25 Uplifting Prayers, Poems, and Bible Verses for Funerals & Memorial Services

When the Good Lord calls home one of your cherished family members or friends, the grief can feel insurmountable. As a Godfearing American, you want to honor your loved one with a heartfelt and moving service, filled with customs and traditions that are meaningful and lead them into the gates of Heaven.

When you are overcome with grief, even the simplest tasks can feel impossible, let alone planning the best prayers for funerals, poems for funerals, and bible verses for funerals and memorials.

These 25 prayers, poems, and bible verses for memorials and funerals were compiled to help you through what may be the most difficult time in your life. We hope these poems, prayers, and bible verses for funerals and memorials will help process your grief and extend compassion and comfort to those left behind.

Uplifting Prayers and Blessings for Funerals & Memorial Services

Opening Prayer for Joy

Father God, we open this funeral service with sorrow, yet sincere rejoicing. 

Our departed loved one is now free. 

He/she is in a better place. 

That is a truth we can have joy for. 

As we speak with one another, sing, listen to your Word, 

and hear eulogies, focus our mind on your goodness. 

And direct our thoughts to fond memories of our departed friend and family member. 

Let people speak of the ways our loved one has impacted their lives. 

And let us rejoice over every testimony, knowing that his/her life was a life well-lived. 

Amen.

Non-Religious Funeral Blessing

Be free, be strong, 

be proud of who you have been, 

know that you will be mourned and missed, 

that no one can replace you, 

that you have loved and are beloved. 

Move beyond form, flowing like water, 

feeding on sunlight and moonlight, 

radiant as the stars in the night sky. 

Pass the gates, enter the dark without fear, 

returning to the womb of life to steep in the cauldron of rebirth. 

Rest, heal, grow young again. 

Be blessed.

Source: Funeralguide.com

Religious Funeral Prayer

God has blessed and enriched our lives in giving us 

(Name) to know and love here on earth. 

Though our time together was not nearly enough, 

in committing his/her body to the earth, 

we give over to God the care of his/her spirit, 

and we acknowledge that we will one day reunite 

with him/her in God's house where Jesus has prepared a room for us. 

The Lord bless him/her and keep him/her; 

the Lord make his face shine upon him/her and be gracious to him/her; 

the Lord look upon him/her with favor and give him/her peace.

Source: Prayerist.com

The Deep Love of Jesus Prayer

God, we thank you for your deep, immeasurable love. 

We thank you that your love covers us in its fullness, 

leading us homeward to our glorious rest above. 

Bless this assembly, precious Lord, 

and may you be honored as we celebrate a life that glorified you. 

Bless those who have suffered this great loss, 

and may they find comfort in your arms of love. 

And now, dear Savior, may our loved one reach heaven’s glories 

and see you face to face. 

Amen.

Source: Connectusfund.org

Memorial Prayer of Thanks

Lord, we thank you for giving us the life of [name].

Today, we do not mourn but celebrate all 

they achieved and the legacy they leave behind.

We will remain ever grateful for being blessed 

with their presence and the light they shone 

into so many lives and hearts.

We will treasure them and all they stood for, 

cherishing the memories we have that shall never fade.

Amen

Source: sympathymessageideas.com

Heartfelt Religious Funeral Prayer

Dear God,

You are our Creator. You are the author of life.

Life is a precious gift.

We come today to commemorate and honor a life that is precious to us.

As we mourn this life that is no longer with us, 

we are aching from a void that has been created in our heart.

We lift up our sadness and grief to you.

Lord, we ask that you would comfort us in our pain, 

and bring us an abundance of your gentle healing mercies.

In Jesus name we pray,

Amen.

Source: Inspirational-prayers.com

Eternity is a Restful Place Prayer

Dear Lord,

We remember our loved one whose memory 

is a comforting embrace to us today.

A life fulfilled, no longer caught up in the 

earthly struggle.

Eternity is a restful place.

Joy is theirs.

We pray that until the day comes and we 

are joined in the great beyond, that there 

will only be gladness in the memories we 

hold dear of this deserving soul.

Amen

Source: sympathymessageideas.com

Comforting Closing Prayer for Funeral

Good and wonderful God, 

we say goodbye to our departed loved one for one last time. 

We grieve because we will not see them any longer. 

But we also celebrate because we know that our loved one 

is enjoying your presence right now and without sickness or pain. 

We rejoice because we know that our loved one is safe and at peace. 

Please welcome this person into glory and free them from all 

physical frailties and all mental and emotional struggles. 

Thank you for this wonderful gift of eternal life. 

As we close the service, may all these good thoughts be an encouragement 

to every friend and family that have come here today. 

Amen.

Source: Thearkclarahamilton.com

Uplifting Poems for Funerals & Memorials

“Kinship” by Mamie Roehrig

“Then I look up, and silently,

The stars of heaven comfort me.

In all their awesome majesty

These symbols of eternity

Speak words of courage to my soul,

And suddenly, I am made whole.”

Source: Joincake.com

“Notes from the Other Side” by Jane Kenyon

“I divested myself of despair

And Fear when I came here.

Now there is no more catching

One’s own eye in the mirror,

There are no bad books, no plastic,

No insurance premiums, and of course

No illness. Contrition

Does not exist, nor gnashing

Of teeth. No one howls as the first

Clod of earth hits the casket.

The poor we no longer have with us.

Our calm hearts strike only the hour,

And God, as promised, proves

To be mercy clothed in light.”

Source: Joincake.com

But Not Forgotten” by Dorothy Parker

“I think, no matter where you stray,

That I shall go with you a way.

Though you may wander sweeter lands,

You will not soon forget my hands,

Nor yet the way I held my head,

Nor all the tremulous things I said.

You still will see me, small and white

And smiling, in the secret night,

And feel my arms about you when

The day comes fluttering back again.

I think, no matter where you be,

You'll hold me in your memory

And keep my image, there without me,

By telling later loves about me.”

Source: Hellopoetry.com

“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 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.”

Source: poemhunter.com

“Remember” by Christina Rossetti

“Remember me when I am gone away,

         Gone far away into the silent land;

         When you can no more hold me by the hand,

Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.

Remember me when no more day by day

         You tell me of our future that you plann'd:

         Only remember me; you understand

It will be late to counsel then or pray.

Yet if you should forget me for a while

         And afterwards remember, do not grieve:

         For if the darkness and corruption leave

         A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,

Better by far you should forget and smile

         Than that you should remember and be sad.”

Source: poetryfoundation.org

“Funeral” by Rupi Kaur

“when i go from this place

dress the porch with garlands

as you would for a wedding my dear

pull the people from their homes

and dance in the streets

when death arrives

like a bride at the aisle

send me off in my brightest clothing

serve ice cream with rose petals to our guests

there’s no reason to cry my dear

i have waited my whole life

for such a beauty to take

my breath away

when i go let it be a celebration

for i have been here

i have lived

i have won at this game called life”

Source: beforeyougo.love

“When Great Trees Fall” by Maya Angelou

“When great trees fall,

rocks on distant hills shudder,

lions hunker down

in tall grasses,

and even elephants

lumber after safety.

When great trees fall

in forests,

small things recoil into silence,

their senses

eroded beyond fear.

When great souls die,

the air around us becomes

light, rare, sterile.

We breathe, briefly.

Our eyes, briefly,

see with

a hurtful clarity.

Our memory, suddenly sharpened,

examines,

gnaws on kind words

unsaid,

promised walks

never taken.

Great souls die and

our reality, bound to

them, takes leave of us.

Our souls,

dependent upon their

nurture,

now shrink, wizened.

Our minds, formed

and informed by their

radiance, fall away.

We are not so much maddened

as reduced to the unutterable ignorance of

dark, cold

caves.

And when great souls die,

after a period peace blooms,

slowly and always

irregularly. Spaces fill

with a kind of

soothing electric vibration.

Our senses, restored, never

to be the same, whisper to us.

They existed. They existed.

We can be. Be and be

better. For they existed.”

Source: poems.com

“Memories Build A Special Bridge” by Emily Matthews

“Our memories build a special bridge 

when loved ones have to part – 

To help us feel we’re with them still 

and soothe a grieving heart. 

Our memories span the years we shared 

preserving ties that bind – 

They build a special bridge of love 

and bring us peace of mind.

Source: All-greatquotes.com

“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.”

Source: funeralguide.net

Bible Verses for Funerals & Memorial Services

Corinthians 1:3-5

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

4 who comforts us in all our troubles, 

so that we can comfort those in any trouble 

with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, 

so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

Source: Biblestudytools.com

John 14:27

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. 

I do not give to you as the world gives. 

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Source: Biblestudytools.com

Jeremiah 31:13

“…For I will turn their mourning into joy, 

and will comfort them, 

and make them rejoice from their sorrow.”

Source: Loveliveson.com

Psalm 27:4-5

4 “One thing I ask from the Lord, 

this only do I seek: 

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, 

to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. 

5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; 

he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.”

Source: Loveliveson.com

Revelations 21:1-5

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; 

for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, 

and the sea was no more. 

2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, 

coming down out of heaven from God, 

prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; 

3 and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 

"Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. 

He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, 

and God himself will be with them; 

4 he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, 

and death shall be no more, 

neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, 

for the former things have passed away."

Source: Elegantmemorials.com

Isaiah 61:1-3

1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, 

because the LORD has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; 

he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, 

to proclaim liberty to the captives, 

and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 

2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, 

and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 

3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion--to give them a garland instead of ashes, 

the oil of gladness instead of mourning, 

the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit; 

that they may be called oaks of righteousness, 

the planting of the LORD, 

that he may be glorified.

Source: Elegantmemorials.com

Philippians 1:21-23

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. 

22 Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 

I am hard pressed between the two. 

23 My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

Source: Kevinhalloran.net

Matthew 11:28-30

28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 

and I will give you rest. 

29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, 

for I am gentle and humble in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls. 

30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Source: Dignityfunerals.co.uk