Funeral Poem for an Alzheimer's Sufferer

Our funeral poems for Alzheimer collection includes funeral poems for sufferers of Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

Poem for a Father

As I looked upon your face
I saw the wonder of God’s grace
Once again, whole at last
No more suffering, your life raced past

Then all was quiet, completely still
Peace at last, no longer ill
I remembered the memories that we shared
Our deep and meaningfuls, how much you cared

I used to visit, though hard it was
I watched you slip away, my Dad almost lost
Watching glints of recognition in your eyes
Crying with joy when it took me by surprise

You didn’t deserve that cruel disease
It brought us completely to our knees
The years were robbed, it wasn’t right
Up to the end, I watched you fight

Dad I smile when I think of you
You made mistakes, but me too
Dad it doesn’t matter about the past
I’m just so happy you are free at last.

Funeral Poems: 

Alzheimer's Patient's Prayer

Alzheimer Patient’s Prayer

Pray for me I was once like you
Be kind and loving to me,
That’s how I would have treated you.
Remember I was once someone’s parent or spouse
I had a life and a dream for the future.

Speak to me, I can hear you
even if I don’t understand what you are saying.
Speak to me of things in my past of which I can still relate.
Be considerate of me, my days are such a struggle.

Think of my feelings
because I still have them and can feel pain.
Treat me with respect
because I would have treated you that way

Think of how I was
before I got Alzheimer’s
I was full of life;
I had a life, laughed and loved you

Think of how I am now,
my disease distorts my thinking, my
feelings, and my ability to respond,
but I still love you
even if I can’t tell you.

Think about my future
because I used to.
Remember I was full
of hope for the future just like you are now

Think how it would be to have things locked in your mind
and can’t let them out.
I need you to understand
and not blame me but, Alzheimer’s

I still need the compassion
and the touching and most of all
I still need you to love me.
Keep me in your prayers
because I am between life and death

The love you give
will be a blessing from God and both of
us will live forever
How you live and what you do today
will always be remembered
in the heart of the Alzheimer’s Patient

© 2000 Carolyn Haynali

Funeral Poems: 

I Know You

In loving Memory of “mom”
Rachel Elizabeth Jessup:
I know you - By Andrea Cook

I know you, I know your face. From another time in a far off place. These years have been a blur you see, I've been losing little bits of me.

It started slow, just misplaced rings, and I don't remember certain things. Like how did I get this scratch on my knee, and where did I park the car you see.

How do you lose yourself this way? Another piece almost everyday. Till at last you just don't care any more, and another stranger walks through your door.

I know you, I must you see. Cause your eyes are saying that you know me. What did we do ? Have I known you for long?
Were we best friends. Was our friendship strong?

Did we have great times? Did we laugh out loud? Did I stand by you? Did I make you proud?

Did we fight sometimes? Did we soon forgive? Did we take for granted this life we live?

I know you, I know I should. But my memory is not so good. The light is soft, my mind's a haze. I can't remember my own days.

One more bad day, then I'm set free, my mind is clear, I'm back to me! The light is bright, His face shines through. “Well done good and faithful servant .. I know you”.

Funeral Poems: 

Alzheimer's

If someone has had Alzheimer's it is always difficult to know what to say at their funeral. My hope is, that the following funeral poem for someone with Alzheimer's, will help you to remember them when their mind was fit and well. This Alzheimer funeral poem concentrates on the long period of life prior to the onset of the disease, rather than the relatively short period of time following the onset of Alzheimer's - Dick Underwood 2010

You didn't die just recently,
You died some time ago.
Although your body stayed a while,
And didn't really know.

For you had got Altzheimer's,
You failed to comprehend.
Your body went on living.
But your mind had reached its end.

So we've already said, "Goodbye",
To the person that we knew.
The person that we trully loved,
The person that was, "You".

And so we meet again today,
To toast your bodies end.
For it was true and faithful,
Until right at the end.

And so, when we remember,
We'll think of all the rest.
We'll concentrate on earlier,
And remember all the best.

For in the real scheme of things,
Your illness wasn't long.
Compared to all the happiness,
You brought your whole life long.

We think of you as yesterday,
When you were fit and well.
And when we're asked about you,
It's those things that we'll tell.

And so we meet in 'membrance,
Of a mind so fit and true.
We're here to pay our last respects
To say that, "We love you".

Dick Underwood 2010

If you have a relative who has Alzheimer's you may find the following links helpful:

USA Alzheimer's Association. The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research in the USA.

UK Alzheimer's Society. The Alzheimer's Organisation is the leading UK care and research charity for people with this disease and other dementias, their families and carers.

The above funeral poem, ‘Alzheimers‘, has been written for those celebrating the life of someone whose body outlived their mind.

I have also written the funeral poem, ‘The Mind Is Well’, as the other side of the coin, for those celebrating the life of someone whose mind outlived their body.

Further information about about Dick Underwood's Poems

Funeral Poems: 

Free at last

"Free At Last" (A poem for a father)

As I looked upon your face
I saw the wonder of God’s grace
Once again, whole at last
No more suffering, your life raced past

Then all was quiet and completely still
Peace at last, no longer ill
I remembered the memories that we shared
Our deep and meaningfuls, how much you cared

I used to visit, though hard it was
I watched you slip away, my Dad almost lost
Watching glints of recognition in your eyes
Crying with joy when it took me by surprise

You didn’t deserve that cruel disease
It brought us completely to our knees
The years were robbed, it wasn’t right
Up to the end, I watched you fight

Dad, I smile when I think of you
You’ve made mistakes, but we all do too
Dad, it doesn’t matter about the past
I’m just so happy that you are free at last.

poem Author: Vicky Thompson

Funeral Poems: 

Who Am I

If you ask me my name, I may not know
My memory is like a fog, fading in and out
I may not walk fast; most things I do slow
As time goes on, less things I know about.

Although my memory I cannot grasp
One minute I'm happy and smiling, then I'm sad or crying
What I have now will not last
I think most would agree I'm just very 'trying'.

I was once a little girl whose head was full of dreams
doing the things little girls like to do
hopscotch, playing with dolls, swimming in streams
going to school, and visiting the zoo.

I was the young girl madly in love
I married the man I loved and started a family
After a few years, I gave my heart to God above
And tried to be the best mother I could be.

I am the mother who loved you so much
Cared for you when you were sick and helped you get well
Sent you off to school; always made your lunch
Picked you up and dried your tears when you fell.

I am the mother who cried with you when you were sad
Who laughed with you when times were good
Put up with you when you went through the latest fad
But you always made me proud of you; I knew you would.

I watched as you found the right person and fell in love
Knowing the day would come when I would have to let you go
But in my heart, of you I was so proud of
I knew that in your new life, you would continue to grow.

I am the mother who cried tears of joy
when I found out I was to be a grandmother
Grandchildren that I could play with and enjoy
And with my love, with them I would smother.

I am the same person you've always known
But my memory is gone and my mind is but a daze
I'm surrounded by people I don't know; I feel alone
More and more often, my eyes betray a vacant gaze.

But the day will come when the Lord will come for me
And then my mind will forever be clear
Of this terrible disease I will forever be free
And never again will I have anything to fear.

So when you look at me, and I look back with a vacant stare
Remember all the good times we had and the love we shared
Continue to care for me, love me and keep me in prayer
When we meet again in Heaven, righteous will we be declared.

©Rick Harris
August 1, 2007

I wrote this for my very good friend, Dorothy and her husband, Wayne. She doesn't know me but that's not important. I know her and I remember her as she was before she was struck with this terrible disease of Alzheimer's. Wayne's love for her has never faltered and his inner strength to personally care for her through all this should be an inspiration to all ! - Rick Harris

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