Looking for funeral music, poems or readings? Tony Clarke Funeral Directors in Sunderland offers ideas and guidance to help create a personal farewell.
Looking for funeral music, poems or readings? Tony Clarke Funeral Directors in Sunderland offers ideas and guidance to help create a personal farewell.
Choosing the right funeral music, poems, readings can help make a funeral feel deeply personal and meaningful. Whether you are looking for a favourite song, a traditional hymn, a short poem for a service sheet or a reading to share during the funeral, this guide offers ideas to help you decide.
At Tony Clarke Funeral Directors, we understand that these choices can feel important and emotional. There is no single right choice — what matters is finding words and music that reflect the person you are remembering.
Music can be one of the most personal parts of a funeral service. A particular song may remind you of someone’s personality, a time you shared together, something they loved, or simply a piece of music that feels right for saying goodbye.
There is no requirement for funeral music to be sad, traditional or religious. Families choose everything from hymns and classical music to pop, rock, country and much more personal choices. What matters most is that the music feels appropriate for the person being remembered.
At Tony Clarke Funeral Directors, we can help families choose and arrange the music for a funeral at Sunderland Crematorium and talk through where each piece may work best within the service.
Sunderland Crematorium uses the Obitus system for funeral music and visual tributes. Families can browse the Obitus Music and Hymn Libraries online without needing a password or funeral-director login. This can be particularly helpful if you know the type of music you would like but are unsure of the exact song or version.
Obitus currently provides access to more than 300,000 licensed tracks, covering traditional hymns, classical pieces and contemporary music. If you cannot find a particular piece, let us know and we can check the options available. The final selections are arranged through the funeral director.
A crematorium service will often include music at three main points:
Entrance music – while the coffin is brought into the chapel and the congregation takes their seats.
Reflection music – during the service, giving family and friends a quieter moment to remember the person who has died. This may also accompany photographs or a visual tribute.
Exit music – played at the end of the service as the congregation leaves the chapel.
There can also be additional pieces of music, readings or poems if the family wishes, particularly where a longer service time has been arranged.
The entrance music normally begins as the funeral procession enters the chapel.
The funeral director and pallbearers bring the coffin into the chapel and place it carefully on the catafalque. Family members and other mourners then enter behind the coffin or take their seats.
The funeral director and pallbearers may remain respectfully beside the coffin for a short time before leaving the chapel and allowing the minister or celebrant to begin the service.
Because this part of the funeral involves people entering, finding their seats and settling into the chapel, the entrance music is often heard during quite a busy few minutes.
Families can choose music that feels right for them. It might be reflective and gentle, but it can equally be a favourite song that immediately reminds everyone of the person being remembered.
If the congregation is particularly large, or it takes longer for everyone to enter and settle, the music can usually be faded appropriately as the minister or celebrant begins the service.
Reflection music is usually played during a quieter part of the funeral service.
This gives family and friends a few moments simply to remember the person who has died without anyone speaking. Some families choose a gentle or emotional piece of music, while others choose something happier or more upbeat because it reflects the person’s character.
There is no right or wrong style of reflection music. It is about what feels meaningful to the family.
This is also a common point in the service for a visual tribute.
At Sunderland Crematorium, photographs can be displayed through the Obitus system. Depending on what has been arranged, this may be a single photograph shown on screen or a selection of photographs displayed as a tribute during the service. Sunderland’s current Obitus options include visual tributes, music tributes and family-supplied videos.
The final piece of music is normally played as the service comes to an end and family members and the congregation begin to leave the chapel.
This is often where families choose something particularly personal.
It does not have to be solemn. Some families choose a favourite song, something uplifting, a piece connected with a hobby or interest, or music that captures the personality of the person who has died.
The music continues while people leave the chapel, so the congregation may not necessarily hear the complete track from beginning to end.
Funeral services at a crematorium operate within an allocated time. If you are planning several pieces of music, family readings, poems, a eulogy or an extended visual tribute, it is important to allow enough time.
Where a family would like a longer or more detailed service, we can discuss whether an extended chapel booking would be more suitable. This can give everyone more time and help the service feel less rushed.
Words can be just as personal as music during a funeral service. A poem, reading or personal tribute can express feelings that may be difficult to put into words and give family and friends an opportunity to reflect on the person who has died.
Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, funeral poems, readings and personal tributes are slightly different.
A funeral poem is a piece of poetry chosen to remember the person who has died or to express feelings of love, loss, remembrance or hope.
It may be a well-known poem, something written by a family member or friend, or a poem that simply feels appropriate for the person being remembered.
A poem can be read aloud during the funeral service by a family member, friend, minister or celebrant. Shorter poems and verses may also be included in a funeral service sheet, memorial card or prayer card.
There is no requirement for a funeral poem to be sad. Some are comforting and reflective, while others celebrate someone’s personality, humour or the life they lived.
A funeral reading is a broader term for a piece of written text that is read aloud during the service.
A reading might be:
Families can choose something religious or completely non-religious depending on the person, their beliefs and the type of funeral being arranged.
A funeral tribute or eulogy is usually much more personal.
Rather than using words written by somebody else, it tells the story of the person who has died. It might include memories of their childhood, family life, work, hobbies, personality, achievements and the moments people remember most about them.
A tribute can be written and read by a family member or friend, or the family can provide memories and information for a minister or celebrant to incorporate into the service.
You do not have to read something yourself.
If you have written a poem, reading or personal tribute but feel that reading it aloud may be too difficult on the day, someone else can usually read it on your behalf. This could be another family member, a friend, the minister or celebrant conducting the service.
Families generally have a very wide choice of music. If you are arranging a funeral at Sunderland Crematorium, we can check your chosen track and version through the Obitus system and advise you if there are any practical issues.
A service commonly includes music for entering the chapel, a piece for reflection and music as everyone leaves. Additional music can be included where the service arrangements and available time allow.
Yes. Funeral music does not have to be traditional or religious. Families often choose music because it meant something to the person who died or reminds them of that person’s personality and life.
Yes. At Sunderland Crematorium, visual tributes can be arranged using Obitus. Depending on the tribute selected, photographs or video can be shown alongside chosen music.
A poem or reading can be delivered by a family member, friend, minister or celebrant. If you would like to write something yourself but do not feel able to read it on the day, another person can usually read it for you.
A reading is normally a selected piece of written material, such as a poem, religious passage or prose. A eulogy or personal tribute is usually specifically about the person who has died and their life, memories and character.
Yes, subject to space and any copyright considerations. Short verses, readings and personal words are often included in funeral service sheets and memorial cards.
You do not need to have everything decided before arranging the funeral. Our team can talk through music, readings and other personal touches with you.
Choosing music, poems and readings is only one part of creating a personal funeral service. If you would like more ideas about how a funeral can be personalised, you may find our Personalised Funeral Options page helpful.
Families who are choosing poems, readings or meaningful words to include in printed stationery can also find more information on our Funeral Service Sheets & Memorial Cards page.
If you are still at the earlier stages of making arrangements, our Funeral Services page explains more about the different funeral options available and how we can support you through the arrangements.
You can also view our Funeral Packages & Prices for a clearer idea of the services and options available through Tony Clarke Funeral Directors.
Need help choosing music, readings or other personal touches? Speak to our funeral team.
This page is reviewed and maintained by Marek Clarke, Company Director at Tony Clarke Funeral Directors.
Last updated: 8 August 2026.
The music, poems and readings shown on this page are intended to provide ideas and guidance for families arranging a funeral. We can help you choose suitable music, readings and personal touches for the service and confirm any crematorium or service-specific requirements with you.