During the first week of December, I received an email from an 18-year-old young woman who asked my help in finding her a poem for her grandmother’s funeral. Kirsty had a close relationship with her grandmother who had died unexpectedly. She didn’t have a chance to say goodbye. Kirsty searched for just the right poem, but was unable to find it. 
I wrote back to Kirsty and told her I would try to help her either by writing a poem or finding one with the thoughts she had included with her email. It is difficult to write such a poem, not knowing the grandmother or granddaughter and their relationship together. In the meantime, my advice to this lovely, young woman was to try to write one from her heart or take a poem and personalize it. Whatever she wrote would be the perfect poem because it was from her.
I combined two poems and added a beginning and ending:
Nana, I didn’t get a chance
To tell you my goodbye.
God took you very suddenly
Sadly, I don’t know why.
I thought of you with love today,
But that is nothing new.
I thought about you yesterday,
And days before that too.
I think of you in silence,
I often speak your name.
All I have are memories,
And your picture in a frame.
Your memory is my keepsake,
With which I’ll never part.
God has you in his keeping,
I have you in my heart.
{Wings of the Angels
By Tim Chambers}
A gentle wind blew across the land
Reaching out to take a hand
For on the winds the angels came
Calling out a mother’s name.
Left behind, her children’s tears
Loving memories of the years
Of joy and love, a life well spent
And now to God a mother’s sent.
On angel’s wings, a heavenly flight
The journey home, towards the light.
To those who weep, a life is gone,
But in God’s love, ’tis but the dawn.
{end}
Spread your ever deserving wings,
Nana, angel above.
Please look down and watch over me,
Guide with eternal love.
Until we meet at Heaven’s door,
I’ll miss you ever more.
Kirsty chose the poem, “I’m Free” and personalized it for her Nan:
Don’t grieve for Nan, for now she’s free
Nan’s following the path God has laid you see.
She took His hand when she heard him call
Nan turned her back and left it all.
She could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work, to play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way
Nan found that peace at the close of day.
If her parting has left a void
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss
Oh yes, these things Nan too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow
Nan wishes you the sunshine of tomorrow.
Her life’s been full, she savoured much
Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.
Perhaps Nan’s time seemed all too brief
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and peace to thee
God gave Nan wings and let her fly free.
GOD BLESS, KIRSTY XX
The day before the funeral, Kirsty wrote to me:
Just wanted to say thank you again. the funeral is tomorrow. It’s going to be hard but I know I need to be brave for her. This poem is my way to say goodbye.
Kirsty wrote to me after the funeral:
I did it and I’m glad I did. It’s been a very emotional day, but at the same time a good day if that makes sense. Chatted, laughed and cried – considering the situation the day went really well.
My reply to Kirsty was:
I’m so glad you feel that way. It is good. Funerals are a celebration
of life. Today you honored your Nan. I’m sure she is looking down on
you with great pride.
You’re welcome, but you are the one who followed through with what you
felt was important. It is a sign of maturity. If you ever need to reach out
to someone, I’m here.
Nana
Kirsty gave me permission to share this with you in hopes that it may help you. I know this Christmas must have been difficult for her, as it was with the passing of our Mom-Mom this year. For all my visitors searching for just the right poems for the special ones in your lives that are now with you in spirit, my heart is with you this holiday season.
Last 5 posts in Funeral Poems
- Funeral Poems | 5 Best Grandmother Poems - May 14th, 2010
- Best Poems for Funerals: 2 Poems on Life - March 14th, 2010
- Best Funeral Poems: 11 Inspirational Poems - March 7th, 2010
- Memorial Gifts: Cremation Jewelry - December 6th, 2009
- Best Poems for Funerals: 6 Funeral Poems for Grandparents - August 31st, 2009
What a beautiful story about your interaction with Kirsty – I am so glad that she had you to help her get thru this tough time. God bless you!
Comment by stoney — 2009/01/03 @ 3:31 am
my nan died on the 3rd of november 2009 and i wanted a poem that described her.she has been very poorly with cpod for a long time and thaty fateful night she passed away but i would just like to say i have taken a couple of poems in which i got to choose one to read at her funeral and they are so heartbreaking lovely that i think my nan would be proud to here them. kirsty u have done an amazing job god bless u xx
Comment by lisa ginns — 2009/11/06 @ 2:04 pm
I think this is truely lovely it actually made me cry.. My nan died 26.08.09 and to this day it really isn’t any easier. I feel for any person who loses a loved one. My nan was my bestfriend and i couldn’t believe it the day she passed,went to work on the tuesday fine dancing around then couple hours later rushed to hospital put into intensive care over night and died on the wednesday morning only 58. I would have loved to have read this out at her funeral but its passed now. It really is a lovely poem tho.
Comment by Kimberley — 2009/12/26 @ 1:25 pm
I’m sorry for your loss. Thank you for your comment.
Comment by nana — 2009/12/27 @ 1:53 pm
my great nan died on the 20th december and i cant find the right words to stand up and say, i realy need some help with this x
Comment by Loren — 2010/01/08 @ 5:36 am
hiya i would just like to say that the poem was lovely and i will be using a few of the lines to make a poem for my nin (nans mums) grave as she passed away very suddenly 5years ago on the 20th of feb. i was very close to her just like kirsty and still now i am sad that she has gone i am 15 years old and have made a poem for her but it still needs so more added to it as i think it is not good enough for her. i no just how kirsty feels to lose some one so close (my bestfriend) and would just like to say be stong and keep your head high even though the family chain has been broke it will be made back as you meet her in heaven.x
Comment by Danielle — 2010/02/15 @ 12:26 pm
Hi, my gran past away on Monday 5/07/2010. I need to give a thank you speach and have thought of a poem to read out to everyone and have come to a brick wall. The funeral is fri morning @ 10:00 i also did not get to say good bey to her. Now i have to finalize all the arrangements & everytime i get a tear as i am still so young and have to take charge off all….(33) She was always there for me – i was her blue eyed favoured grand child – also the first. She taught me many things like craucher & my first prayer. Played the harmonica & gitar. She also loved the garden & out doors.
Can you please help me with something i could put together please.
Comment by Chantal — 2010/07/07 @ 6:35 am