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

She. Elvis Costello

Be still, by The Fray
I'll never forget you, by Birdy
Love the hell out of you, Lewis Capaldi
Angel, Sarah Maclachlan
Goodbye to you, Michelle Branch.

Be still and Angel my 2 favourites.

I really hope nierher of you are planning on cremation 🤣🤣

Something different and not previously suggested, I love this band so I'm biased but "Come on Down" is beautiful, written for a friend they lost so very much about losing someone who is young and full of life. I love the lyrics. Holy Moly and the Crackers.

The sense of injustice was too much to bear
Made my head spin like a carousel doing its rounds at the county fair
Travellers gather at a car boot sale picking up their morning bread
You left me empty handed, was it summit I said
Come on down, down to the river we go
Come on down, down to the river we flow
I thought we had it all we wouldn't lost it till the end of days
But the future did just what it does I guess it was the only way
My oldest friend you're digging up the dirt your skull is a flower bed
It breaks my heart to think of how you left me where the rivers met
Come one down, down to the river we go
Come on down, down to the river we flow
Come one down, down to the river we go
I've been waiting for you to come on home
The night rolled in you were gone, the moon was burning red
I wish I'd said I love you and it's something I'll regret
But I'll bless the days we spent together living like we'd never die
Now all I got is a memory and that's all you can ask from life
Come one down, down to the river we go
Come on down, down to the river we flow
Come one down, down to the river we go
I've been waiting for you to come on home

I’m very sorry for your loss.

Sorry if this isn’t what you’re looking for, but I’d suggest Declan McKenna’s cover of ‘Slipping Through My Fingers’. I find it heartbreaking.

Sorry for you loss.

Good Riddance by Green Day is a good call despite the title.
Also, how about something by The National?

This would be lovely and a twist as sister picked it

Also There is a light that never goes out by the smiths

That’s a bloody great suggestion. It’s a great song. Upbeat but not too jolly, uplifting and not sad but not too jovial.

Whilst Gangster’s Paradise is a good song, I’m not sure it’s quite fitting.

You see, if I was at a funeral and saw it said ‘Good Riddance - Greenday’ on the order of service I would be gobsmacked. It’s a great song but I would insist on putting ‘Time of Your Life - Green Day’ and not include the Good Riddance part of the song title on the order of service.

My first thought was "Bring me a Bird" by Beans on Toast. Absolutely beautiful.
Loads if lovely suggestions here. Sending love.

For an upbeat song for the end, we chose this for my husband's funeral (he loved it) and it just seemed a fitting instruction for everyone present. I hope it lifted their spirits a little.

It's good to be wise when you're young
'Cos you can only be young but the once
Enjoy yourself and have lots of fun
So glad and live life longer than you've ever done
Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think
Enjoy yourself, while you're still in the pink
The years go by, as quickly as you wink
Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself,
It's later than you think
Get wisdom, get knowledge and understanding
These three, were given free by the maker
Stay at school, learn the rules, don't be no faker
It's not wise for you to be a foot stool
Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think
Enjoy yourself, while you're still in the pink
The years go by, as quickly as you wink
Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself,
It's later than you think
Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think
Enjoy yourself, while you're still in the pink
The years go by, as quickly as you wink
Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself,
It's later than you think

I can’t give you suggestions because I organise church funerals which tend to be more traditional however I do always recommend a more uplifting final piece/going out music, thoughtful but hopeful, perhaps reflecting interests or simply their personality. Recently I’ve had somewhere over the rainbow (Eva Cassidy version) and match of the day theme! There’s no right or wrong, trust your instinct to what just fits.

so sorry for your loss

Oh op, my c9 dolences to you and your family.

If your sister loved 90s indie have you heard of Brit Pop Brass? Some of the tracks are very uplifting even if you didn't care gor the original song the brass versions are fantastic, and would hopefully be a lovely uplifting piece of music to say farewell.

For our son’s cremation (he was 28) and passed away in June, we had 99 Luft Balloons by Nena and Mr Perfectly Fine by Taylor Swift whilst everyone went into the Crematorium.

Remembering his life - Time of Your Life by Green Day.

Reflection music - Have You Ever Seen The Rain by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Closing music - The Chain by Fleetwood Mac

All of these were some of his favourite songs. He always said though he wanted the The Chain played on exit even before he knew that he had a terminal illness.

Imagine dragons - legends never die.

Sorry for you loss OP sending much love

for my sisters funeral the song I did choose in the end was “light the night” by razor light it did see, so much fitting for her x

Sorry posted too soon.

Sorry about the death of your sister. I think you should okay hamster parasite if that’s what she would have wanted and found fitting.

mu above suggestion is what I’d like at my funeral!

Sorry for your loss OP.
I have no real suggestions, but my dad had Another One Bites the Dust as his reflection song!
Do what feels right for you.

Shining Light by Annie Lennox.

sorry for your loss x

Not quite gangsters paradise but Bone thugs and harmony ‘the crossroad’?

Iris by the goo goo dolls

.

I immediately thought of Des’ree You Gotta Be for upbeat but meaningful 90s.

As Coolio sampled Gangsta's Paradise from Stevie Wonder's Pastime Paradise maybe you could use that version instead.