Funeral Poems for Grandma

You can shed tears that she is gone, Or you can smile because she has lived.

— David Harkins

Copyright David Harkins. Used with permission in many funeral settings.

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 as bright as shining stars, And in her cheeks fair roses you see; We had a wonderful grandmother, And that's what she'll always be. She had a kindly word for each And a smile for all she knew; She was generous, kind and thoughtful, With a heart as good as true. She was always there to guide us, With a gentle, loving hand; And now she's watching over us From that far and peaceful land.

— Unknown

God looked around his garden And found an empty place. He then looked down upon the earth And saw your tired face.

— Melissa Shreve

Copyright attributed to Melissa Shreve. Copyright status unclear.

You can shed tears that she is gone, Or you can smile because she has lived.

— David Harkins

Copyright David Harkins. Adapted for grandmother use.

God saw you getting tired And a cure was not to be, So He put His arms around you And whispered, 'Come to me.' With tearful eyes we watched you, And saw you pass away. Although we loved you dearly, We could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, Hard-working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best.

— Unknown

If roses grow in heaven, Lord please pick a bunch for me, Place them in my father's arms And tell him they're from me.

— Dolores M. Garcia

Copyright Dolores M. Garcia.

I am home in Heaven, dear ones; Oh, so happy and so bright! There is perfect joy and beauty In this everlasting light. All the pain and grief is over, Every restless tossing passed; I am now at peace forever, Safely home in Heaven at last. Did you wonder I so calmly Trod the valley of the shade? Oh! but Jesus' love illumined Every dark and fearful glade. And He came Himself to meet me In that way so hard to tread; And with Jesus' arm to lean on, Could I have one doubt or dread? Then you must not grieve so sorely, For I love you dearly still; Try to look beyond earth's shadows, Pray to trust our Father's Will. There is work still waiting for you, So you must not idly stand; Do it now, while life remaineth — You shall rest in God's own land. When that work is all completed, He will gently call you Home; Oh, the rapture of that meeting! Oh, the joy to see you come!

— Unknown

Time is too slow for those who wait, Too swift for those who fear, Too long for those who grieve, Too short for those who rejoice, But for those who love, time is eternity.

— Henry Van Dyke

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

— Jenny Joseph

Copyright Jenny Joseph Estate. Published by Souvenir Press.

A golden heart stopped beating, Hard-working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best.

— Unknown

You never said 'I'm leaving,' You never said 'goodbye.' You were gone before I knew it, And only God knew why.

— Lavina Reyes

Copyright Lavina Reyes.

A golden heart stopped beating, Busy hands now at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best.

— Unknown

If roses grow in heaven, Lord please pick a bunch for me, Place them in my Grandma's arms And tell her they're from me.

— Dolores M. Garcia (adapted)

Copyright Dolores M. Garcia. Adapted for grandma.

She always leaned to watch for us, Anxious if we were late, In winter by the window, In summer by the gate; And though we mocked her tenderly, Who had such foolish care, The long way home would seem more safe Because she waited there. Her thoughts were all so full of us, She never could forget! And so I think that where she is She must be watching yet, Waiting till we come home to her, Anxious if we are late — Watching from Heaven's window, Leaning from Heaven's gate.

— Margaret Widdemer

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, 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.

— Unknown

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.

— Unknown

Grandma's hands clapped in church on Sunday morning, Grandma's hands played a tambourine so well. Grandma's hands used to issue out a warning, She'd say, "Billy, don't you run so fast, Might fall on a piece of glass, Might be snakes there in that grass." Grandma's hands. Grandma's hands soothed a local unwed mother, Grandma's hands used to ache sometimes and swell. Grandma's hands used to lift her face and tell her, She'd say, "Baby, Grandma understands That you really love that man, Put yourself in Jesus' hands." Grandma's hands. Grandma's hands used to hand me piece of candy, Grandma's hands picked me up each time I fell. Grandma's hands, boy, they really came in handy. She'd say, "Matty, don't you whip that boy, What you want to spank him for? He didn't drop no apple core." But I don't have Grandma anymore. If I get to heaven I'll look for Grandma's hands.

— Unknown

Nan had a special garden, Where love and kindness grew, She tended it with patience The way that she tended you. She planted seeds of happiness, And watched them bloom with care, Her garden was a special place With beauty everywhere. Now Nan has gone to tend a garden In a land far, far away, But the flowers that she planted here Will bloom for us each day.

— Unknown

When God made grandmothers He made them sweet and kind, He gave them gentle natures And a warm and loving mind. He gave them hearts of patience That could soothe a child's small fears, And hands so soft and tender That could wipe away the tears. He gave them eyes of wisdom To see beyond what others see, And arms that always opened wide With room upon their knee. When God made grandmothers He made a special friend, Whose love would know no boundaries And whose faith would never end.

— Unknown

I remember Grandma's kitchen, The warmth and all the love, The smell of something baking That only she could make. The table always ready With a place set just for me, A cup of tea and biscuits, The way it used to be. I'd give the world to sit once more In Grandma's cosy chair, To feel her arms around me And know that she was there. But now she bakes in heaven With angels by her side, And I can still feel her love Forever as my guide.

— Unknown

Just close your eyes and you will see All the memories that you have of me. Just sit and relax and you will find I'm really still there inside your mind.

— Gaynor Llewellyn

Copyright Gaynor Llewellyn.

What though the radiance which was once so bright Be now for ever taken from my sight, Though nothing can bring back the hour Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower; We will grieve not, rather find Strength in what remains behind; In the primal sympathy Which having been must ever be; In the soothing thoughts that spring Out of human suffering; In the faith that looks through death, In years that bring the philosophic mind.

— William Wordsworth, Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood

With these hands I've painted walls, Cleaned up after meals and falls, Washed the dishes, wiped the floors, Polished handles, painted doors.

— Pam Ayres

Copyright Pam Ayres.

She'd say, 'sit down, love, have a cup of tea,' And somehow make the whole world right. She solved the problems of the universe With a biscuit and a cuppa every night.

— Michael Ashby

Copyright Michael Ashby.

She was our Nan, our world, our heart, She was there right from the start, She held us close and kept us safe, Her love, a warm and sacred place. She taught us how to laugh and play, She made the world a better day, And though she's gone, she's always near, Her memory, forever dear.

— Unknown