Words that mean something.
I find the word "Readings" has religious connotations to it, however they don't necessarily have to be. In fact, most of the readings on this page do not have religious intent.
Quite often families like to have readings in their ceremony. They can be read by family members, special friends, or by the celebrant. The best readings are ones that reflect the personality of the deceased. A reading can be a poem, song lyrics, or even a scene from a favourite movie, pretty much anything that is a passage of text.
Here's a selection of modern contemporary readings that could be featured in a funeral ceremony to celebrate a loved one's life.
When I Am Gone (author unknown)
When I come to the end of my journey
And I travel my last weary mile
Just forget if you can, that I ever frowned
And remember only the smile
Forget unkind words I have spoken
Remember some good I have done
Forget that I ever had heartache
And remember I’ve had loads of fun
Forget that I’ve stumbled and blundered
And sometimes fell by the way
Remember I have fought some hard battles
And won, ere the close of the day
Then forget to grieve for my going
I would not have you sad for a day
But in summer just gather some flowers
And remember the place where I lay
And come in the shade of evening
When the sun paints the sky in the west
Stand for a few moments beside me
And remember only my best
As I Look Up To The Skies Above (author unknown)
(perfect poem for a grand parent)
As I look up to the skies above,
The stars stretch endlessly–
But somehow all those rays of light
Seem dimmer now to me.
As I watch the morning sun appear,
The shadows still don’t fade-
As if the brightest light of all
Was somehow swept away.
Though I see the branches swaying,
And watch their dancing leaves–
The echoes carried on the wind
Don’t sound the same to me.
As I listen to the morning birds
Sing softly from afar–
It seems to be a mournful tune
That echoes in my heart.
Another day has come again,
As time moves surely on–
But nothing now seems quite the same,
To know that he is gone.
The days and weeks and months ahead
Will never be the same–
Because a treasure beyond words
Can never be replaced.
The loss cannot be measured now,
The void cannot be filled–
And though someday the grief may fade,
His mark will live on still.
For even with my heavy heart,
I know that I’ve been blessed
To have been one who’s life he touched
With warmth so infinite.
Death Is Nothing At All by Henry Scott Holland
Death is nothing at all, I have only slipped away into the next room. Whatever we were to each other, we still are.
Please, call me by my old familiar name. Speak of me in the same easy way you always did. Laugh, as we always laughed, at the little jokes we shared together.
Think of me and smile. Let my name be the household name it always was, spoken without the shadow of a ghost in it.
Life means all it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. Death is inevitable, so why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, - for an interval very near.
Nothing is past or lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before, only better and happier.
Together forever. All is well.
Remember Me This Way by Lyman Hancock
When I come to the end of my journey
And I travel my last weary mile,
Just forget if you can, that I ever frowned
And remember only the smile.
Forget unkind words I have spoken;
Remember some good I have done.
Forget that I ever had heartache
And remember I’ve had loads of fun.
Forget that I’ve stumbled and blundered
And sometimes fell by the way.
Remember I have fought some hard battles
And won, ere the close of the day.
Then forget to grieve for my going,
I would not have you sad for a day,
But in summer just gather some flowers
And remember the place where I lay,
And come in the shade of evening
When the sun paints the sky in the west
Stand for a few moments beside me
And remember only my best.
My Journey's Just Begun by Ellen Brenneman
Don't think of me as gone away,
My journey's just begun.
Life holds so many facets,
This earth is but one.
Just think of me as resting,
From the sorrows and the tears.
In a place of warmth and comfort
Where there are no days and years.
Think of how I must be wishing,
That you could know today,
How nothing but your sadness,
Can really go away.
And think of me as living,
In the hearts of those I touched.
For nothing loved is ever lost,
And I know I was loved so much.
Memories Of You (author unknown)
I remember everything about you,
your voice, your smile, your touch,
the way you walked, the way you talked,
the way you looked at me, meant so much.
I remember all the words you said to me,
some funny, some kind, some wise,
all of the things you did for me,
I see now with different eyes.
I remember every moment we shared,
seems like only yesterday,
or maybe it was eons ago,
It's really hard to say.
You are gone from me now,
but one thing they can't take away,
your memory resides inside my heart,
and lights up my darkest days.
Just A Knockabout Bloke by Robyn O’Connell
Just a knock around bloke with a heart of gold
You kept us amused with the stories you told
You bent the rules occasionally, but nothing you did break
You’d learn from that lesson before the next one you’d make
The importance of family, so quick to the fore
You weren’t always perfect, of that they knew the score
But your love for them was endless and forever will be
They just have to look at each other to see what you could see.
Your friends they too were important, of this we are assured
Because to you were like the family that you so much adored.
Your laughter will echo in the memories of every one you loved
And we know you will be reunited with those friends and family up above.
Don’t think we will not miss you, you’ve shown us how to live
We no longer take life for granted and to others we will give
The gift of our memories of that great bloke that we knew,
And to always give credit, because that (name) belongs to you.
Instructions by Arnold Crompton
When I have moved beyond you in the adventure of life,
Gather in some pleasant place and there remember me
With spoken words, old and new.
Let a tear if you will, but let a smile come quickly
For I have loved the laughter of life.
Do not linger too long with your solemnities.
Go eat and talk, and when you can;
Follow a woodland trail, climb a high mountain,
Walk along the wild seashore,
Chew the thoughts of some book
Which challenges your soul.
Use your hands some bright day
To make a thing of beauty
Or to lift someone’s heavy load.
Though you mention not my name,
Though no thought of me crosses your mind,
I shall be with you,
For these have been the realities of my life for me.
And when you face some crisis with anguish.
When you walk alone with courage,
When you choose your path of right,
I shall be very close to you.
I have followed the valleys,
I have climbed the heights of life.
She Is Gone by David Harkins
[this can also be changed to "He Is Gone"]
You can shed tears that she is gone, or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back, or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her, or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her only that she is gone, or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back or you can do what she’d want; smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
As We Look Back by Clare Jones
As we look back over time we find ourselves wondering did we remember to thank you enough for all you have done for us?
For all the times you were by our sides, to help and support us, to celebrate our successes, to understand our problems and accept our defeats?
Or for teaching us by your example, the value of hard work, good judgement, courage and integrity?
We wonder if we ever thanked you for the sacrifices you made. To let us have the very best?
And for the simple things like laughter, smiles and times we shared?
If we have forgotten to show our gratitude enough for all the things you did, we're thanking you now. And we are hoping you knew all along, how much you meant to us.
In The Presence Of Death by Rodney Murphy
In the presence of death we stand awkward, and ill at ease; for death is a well-known stranger whom we recognise, but do not wish to know;
But death is not a thing in itself, but a stage in the journey of life, through which all must pass.
It may come swiftly and catch us unawares, or slowly with leaden feet; but death comes to all who live, and in so doing heightens the understanding of the one we know.
Afterglow by Helen Lowrie Marshall
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.
A Life That Matters (author unknown)
Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours, days. All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.
Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear.
So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will expire.
The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won't matter where you came from, or on what side of the tracks you lived.
At the end, whether you were beautiful or brilliant, male or female, even your skin colour won't matter.
So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?
What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave. What will matter is not your success, but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught. What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others.
What will matter is not your competence, but your character. What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone. What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved you.
Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice. Choose to live a life that matters.
How Do We Let A Mother Go (author unknown)
How do we say "I'm ready now to go on without you"?
How can we ever have a clue of what that really means?
All of a sudden the moment is upon us, and there's no turning back.
And then we know what grief is,... and guilt and love and things undone.
Try to prepare and we will fail in some way, be it subtle or looming....
But there is peace too. Peace and acceptance and overwhelming love
that we maybe weren't aware of. Waves and waves of conflicting emotion,
And laughter too, and memories we hadn't bothered lately to recall come flooding back in shared company.. and it's all about you mum...
And there's gratitude.. so much of that, that we had you, such a wonderful mother...
bright and shining, nobody's fool, independent, but humble too; smart,
and kind, and fun. Adventurous.
A part of you has passed away, but much is carried everyday within us,
and will as long as we are here.
This may be a final tribute, a day to celebrate your life and say goodbyes; but it's not final.
Every day I'll celebrate in some way, just by the virtue of how you shaped my life,
the absolute and incredible fortune that I knew you as a mother, a friend and a woman.
Each Day by Graham Allaway
[This is a poem that he wrote following the tragic death of his God Daughter in April 2009, who had her ninth birthday less than a week before she died from Asthma.]
Each day since we first lost you, life is not the same,
Each day we search for reasons. Each day we call your name.
Each day we feel the pain and the hurt that will not heal.
Each day we ask the sky to please make this not real.
Each day we look for answers to the endless questions why.
Each day we bow our heads with another tear to cry.
But each day we're reminded of the joy that you would bring.
Each day we still remember how you brightened everything.
Each day we hear you laughing with that smile upon your face,
Each day we hear you playing and your spirit we embrace.
So each day we live on. We will never be apart. For in each day that passes, you're forever in our hearts.
Sweet dreams little one, sleep tight.
That Man by Cliff Sargeant
When I was born that man was there, tall and strong and fair of hair.
He watched my mother give me birth, as I fought my way onto this Earth.
That man would rock me off to sleep, would wipe my tears when I did weep.
He watched me go from crawl to walk, and smiled with pride when I learned to talk.
That man taught me to ride a bike, and even how to fly a kite.
He taught me to know wrong from right, when to run and when to fight.
That man was made of many parts, a teacher of life’s skills and arts
Full of love and full of care, with much to give, and much to share.
As I grew older so did he, but that man was always there for me. His love, unspoken ,but strong and clear, of that I have no doubt or fear.
Time passed, that man grew old and frail, no longer strong, but weak and pale.
Now I helped him, as he'd helped me, a debt to repay, no charge, no fee.
And now that man has left this life, no longer parted from his wife
Memories are all that we have left, of that man who was the best.
Who was that man, you may well ask? To tell you now is my last task.
It makes me proud, it makes me glad, to tell you that man, he was my dad.
We Remember Him (author unknown)
[adapted from The Yizkor Service. Yizkor, in Hebrew, means "Remember.” This reading would be appropriate for a man whop served his country]
When we are weary and in need of strength,
When we are lost and sick at heart,
We remember him.
When we have a joy we crave to share
When we have decisions that are difficult to make
When we have achievements that are based on his
We remember him.
At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter
At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring,
We remember him.
At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer
At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn,
We remember him.
At the rising of the sun and at its setting,
We remember him.
As long as we live, he too will live
For he is now a part of us,
As we remember him.
What Can You Say (author unknown)
What can you say to someone who has always been one of the most essential parts of your world; Someone who took you by the hand when you were little and helped to show the way.
What do you say to someone who stood by to help you grow, providing love, strength, and support, so you could become the person you are today?
What can you say to let her know that she's the best there is, and that you hope you've inherited some of her wisdom and her strength?
What words would you say, if you ever got the chance?
Maybe you just say, I love you Mum, and hope she understands.
Memories Of The Heart (author unknown)
Feel no guilt in laughter, he knows how much you care. Feel no sorrow in a smile that he's not here to share. You cannot grieve forever, he would not want you to. He’d hope that you would carry on, the way you always do.
So talk about the good times and the ways you showed you cared. The days you spent together, all the happiness you shared. Let the memories surround you, a word someone may say, will suddenly recapture a time, an hour, a day that brings him back as clearly, as though he were still here, and fills you with the feelings that he is always near.
For if you keep those memories, you will never be apart and he will live forever, locked safe within your heart.
A Silent Tear by Gaynor Llewellyn
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.
Don’t cry for me now I'm gone, for I am in the land of song.
There is no pain, there is no fear, so dry away that silent tear
Don’t think of me in the dark and cold. for here I am, no longer old.
I'm in that place that's filled with love, known to you all, as "up above”.
Miss Me But Let Me Go (author unknown)
When I come to the end of the road and the sun has set for me, I want no tears 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 once we shared. Miss me, but let me go.
For this is a journey we all must take and for each must go alone. It's all a part of a bigger plan. A step on the road to home.
And when you are lonely and sick of heart, go to the friends we know, and bury your tears in their loving arms.
Miss me. but let me go.
The Day You Left (author unknown)
With tears we saw you suffer, as we watched you fade away,
Our hearts were almost broken, as you fought so hard to stay.
We knew you had to leave us, but you never went alone,
For part of us went with you, the day you left your home.
Wonderful Mother by Patrick O’Reilly
God made a wonderful mother,
A mother who never grows old;
He made her smile of the sunshine,
And He moulded her heart of pure gold;
In her eyes He placed bright shining stars,
In her cheeks fair roses you see;
God made a wonderful mother,
And He gave that dear mother to me.
In Memoriam (author unknown)
Our lives go on without you, but nothing is the same
We have to hide our heartache when someone speaks your name
Sad are the hearts that love you. Silent are the tears that fall.
Living without you is the hardest part of all.
You did so many things for us, your heart was so kind and true, and when we needed someone, we could always count on you.
The special years will not return, when we are all together, but with the love in our hearts, you walk with us forever.
Our Mum by Tracey Aikman
Our Mum
You can only have one Mum
Patient, kind and true;
No other friend in all the world,
Will be the same to you.
When other friends forsake you,
To Mum you will return;
For all her loving kindness,
She asks nothing in return.
As we look upon her photo,
Sweet memories we recall,
Of a face so full of sunshine,
And a smile for one and all.
Sweet Jesus, take this message,
To our dearest Mum above,
Tell her how we miss her,
And give her all our love.
Not How Did He Die, But How Did He Live (author unknown)
Not, how did he die, but how did he live?
Not, what did he gain, but what did he give?
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man, regardless of his birth.
Nor what was his church, nor what was his creed?
But had he befriended those really in need?
Was he ever ready, with words of good cheer,
To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
Not what did the sketch in the newspaper say,
But how many were sorry when he passed away?
God’s Garden (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 that 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. So he closed your weary eyelids and whispered, Peace be Thine.
It broke our hearts to lose you, but you didn't go alone, for part of us went with you, the day God called you home.
Our Memories Build A Special Bridge by Emily Mathews
When loved ones have to part
To help us feel we're with them still
And soothe a grieving heart
They span the years and warm our lives
Preserving ties that bind
Our memories build a special bridge
And bring us peace of mind.
I Live On by Ron Tranmer
I died but did not leave you. I am here, and have not gone.
Though my spirit left my body don’t be sad, for I live on.
My love is all around you. Can you feel it? Can you see?
That gentle breeze upon your face is not the wind but me.
I’m the song of a bluebird when spring is in the air.
I’m the roses in a garden. You can find me everywhere.
Whenever you are missing me look up to heavens skies.
I’m the twinkle in the stars.I’m the sunset, and sunrise.
I’m a raindrop and a rainbow. I’m the oceans waves of blue;
So everywhere you go you’ll know, I live on, loving you.
Silent Strong Dad by Karen Bowler
He never looks for praises. He's never one to boast.
He just goes on quietly working for those he loves the most.
His dreams are seldom spoken. His wants are very few, and most of the time his worries will go unspoken, too.
He's there...a firm foundation through all our storms of life, a sturdy hand to hold onto in times of stress and strife.
A true friend we can turn to when times are good or bad.
One of our greatest blessings, the man that we call Dad.
Winnie The Pooh extract
If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together,
there is something you must always remember.
You are braver than you believe,
stronger than you seem,
and smarter than you think.
But the most important thing is,
even if we’re apart… I’ll always be with you
Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep by Mary Elizabeth Frye
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.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.