Music is a traditional part of most funeral services. This can be classical music, it can be a live performance by an individual or group if you so wish, or it may be contemporary or even somewhat eccentric depending on the character of the deceased. Music is traditionally played at one or more of five points during the service and we offer a list of popular hymns and music for funerals below.

Music is traditionally played at one or more of five points during the service:

Entrance

This is the music played whilst the coffin is carried into the Chapel

Reflection

This is music played during the service giving family and friends time to think and reflect

Hymns

Communal songs can be a nice addition. For Hymn suggestions please see below

Committal

Music is sometimes played during the committal of the deceased. The celebrant will often speak the committal whilst the music is playing

Exit

Music that is played at the end of the service and whilst the guests leave.

All local crematoria have facilities for downloading a vast range of music for your service. Many use a site called Wesley Music, however Southend Crematorium uses Obitus Music. They have a huge range of music from classical to electro pop on their servers and they are usually able to provide music not listed on their database if requested. The exception to this is live music and this can be arranged and organised for you by any good Funeral Director.

Whatever your music needs your funeral director will be able to check availability and advise you on whether certain music is available at your crematorium.

Popular Hymns for funerals
Below we have compiled a list of the most popular hymns for a variety of funeral types.

Popular hymns
  • The Lord is My Shepherd
  • Abide With Me
  • Amazing Grace
  • Morning Has Broken
  • Jerusalem
  • All Things Bright and Beautiful
  • How Great Thou Art
  • The Old Rugged Cross
  • I Watch the Sunrise
  • Ave Maria
Catholic funeral hymns
  • Ave Maria
  • I Am The Bread of Life
  • How Great Thou Art
  • Amazing Grace
Church of England hymns
  • Dear Lord and Father
  • Make Me a Channel of Your Peace
  • Lord of All Hopefulness
  • Jerusalem

Popular Songs for funerals
There is often time in the service to think back over your loved one’s life, to grieve and to let go. When thinking about music during the service consider what they enjoyed and what they meant to you, and then try to choose music based on those reflections. Below are a few suggestions for music tracks that are suitable for a variety of funerals.

Songs for your Mum
  • Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler
  • Angel by Sarah McLachlan
  • You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban
Songs for your Dad
  • Hero by Mariah Carey
  • Dance With My Father by Luther Vandross
  • Tears In Heaven by Eric Clapton
Songs for your Partner
  • I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston
  • Time to Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman
  • Unforgettable by Nat King Cole
Songs for a Child
  • There You’ll Be by Faith hill
  • Arms of the Angels by Sarah McLachlan
  • This Little Light of Mine
  • Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton
Songs about Angels
  • Angels by Robbie Williams
  • Jealous of the Angels by Bostic
  • Touched by an Angel by Stevie Nicks
Joyful funeral music
  • Always Look on the Bright Side of Life by Monty Python
  • What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
  • Don’t You Forget About Me by Simple Minds

Can we help you?

If you wish to talk to one of our funeral arrangers about our services please get in touch.
01702 436000 Contact us online Get A Bespoke Quote

Testimonials

To Brendon,

Thank you so much for all your help with our Mummy’s funeral. Our family and all mummy’s friends said it was beautiful. So a very big thank you from us xx

Valentina and Alexander - Sept 2023

To Penrose,

Thank you so much for all the care and respect you gave to Michael Goring, it is very much appreciated.

from

Veronica Goring and family - October 2022

Dear Nathan,

Just wanted to say a Big Thank you to all of you, for your support and kindness to us all upon the death of our lovely dad Fred Bond. Could you please pass on a thank you to Jon Standard as well for the lovely service he gave.

We are all very grateful for everything you and the team did for us…Thank you

Annie, Mick, Tina, James and all the Bond family - February 2024

Dear Jeremy, Nathan and Team,

Saying ‘thank you’ doesn’t begin to express how grateful I am for all that you have done for me and for my family.

Maxine Forrest - December 2018

To all at Penrose Funerals,

Please accept my thanks for the sensitive and professional way in which you carried out my mother’s funeral arrangements. My brothers and I were also extremely happy with the way everything went on the day.

Thank you

Simon Jarvis - April 2020

Many thanks for your expert care in helping to make Barbara’s funeral on the 11th so perfect and so memorable

Sue Verran - April 2019

Dear all,

We would like to thank you for all the care and attention you gave towards our relative Eva Wright recently. You were all most respectful at all times and we greatly appreciated your help before, during and after the funeral. We are also very impressed with the quality of the recordings of the service and in these times it will be greatly valued by the family and friends.

Thank you once again

Sally and Andy on behalf of Steven Wright and family - October 2020

Dear Jeremy and Nathan,

We would just like to thank you for the exemplary way you conducted Bill’s funeral on September 28th at Basildon Crematorium. Every aspect was just as we hoped it would be. You were always understanding and re-assuring.

Thank you

Jean, Carl and Donna - November 2018
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