Abide With Me, 'Tis Eventide is a nice alternative to the standard Abide With Me. They are on facing pages - 165 and 166.

Each Life that Touches Ours for Good (293) is beautiful and effective, and it has a nice, singable melody that will drive home some of the basic messages an LDS funeral should convey.

I Believe in Christ (134) mentions resurrection and reinforces the Church's belief in the Savior.

Good luck!

[Jbs2763]

for my dad's funeral he wanted us to sing "have i done any good" and all the grandkids sang "i am a child of God" (which is the point where i lost it)

[Iggy]

Thanks everyone. Husband and I listened to quite of few of the suggested songs- from the hymnal. Was rather interesting too- the 14 CD set of LDS Hymns that I got 8 years ago appears to have the wrong hymns labeled on the CD.

When you pop the CD into the computer and the titles of the songs come up, they are not the ones that are actually on the CD!

The songs match the index booklet that came with the set- We have tentatively picked out Rock of Ages, I Need The Every Hour, Abide With Me and How Great Thou Art.

How Great Thou Art will have to go last. This one hymn makes both of us a totally wet mess! Neither of us can sing it because we cry so hard. Husband will be giving the Eulogy- so we can't sing it first.

We still have to talk with the pianist and the music director. We are also going to ask our wards Barber Shop Quartet if they will sing too. They all knew Mom - she yanked each of them by the ears and made them dance with the Young Women when they were in Young Mens

After going through this - I am going to put together a music CD of the songs/hymns that I want played at my service. Make it that much easier for whom ever ends up having to do that.

[Heckya]

How Great Thou Art and Abide with Me are common. Amazing Grace is another classic. However, my favorite music selection for a funeral was Roll Out the Barrel. My great aunt had an awesome sense of humor. This was her favorite song, so it was incorporated into the program. The spirit filled the room and everyone there truly took time to remember who my aunt was. While silly, it was a perfect tribute. My mother has requested Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles at her funeral...although she isn't religious or traditional. She doesn't want a funeral. She wants a Celebration of Life. A personal favorite of mine is You Lift Me Up. Josh Groban has a version of it...I don't think it is his orignally. Hope this helps Iggy. Again sorry for your loss.

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by Heckya

How Great Thou Art and Abide with Me are common. Amazing Grace is another classic. However, my favorite music selection for a funeral was Roll Out the Barrel. My great aunt had an awesome sense of humor. This was her favorite song, so it was incorporated into the program. The spirit filled the room and everyone there truly took time to remember who my aunt was. While silly, it was a perfect tribute. My mother has requested Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles at her funeral...although she isn't religious or traditional. She doesn't want a funeral. She wants a Celebration of Life. A personal favorite of mine is You Lift Me Up. Josh Groban has a version of it...I don't think it is his orignally. Hope this helps Iggy. Again sorry for your loss.

My own mother would have loved Roll Out The Barrel. You would not believe how often she sang that and all of us kids would grab a partner and polka around the house! ( 7 kids all dancing with each other, Dad and Grandma, plus any neighbor kids that happened to be in the house)

I want a song played at my memorial- had the 8 track of it, then a cassette. Now I can not find it. Something about Jasmine - Some day I will hear it played again, then I will get the name of it, hunt it down on-line and burn it to a CD.

Oh, Yes- You Lift Me Up by Josh Groban.

You know I think I would rather have a Celebration of Life too. I also don't want anyone dressing in dark, somber colors. I want everyone to dress in bright, vibrant, spring/summer colors. Happy, Joyful, Cheerful colors. I want them to celebrate and be joyous, for I have gone on to the next world.

Thank you Heckya for your words.

[Moksha]

I like Amazing Grace. It was especially nice when they played it on the bagpipe at President Hinckley's funeral, but it sounds good on a piano as well. I think I would like the Cat Steven's arrangement of the church song Morning has Broken at my own funeral.