With tears we saw you suffer,
We watched you fade away,
Our hearts were slowly breaking,
As you fought so hard to stay.
You did not want to leave us,
But you did not go alone,
For part of us went with you,
The day God took you home.

Tired and weary you made no fuss,
you tried so hard to stay with us,
you suffered so much and told so few,
you never deserved what you went through.
Close to our hearts you will always stay,
loved and remembered every day.

Out of this world of suffering,
into God’s garden of rest,
it must be a beautiful garden,
because He always takes the best.

Beautiful memories woven in gold,
this is the picture we tenderly hold,
deep in our hearts your memory is kept,
to love, cherish and never forget.

A face we love is missing,
a voice we love is still,
a place is vacant in our hearts,
that no one else can fill.

A special smile,
a special face,
and in our hearts,
a special place.

That woman is a success
who has lived well,
laughed often and loved much;
who has gained the respect
of intelligent people
and the love of children;
who has filled her niche
and accomplished her task;
who leaves the world better
than she found it;
who has never lacked appreciation
of earth’s beauty
or failed to express it;
who looked for the best in others
and gave the best she had.

When I am gone, release me, let me go;
You have so many things to see and do.
You must not tie yourself to me with tears;
Be happy that we had so many years.

I gave you my love, you can only guess
How much you gave me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you all have shown
But now it’s time I travelled on alone.

So grieve awhile for me – if you must –
Then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It’s only for a while that we must part
So bless the memories within your heart.

I will not be far away, for life goes on –
So if you need me, call and I will come.
Though you cannot see or touch me, I’ll be near,
And if you listen with your heart you’ll hear
All of my love around you soft and clear.

Then when ‘you’ must come this way alone,
I will greet you with a smile
And a “Welcome Home”.

The memory of her life
lived in peace and harmony,
and entirely dedicated
to the family,
will remain ineffable
in the minds of all those
who knew and loved her.

The memory of his life
lived in peace and harmony,
and entirely dedicated
to the family,
will remain ineffable
in the minds of all those
who knew and loved him.

Do not cry for my absence
feel me close and still
talk to me.
I will love you from heaven
as I have loved you
on earth.

A golden heart stopped beating,
two hands were laid to rest,
God broke our hearts to prove,
He only takes the best.
If tears could build a stairway,
and memories build a lane,
we would walk right up to heaven
and bring you back again.

You were someone special,
Someone good and true,
You will never be forgotten,
We thought the world of you.

You came to us for just a while
and brought with you that lovely smile.
Eyes that beamed with love and sparkle
opened wide, the world to marvel.

A heart so young and filled with love,
but now you rest with those above.
We miss your presence, that’s no lie
and often we can’t help but cry.

But who could wish that you should stay
when pain and illness plagued your way.
Selfish thoughts would want to keep you
when the angels came to meet you.

Your time on earth was very brief,
but memories stay to swallow the grief.
Time will help to heal the pain,
slowly we will live again.

We know how much that we were blessed,
but now they’ve taken you to rest.
To lift again that lovely smile
you shared with us for just a while.

When I must leave you for a little while,
please do not grieve and shed wild tears
and hug your sorrow to you through the years,
but start out bravely with a gallant smile;
and for my sake and in my name live on
and do all things the same.
Feed not your loneliness on empty days,
but fill each waking hour in useful ways.
Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer
and I in turn will comfort you
and you will know that I am always near;
and never, never be afraid to die,
for I am waiting for you in the sky!

~ Helen Steiner Rice ~