Verses For Memorial Cards & Poems For Funerals

The grieving process can feel like a long uphill battle pervaded with intense emotions and confusion. Unfortunately, it is usually during this time that important decisions must be made. With all of the thoughts, arrangement plans, paperwork, and running around, it's often difficult to get everything accomplished smoothly and efficiently. To offer a bit of help, I have compiled a selection of meaningful poems and verses that can be used in funeral services and memorial folders. I have arranged the poems and verses starting with those that are inspirational and continuing to those that are more spiritual and religious. Hopefully you can find something here that will work for you and take you one step closer to finding peace and comfort.

As a licensed mortician, I have heard many different eulogies, poems, memories, and obituaries at funerals. Click Here for one of the best resources for funeral readings!

Meet Emma Balmer at www.lacynjordan.com

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 glint on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you wake in the morning hush;

I am the swift, uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circling flight.

I am the soft starlight at night.

Do not stand by my grave and weep.

I am not there; I do not sleep.

-Mary Frye

When I come to the end of the road and the sun has

set for me, I want no rites in a gloom filled room,

why cry for a soul set free. Miss me a little - but

not too long, and not with your head bowed low.

Remember the love that we once shared, Miss me-

But let me go. For this is a journey we all must

take, and each must go alone. It's all a part of the

Master's plan, a step on the road to home. When

you are lonely and sick of heart, go to the friends

we know. Bury your sorrows in doing good deeds,

Miss me - but let me go.

- Author Unknown

Scatter me not to the restless winds,

Nor toss my ashes to the sea.

Remember now those years gone by...

When loving gifts I gave to thee.

Remember now these happy times...

The family ties we shared.

Don't leave my resting place unmarked

As though you never cared.

Deny me not one final gift

For all who come to see...

A single lasting proof that says

I loved...and you loved me.

- Author Unknown

I'd like the memory of me

To be a happy one.

I'd like to leave an afterglow

Of smiles when life is done.

I'd like to leave an echo

Whispering softly down the ways,

Of happy times and laughing times

And bright and sunny days

I'd like the tears

Of those who grieve,

To dry before the sun

Of happy memories that I leave

When life is done.

- Carol Mirkel

When I am gone, release me, let me go...

I have so many things to see and do.

You mustn't tie yourselves to me with tears,

Be happy that we had so many years.

I gave you my love. You can only guess

How much you gave me in happiness.

I thank you for the love you each have shown,

But now it's time I traveled on alone.

So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must.

Then let your grief be comforted by trust.

It's only for a while that we must part.

So bless the memories that lie within your heart.

I won't be far away, for life goes on.

So if you need me call and I will come.

Though you can't see me or touch me, I'll be near.

And if you listen with your heart, you'll hear,

All of my love around you soft and clear.

And when you must come this way alone...

I'll greet you with a smile and "Welcome Home."

-Author Unknown

A man should leave a monument or two,

Not measured by the standards of the great,

But rather by the best that he can do.

A wall of rock, aligned and true,

Laid up with sweat and patient care,

And worked into the pattern of the stone

Some personal, artistic flair.

A clearing and a house of logs,

Hand-hewed and raised against a plumb,

Whose walls enclose security

For generations yet to come.

To feel a partnership with those

Who laugh at life along the way,

Because your talents had a share

In teaching them to meet each day.

To raise a daughter or a son

With basic traits of goodness in the heart,

To carry on the brotherhood you feel

Another breath of time when you depart.

To leave a host of friends who feel

An emptiness where once you stood,

Lost and troubled when they learn

The fellowship you lived was good.

These monuments are yours and mine,

Not for glory or for gain,

But just to leave some small secluded spot

A better place because you came.

- Author Unknown

"Death is nothing at all. I have only

slipped away into the next room. I am I, and you are you.

Whatever we were to each other, that we still are.

Call me by old familiar name,

speak to me in the easy way which you always used.

Put no difference in your tone,

wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed at the

little jokes we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.

Let my name be the household word that it always was,

let it be spoken without effect,

without the trace of a shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant.

It is the same as it ever was; there is unbroken continuity.

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?

I am waiting for you, for an interval,

somewhere very near, just around the corner.

All is well."

~ Henry Scott Holland

When I must leave you

For a little while

Please do not grieve

And shed wild tears

And hug your sorrow to you

Through the years,

But start out bravely

With a gallant smile;

and for my sake

And in my name

live on and do

All things the same,

Feed not your loneliness

On empty days,

But fill each waking hour

In useful ways,

Reach out your hand

In comfort and in cheer

And I in turn will comfort you

And hold you near;

And never, never

Be afraid to die,

For I am waiting for you in the sky!

- Helen Steiner Rice

Life is eternal and love is immortal. And death is only a horizon and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our spirit.

Rossiter Worthington Raymond -1840 - 1918

A hero thinks of others before they think of themselves

A hero will die to protect

A hero can be of any age, any colour

A hero can be man, woman or child

A hero is courageous, loving and brave

A hero will never complain

A hero can be made in one act of compassion

Or years of tender loving care

Some hero's are remembered, whilst many are left forgotten

Hero's are angels in disguise, saving precious innocent lives

- Nicola Burkett

When tomorrow starts without me

And I'm not here to see...

If the sun should rise and find your

Eyes filled with tears for me,

I wish so much you wouldn't cry

The way you did today...

While thinking of the many things

We didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me,

As much as I love you...

And each time you think of me,

I know you'll miss me too.

But when tomorrow starts without me,

Please try to understand...

That Jesus came and called my name,

And took me by the hand.

He said my place was ready

In Heaven far above...

And that I'd have to leave behind

All those I dearly love.

So when tomorrow starts without me,

Don't think we're far apart...

For everytime you think of me,

I'm right here in your heart.

~ Author Unknown

The seeds of faith are sown

in the human personality and grow

into the mature faith of the Christian

man or woman. The sown seed

must lose its life in order that it may develop

and grow and multiply. So, symbolically,

a sheaf of wheat is used by Christians

to mark the passing of a fellow Christian.

Death is not the end

but the beginning of life eternal.

the mature grain in the sheaf

Is the direct symbol of the Resurrection....

the life beyond the grave,

the fulfillment of the Promises.

- Author Unknown

God saw that she was getting tired,

A cure was not to be.

So He put His arms around her

and whispered, "Come with Me."

With tearful eyes, we watched her suffer,

And saw her fade away.

Although we loved her dearly,

We could not make her stay.

A golden heart stopped beating,

Hard working hands to rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us

He only takes "the best".

- Author Unknown

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free

I'm following the path God laid for me.

I took His hand when I heard Him call

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day

To laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way,

I found that peace at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship started, a laugh, a kiss,

Ah yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow

I wish you the sunshine to tomorrow.

My life's been full, I savored much,

Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief

Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me

God wanted me now; He set me free.

-Author Unknown

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done,

In earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive our trespasses as

We forgive those who trespass

against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil;

For thine is the kingdom, and the

Power, and the glory, forever.

Amen

When I have gone, remember I'm with Jesus,

Then do not grieve because I've passed away.

Life holds so many griefs and disappointments,

And, will you weep because I did not stay?

Tis only for a spell we must be parted,

Not many years on earth to us are given.

And when my Savior tells me you are coming,

I'll go with Him and welcome you to Heaven.

Grieve not because the eyes that looked upon you

Shall never see your face on earth again.

Rejoice because they look upon the Savior,

Who gave His life to ransom sinful men.

Weep not because I walk no longer with you,

Remember, I am walking streets of gold.

Weep for yourselves, that you awhile must tarry,

Before the blessed Lord you may behold.

- Author Unknown

One night a man had a dream...He was walking

along the beach with the Lord, and across the sky

flashed scenes from his life. In each scene, he noticed

two sets of footprints in the sand; one made by him,

the other by the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him

he looked at the footprints in the sand, and noticed that

many times along the path of his life there was only

one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened

at the worst times of his life.

This bothered him, so he asked the Lord about it.

"Lord, You said that once I decided to followYou

You'd walk with me all the way. But, I've noticed that'

during times of trouble there is only one set of

footprints. I don't understand why You left me when

I needed You most"

The Lord replied, "My precious child, I love you

and would never leave you. During your times of

trouble where you only see one set of footprints, I

was carrying you.

- Author Unknown

God looked around His garden

and found an empty place.

He then looked down upon the

earth and saw your tired face.

He put His arms around you

and lifted you to rest.

God's garden must be beautiful,

He always takes the best.

He knew you were suffering,

He knew you were in pain,

He knew that you would never

get well on earth again.

He saw the road was getting

rough and the hills were hard

to climb, He closed your weary

eyelids and whispered

"Peace Be Thine."

It broke our hearts to lose you

but you didn't go alone.

Part of us went with you

the day God called you home.

- Author Unknown

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 illuminated

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 Jesus' 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!

Some believe that life's our test,

And with it rules are given,

If we follow them each day

We'll find the path to Heaven.

Born were we to follow them,

Simple rules they are indeed:

Care for our Earth, each animal

And all human kind in need.

Sent to help and guide our quest

Are coaches from above,

Sweet champions to show the way,

To all kinds of acts of love.

Those who play the game best

Earn no medals or gold rings

Their trophies come at life's great end,

When they win their Angel wings.

- Author Unknown

God grant that I may live to fish

Until my dying day.

And when it comes to my last cast

I then most humbly pray

When in the Lord's safe landing net

I am peacefully asleep,

That in His mercy I be judged

As big enough to keep.

- Author Unknown

I hear my Master calling me;

His voice, it sounds so sweet,

And though I feel my strength is gone,

I rise onto my feet.

I feel His presence moving near;

I sense His endless love.

I feel His peace fall on me,

Descending like a dove.

I turn to see His beauty,

Light reflected on my face.

I stand in awe and tremble,

As I think upon His grace.

I turn suddenly afraid ~

All my faults He'll find,

But He looks on me with kindness

That gently renews my mind.

I ask Him, "Why do you love me?

For I'm wretched, truth be told."

He takes my hand and answers,

"I'm returning You to the fold."

~ Maranda Musick

We want to always remember

The beautiful life you lived

And keep alive the memories we have

Through remembering what you did

For you're so special to all of us

A wonderful person indeed

Your love, laughter and warm smile

Reflected a heart that believed

Just in the everyday things we do

We remember your faith and love

In the words you spoke to help us through

Is a continued reminder for us

Although we miss you so very much

We know we'll see you once more

For this is the hope we have in God

Being re-united in the Lord

And as we gather we'll continue to share

Special times we went through

For these are memories that warm our hearts

As we honour the memory of you

- M.S. Lowndes

We little knew that morning that God was going to all your name,

In life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same.

It broke our hearts to lose you, you did not go alone,

For part of us went with you, the day God called you home.

You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide,

And though we cannot see you, you are always at our side.

Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same,

But as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.

-Author Unknown

"Blessed are they that mourn,

for they shall be comforted."

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the

Paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the

shadow of death, I will fear no evil:

for thou art with me, thy rod and

thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the

presence of mine enemies:

thou anointest my head with oil;

my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow

me all the days of my life:

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

"I am the resurrection and the life.

He who believes in me will live,

even though he dies; and whoever

lives and believes in me will never die.

Do you believe this?"

This is an excellent book with over 250 funeral poems and readings. You're sure to find what you need. 

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