Please help me with song ideas for my sister’s funeral

[weusedtocampinthegarden]

My sister has recently passed away and my parents would like me to choose music for her Funeral. It will be at a cremation and not religious. Mum has chosen a piece of classical music for while everyone is gathering. I have already chosen Emilie Sande Read all about it pt 3 for the middle of the service as this reflects her very well.
I need two more piece of music. One for as she comes in at the start (with the family behind her), and one for everyone going out.
she wasn’t into classical music but she liked r an b an dance music, and 90s indie. She died suddenly and unexpectedly. When she was alive she did a lot to help other people. She also danced Ceroc a lot so it could reflect that but I don’t know anything about that kind of music.
I would love the leaving song to be more full of hope. Neither song has to be directly about death or sad, but don’t think my parents are ready for anything too comedy (although I would love gangsta’s paradise to be played as she loved that song)
any and all suggestions welcome.

TIA

Life's What You Make It by Talk Talk?
I'm sorry for your loss.

Sorry for your loss. How about Eva Cassidy songbird for the leaving song or elbow one day like this

It reminds me of being at the “Yoof club” on Thursday eves

that and breakdancing!

How about Iris by Goo Goo Dolls if she liked 90’s Indy music?

DH went out to Electric Dreams by Human League

I had a flamboyantly gay friend who died unexpectedly (during the Covid restrictions on funerals, so I was only able to view his funeral on Zoom).

One of the pieces of music was from an opera.

The song at the end was “Spice up Your Life” by the Spice Girls.

It was just perfect!

Into my Arms - Nick Cave (deep)

Remember Me - Diana Ross (very upbeat)

I will always love you - Dolly P version (not Whitney) very different like a gentle whisper.

I am so sorry for this terrible and untimely loss for you and your suffering parents.

The Days of Our Lives by Queen? It’s from the early 90s.

Sometimes I get to feelin'
I was back in the old days, long ago
When we were kids, when we were young
Things seemed so perfect, you know
The days were endless, we were crazy, we were young
The sun was always shinin'
We just lived for fun
Sometimes it seems like lately
I just don't know
The rest of my life's been just a show
Those were the days of our lives
The bad things in life were so few
Those days are all gone now, but one thing is true
When I look, and I find, I still love you
You can't turn back the clock, you can't turn back the tide
Ain't that a shame
Ooh, I'd like to go back one time on a roller coaster ride
When life was just a game
No use in sitting and thinkin' on what you did
When you can lay back and enjoy it through your kids
Sometimes it seems like lately
I just don't know
Better sit back and go with the flow
'Cause these are the days of our lives
They've flown in the swiftness of time
These days are all gone now, but some things remain
When I look, and I find, no change
Those were the days of our lives, yeah
The bad things in life were so few
Those days are all gone now, but one thing's still true
When I look, and I find
I still love you

Despite the title Green Day's Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) was lovely at a recent funeral.

I agree with the green day suggestion. Beautiful song.

I’m sorry for your loss @weusedtocampinthegarden .

Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Songbird by Eva Cassidy
Hallelujah - Alexandra Burke version

It would be nice to have a song that you that to as sisters for the ones you are picking

Sorry for your loss. Agree with the suggestions of Days by Kirsty MacColl and She's a Star by James.

Some Fantastic Place by Squeeze I suggested on another similar thread. Without being intrusive it was written about someone who like your sister died far too young.

So sorry for your loss @weusedtocampinthegarden

you mentioned your sister was a ceroc member. I’m also a ceroc member, would you mind if I suggested reaching out to the organiser/instructor of the group she used to attend if you haven’t already? Her fellow ceroc members would likely know the songs she just loved to dance to.

That sounds good

How about Gangster Paradise played on the piano or an instrumental version of Insomnia?

Coming in we chose for my late Mum who was not religious at all.

You Can Close Your Eyes

I wanted the version with James Taylor and Carly Simon, but it was unavailable so we had just James Taylor.

Leaving we picked a very personal track so not really appropriate for anyone else. I think for me I would like Here Comes the Sun but feel thats more appropriate for an older, life well lived, funeral - not if someone has passes young.

Gangsters Paradise and so etho g she used to danc to in her teens/youth.

Somewhere over the rainbow - Eva Cassidy version

The Kirsty Mcoll song lyrics are lovely.

Sorry for your loss.

Sorry for your loss. I love “I hope you dance” by Lee Ann Womack, it was played at my Aunties funeral and it makes me tear up and smile at the same time

Kirsty Macoll's Soho Square is beautiful.

Condolences to you OP

As a fellow indie kid I love the James suggestion but also love Green Day, Good Riddance. It’s a beautiful song.

It's something unpredictable
But in the end, it's right
I hope you had the time of your life

However, if your sister loved Gangsta’s Paradise then that’s the one ❤️

Time of your life Green day, there she goes by the las, she’s a star James

Some lovely suggestions on here
I love songbird myself but I think when choosing music it’s nice it reflects someone’s personality.
When my Uncle died, we played a mix but on the way out we played Abba (as he loved them and was very musical) Thankyou for the Music x
I’m sorry for your loss and for such a sad start to the year for you and your family.

My dad who was an atheist went to a funeral where the “ going out” music was the carpenters “ I’m on the top of the world looking down on creation” .
He said how perfect he thought it was for his friend’s funeral. Firstly its quite an upbeat song and secondly he liked the thought of being on top of the world, and its about love.
I picked it for his funeral and my mums when their time came. People hummed along , a bit of toe tapping. It seemed to finish the service of nicely.