Picking a Funeral Poem or Tribute That Speaks from the Heart
Why Words Still Matter
During a time when everything feels a little off balance, the right words can bring people back to center.
Funeral poems have a way of doing that. Not because they fix anything. But because they say something honest in a moment when most of us struggle to speak.
Whether it’s a short line tucked into a service program, or a full reading shared during the eulogy, these words create space. They give people permission to feel.
And when chosen with care, they help shape how someone is remembered.
Some Verses to Start With
You don’t need to write a masterpiece. And you definitely don’t need to speak like a poet.
Here are a few sample verses — some short, some longer — that have been used in services again and again.
Short Selections:
“Those we love don’t go away,
They walk beside us every day.”
— Unknown
“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.”
— Thomas Campbell
“Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure.
You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.”
— Unknown
Longer Options:
“You can shed tears that they are gone
Or you can smile because they lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that they’ll come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all they left behind.”
— From “He Is Gone” by David Harkins
“Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow…
I am the diamond glints on snow.”
— From “Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep” by Mary Elizabeth Frye
Some families also pair these with meaningful funeral songs to create a mood that holds people gently.
Should You Write Your Own?
It depends.
If you’re someone who processes through writing, or if you feel like no existing words quite fit, writing your own can be deeply personal. Even a simple paragraph from the heart — a short tribute or memory — can mean more than something polished.
On the other hand, choosing a known poem can be a comfort. It takes the pressure off. It offers a shape for your feelings when they’re hard to name.
There’s no rule here. Sometimes a few original lines alongside a classic is the best of both.
Poems for Parents, Partners, or Children
Relationships change the kind of words we need.
Funeral poems for mom often reflect nurturing, strength, or the small things — the meals, the soft touch, the quiet presence. Think of lines that echo care.
Funeral poems for dad might focus on guidance, protection, or legacy. The words don’t have to be formal — just true. “He taught me to…” can be a powerful place to begin.
Funeral poems for sister often hold a different kind of intimacy. Shared childhood. Secrets. Laughter. These tributes tend to be emotional in an open, vulnerable way.
For a spouse or partner, you may want to speak to the life built together — the everyday love, the partnership, the things no one else saw. The quiet loyalty.
When it’s a child, the words are softer. Harder. Gentler. There’s no poem that makes it make sense — but sometimes one can sit beside the grief for a moment.
Where and How to Include a Poem
There are many ways to weave a funeral poem into a funeral service or memorial:
- Print it in the program or on the back of the obituary card
- Read it during the eulogy
- Have a friend or family member read it aloud on your behalf
- Include it as part of a slideshow or photo tribute
- Use it as a caption for a keepsake or memory table
Some funeral poems are best read aloud. Others speak more quietly from the page.
If you’re unsure, a funeral director can help you decide where it fits — and how to present it with the right tone.
We’re Here to Help You Find the Right Words
At Tranquility Funeral Services, we help families with more than just logistics. Choosing the right funeral poems, readings, or even funeral songs is part of what we offer.
Some people come in knowing exactly what they want. Others ask, “Do you have a few examples?”
We do. We’ve collected poems for all kinds of people and relationships — including suggestions for funeral poems for mom, dad, sister, and more. If you’d like to personalize something or need help formatting the program, we’ll guide you through it. Quietly. Kindly.
Whether you want to write your own words or borrow from someone else’s, we’ll help you shape them with care.
Browse our poem suggestions or speak with a director to find a reading that fits. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to feel like them — and like you.
