Hymns for Funerals:
Sacred Songs of
Comfort and Hope
When most people say “hymn,” they mean songs like “Amazing Grace” or “How Great Thou Art”— music that's been sung at funerals for generations because it works. Congregation knows the words, the melody carries grief, and nobody has to think about what comes next.
What Makes Hymns Different
A hymn isn't just a religious song—it's a song the congregation is expected to sing together. That shared participation matters at funerals. Instead of mourners passively listening, they're actively doing something with their grief. Even people who haven't been to church in years often remember the words to “Amazing Grace.”
The hymns that stick around aren't always the most theologically complex. They're the ones with melodies simple enough to sing through tears and words that name what everyone's feeling: “Abide with me; fast falls the eventide.” Check with your pastor about which hymns work at your specific church—denominations differ.
Choosing Hymns for Different Service Moments
Processional Hymns
Hymns for funerals during the entrance set a reverent, peaceful tone as the casket enters or the service begins. Choose dignified, familiar hymns that gather the congregation in shared faith.
Reflection & Meditation Hymns
During quieter moments, these hymns for funerals provide space for contemplation, prayer, and personal remembrance.
Communion & Special Rites
Catholic and high-church Protestant services often include hymns during communion or other liturgical moments.
Recessional Hymns
Hymns for funerals at the conclusion offer hope and comfort as mourners depart, emphasizing resurrection, eternal life, and God's promises.
Traditional vs Modern Hymns for Funerals
Traditional Hymns
Classic hymns for funerals written before 1950, found in most denominational hymnals. These time-tested songs connect mourners across generations.
Modern Hymns
Contemporary hymns for funerals written since 1960, now standard in church hymnals. These newer compositions offer fresh expressions of timeless faith.
Complete Collection of Hymns for Funerals
Browse our complete collection of hymns for funerals, organized by popularity and suitability for memorial services. Each hymn includes musical details, historical context, and why it brings comfort during times of loss.
Traditional
A timeless hymn of redemption and hope that has comforted mourners for centuries.
Why it's meaningful: This beloved hymn speaks of salvation and the journey from loss to grace, offering profound comfort to those grieving.
Best moment: Often played during the processional or as a closing hymn.
Traditional Military
The iconic bugle call played at military funerals, symbolizing final rest and peace.
Why it's meaningful: A deeply reverent tribute that honors military service and sacrifice.
Best moment: Traditionally played during the flag folding ceremony or final farewell.
Mahalia Jackson
Written by Thomas Dorsey after losing his wife and infant son, this deeply personal hymn has become the quintessential gospel funeral song.
Why it's meaningful: Its heartfelt plea for divine guidance through life's darkness resonates deeply with mourners.
Best moment: Perfect for processional or during reflection moments.
Louis Armstrong
The quintessential New Orleans jazz funeral song, starting somber then exploding into joyful celebration during the second line.
Why it's meaningful: Embodies New Orleans jazz funeral tradition - mourning the loss while celebrating the soul's journey to heaven.
Best moment: Recessional or second line celebration, especially for New Orleans funerals.
Traditional Hymn
A majestic hymn praising God
Why it's meaningful: Offers hope of reunion in heaven and celebrates faith
Best moment: Powerful as a congregational hymn or solo performance.
Requiem
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mozart's unfinished masterpiece, a hauntingly beautiful mass for the dead composed in his final days.
Why it's meaningful: Combines the majesty of classical music with the solemnity of the Catholic mass for the dead.
Best moment: Appropriate for formal Catholic services or classical music lovers.
Going Up Yonder
Walter Hawkins
This uplifting anthem celebrates the promise of heaven and eternal life, transforming grief into hope.
Why it's meaningful: A staple in Black Protestant funeral traditions, it focuses on the glorious reunion awaiting believers in heaven during homegoing services.
Best moment: Powerful as a recessional or celebration of life moment.
Soon and Very Soon
Andraé Crouch
This triumphant song anticipates the joy of seeing Jesus and being reunited with loved ones in heaven.
Why it's meaningful: Based on Revelation 21:3-4, it speaks of no more crying or dying. Performed at Michael Jackson's memorial service.
Best moment: Celebratory recessional or closing hymn.
I'll Fly Away
Albert Brumley
This song uses the metaphor of a bird freed from prison to describe the soul's joyous release into heaven.
Why it's meaningful: The most recorded gospel song of all time with over 1,000 versions, celebrating joyous liberation death brings to believers.
Best moment: Perfect for New Orleans jazz funerals and celebration of life services.
It Is Well With My Soul
Horatio Spafford
Written as Spafford sailed over the spot where his four daughters drowned, this hymn of faith emerged from unimaginable grief.
Why it's meaningful: Despite devastating loss, Spafford declared 'it is well' - a profound statement of faith that inspires mourners.
Best moment: Powerful testimony of faith during the darkest moments.
I Can Only Imagine
MercyMe
Written by lead singer Bart Millard about his father's death, imagining what it will be like to finally see Jesus face to face.
Why it's meaningful: For families of faith, this song processes grief through the lens of eventual reunion in God's presence.
Best moment: Powerful for Christian services, building from quiet contemplation to triumphant hope.
Will the Circle Be Unbroken
The Carter Family
Classic American folk hymn about family reunion in heaven, with the Carter Family's iconic harmonies.
Why it's meaningful: The promise of reuniting in an unbroken circle offers hope that families separated by death will be together again.
Best moment: Perfect for family patriarchs/matriarchs or emphasizing heavenly reunion.
We'll Meet Again
Vera Lynn
Iconic WWII-era song promising reunion, embodying hope during separation and loss.
Why it's meaningful: Offers comfort through the belief that loved ones will be reunited beyond this life.
Best moment: Perfect for honoring the Greatest Generation or those who lived through WWII.
Frank Sinatra
An anthem of living life on one
Why it's meaningful: Celebrates individuality and a life lived with conviction.
Best moment: Perfect for honoring someone with a strong, independent spirit.
Louis Armstrong
A celebration of life
Why it's meaningful: Reminds us to appreciate the world our loved one cherished.
Best moment: Uplifting choice for celebrating a life of gratitude.
10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
Matt Redman
A modern worship song about finding reasons to be grateful even in sorrow.
Why it's meaningful: Encourages thankfulness for a life lived while trusting in divine comfort.
Best moment: Uplifting during Christian services focused on celebration rather than mourning.
America the Beautiful
Ray Charles
Ray Charles' soulful rendition of this patriotic hymn, blending gospel passion with American pride.
Why it's meaningful: Combines patriotic pride with spiritual gratitude, honoring both country and faith together.
Best moment: Moving as a tribute to veterans who loved their country.
Total Praise
Richard Smallwood
Written while Smallwood cared for his mother with dementia, this powerful song based on Psalm 121 became an anthem of worship and surrender.
Why it's meaningful: Performed at Aretha Franklin's funeral, it's become a signature gospel funeral song.
Best moment: Powerful during worship moments or as a solo performance.
His Eye Is on the Sparrow
Ethel Waters
Inspired by a disabled couple's unwavering faith, this hymn assures God watches over the smallest creatures and us.
Why it's meaningful: The message of divine care and protection brings comfort, reminding us loved ones remain in God's watchful care.
Best moment: Beautiful during quiet reflection or meditation.
Order My Steps
GMWA Women of Worship
This passionate prayer for divine guidance resonates deeply at funerals as families seek comfort in knowing their loved one walked in God's path.
Why it's meaningful: Initially rejected before being embraced, the song's journey mirrors how grief transforms into acceptance.
Best moment: Meaningful during worship or reflection time.
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Traditional Spiritual
This African American spiritual uses the biblical story of Elijah being taken to heaven in a chariot as a metaphor for death and spiritual liberation.
Why it's meaningful: For enslaved people, it represented hope for freedom—either escape or eternal freedom in heaven—a profound symbol of deliverance.
Best moment: Traditional choice for processional or recessional.
Because He Lives
Bill and Gloria Gaither
Written during the turbulent late 1960s, this song finds hope in Christ's resurrection as the answer to life's uncertainties.
Why it's meaningful: Christ's victory over death gives mourners hope that their loved one shares in eternal life.
Best moment: Hopeful choice for celebrating resurrection faith.
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Traditional Hymn
Written by Joseph Scriven to comfort his mother after his fiancée drowned, this hymn emphasizes Jesus as the ultimate friend who bears our sorrows.
Why it's meaningful: Scriven's personal tragedy inspired words that comfort millions facing loss.
Best moment: Comforting during quiet reflection or congregational singing.
How to Select Hymns for Funerals
Consider Your Denomination
Different churches have preferred hymnals and traditions for hymns for funerals. Catholic services often include "Ave Maria" and "On Eagle's Wings," while Protestant services frequently feature "Amazing Grace" and "How Great Thou Art." Consult with your pastor or music director for guidance.
Balance Familiar and Personal
Choose hymns for funerals that the congregation knows and can sing together, creating shared comfort. Include 1-2 hymns that were personally meaningful to the deceased, even if less familiar, to celebrate their unique faith journey.
Match the Tone to the Service
Some hymns for funerals emphasize mourning and comfort ("Abide with Me"), while others celebrate resurrection and hope ("Thine Be the Glory"). Consider the overall tone you want to create and balance somber reflection with hopeful celebration.
Coordinate with Musicians
Ensure your church organist or musicians have sheet music for your chosen hymns for funerals. Traditional hymns are readily available in church hymnals, while modern hymns may require advance notice to locate appropriate arrangements.
Common Questions About Hymns for Funerals
What are the best hymns for funerals?
01
What are the best hymns for funerals?
01The best hymns for funerals include "Amazing Grace," "How Great Thou Art," "Abide with Me," "On Eagle's Wings," "Be Not Afraid," and "The Old Rugged Cross." These hymns offer comfort, hope, and celebrate faith during memorial services.
How many hymns should be sung at a funeral?
02
How many hymns should be sung at a funeral?
02Typically 3-4 hymns for funerals are appropriate: one for the processional (entrance), one or two during the service for reflection or communion, and one for the recessional (exit). Traditional funeral services may include congregational singing of familiar hymns.
What is the difference between traditional and modern hymns for funerals?
03
What is the difference between traditional and modern hymns for funerals?
03Traditional hymns for funerals are centuries-old songs from classic hymnals like "Amazing Grace" and "Abide with Me." Modern hymns for funerals include contemporary Christian songs written in recent decades like "On Eagle's Wings" (1979) and "Be Not Afraid" (1975) that have become hymnal standards.
Can non-religious people use hymns for funerals?
04
Can non-religious people use hymns for funerals?
04Yes, many hymns for funerals are chosen by non-religious families for their beautiful melodies and universal messages of comfort, peace, and hope. Songs like "Amazing Grace" transcend religious boundaries and are appreciated for their cultural significance and emotional impact.
Where can I find sheet music for hymns for funerals?
05
Where can I find sheet music for hymns for funerals?
05Sheet music for hymns for funerals can be found in church hymnals, online music repositories like IMSLP and Hymnary.org, or purchased from music publishers. Many churches provide hymnals for funeral services, and organists typically have access to extensive hymn collections.
Father Thomas O'Brien
Catholic Funeral Music AdvisorRetired Catholic chaplain with 35 years of experience in funeral ministry and sacred music traditions.