A tribute to your late grandmother or grandfather is one of the warmest pages in a funeral programme. Grandchildren remember small, happy things that nobody else does. This guide gives you sample tributes from grandchildren that you can copy and adapt, short ones for when space is tight, and a simple way to write your own, alone or together.
One tribute from the grandchildren, or many
Decide this first. There are three common ways.
- One joint tribute. All the grandchildren sign a single tribute. This suits a large family, and it keeps the programme short.
- A tribute from each household. The grandchildren of each son or daughter write together.
- Individual tributes. Each grandchild writes one. This works when there are only a few, or when the family has plenty of pages.
Ask whoever is putting the programme together how much space there is, and when the deadline is. For a printed tribute, 100 to 200 words is a good length.
How to write a tribute to your grandmother or grandfather
- Start with the name you called them. Grandma, Grandpa, Mama Agba, Nana, Big Mummy. Use the name you really used.
- Share one clear memory. Something you saw, heard, tasted or did together.
- Say what they taught you. A habit, a saying, a prayer, a way of treating people.
- Say goodbye. One or two lines.
- Sign it. Your name, or "your grandchildren", with the names listed.
Small details make a tribute true. The sweets in her bag. The radio he carried everywhere. The way she called everyone to prayer at five in the morning.
Opening lines you can use
- Grandma, your house was the first place I ever wanted to run away to.
- Grandpa, I still look for you in your chair when I come through the door.
- Grandpa, you told us the same stories every Christmas, and we would give anything to hear them once more.
Closing lines you can use
- Rest well, Grandma. We will tell the little ones about you.
- Good night, Grandpa. Your stories are safe with us.
- We will carry your name with honour, Grandpa. Rest in peace.
Gathering memories from all the grandchildren
For a joint tribute, ask each grandchild one question: "What is the first thing you remember when you think of Grandma?" Collect the answers on WhatsApp. Even those abroad, and the very young, can send one line or a voice note.
Then choose one person to put the lines together. Keep at least one memory from each household, so that nobody feels left out.
Sample tributes to a late grandmother
Replace the words in brackets with your own details.
Tribute from all the grandchildren to a late grandmother
Grandma, our (name you called her),
We still cannot believe we will not see you at the door when we come home for the holidays. You always knew we were coming before anyone told you, and the (food) was always ready.
You taught us to pray, to greet our elders, and to share what we have. You told us stories about (place or time) that we will tell our own children. When any of us was in trouble, you were the one we ran to, and you never sent us away.
Thank you for loving every one of us as if we were the only one. We will miss your (laugh, songs, voice). Rest well, Grandma. We will make you proud.
Your loving grandchildren,
(names)
Tribute to my late grandmother from a granddaughter
My dear Grandma,
Every school holiday I came to your house, and you had cooked (food) before the car reached the gate. You taught me to plait hair, to thread a needle and to say my prayers before I slept. When my mother was strict, you were soft. When I was wrong, you still told me so.
I am wearing your (beads, scarf, ring) today. One day I will tell my own daughter whose it was.
Thank you for loving me, Grandma. Rest well.
Your granddaughter,
(name)
Tribute to my late grandmother from a grandson
Dear Grandma,
You kept the best piece of meat for me. I thought that was normal until I grew up and learned that it was love. You gave me pocket money from your (purse, wrapper, apron pocket) and told me not to tell my mother.
Every time I left, you said, "(her words)". I did not always obey. I always remembered. I am sorry that I did not visit more often.
Sleep well, Grandma. I will not forget you.
Your grandson,
(name)
Tribute to the grandmother who raised me
Mama,
Other children went home to their parents. I went home to you. You took me in when I was (age), and you raised me at a time of life when you should have been resting.
You paid my school fees from (her trade, her pension), and you mended my uniform at night. I called you Grandma, but you were a mother to me in every way that counts.
Rest now, Mama. You have worked enough.
(name)
Sample tributes to a late grandfather
Tribute from all the grandchildren to a late grandfather
Grandpa,
You were the strongest and the gentlest man we knew. You taught us to work hard, to tell the truth, and to be on time. You checked our school reports before our parents did.
We will remember (a habit, such as his morning walk, his newspaper, his radio), and the way you (something he always did or said). You gave each of us a name of your own, and you never forgot a birthday.
Thank you for your prayers and your advice. We did not always listen, but we remember every word now. Sleep well, Grandpa. We will carry your name with honour.
Your grandchildren,
(names)
Tribute to my late grandfather from a grandson
Grandpa,
You taught me to (ride a bicycle, fish, plant, play draughts), and you did not let me win. You said that a boy who is allowed to win learns nothing.
In the evenings I sat beside you while you listened to the news, and you explained the world to me as if I were already a man. When I got my first job, you asked to see the letter, and you read it twice.
Thank you for your time, Grandpa. It was the best thing you could have given me. Rest well.
Your grandson,
(name)
More sample tributes from grandchildren
A short joint tribute
Use this when space is tight.
To our dear (Grandma, Grandpa),
Thank you for the stories, the prayers and the open door. You made each of us feel special. We will keep your lessons, and we will look after one another as you taught us. Rest in peace.
From all your grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A tribute from an older grandchild
An adult grandchild can say a little more.
Grandma, you raised my mother, and then you helped to raise me. When I left for (school, city, country), you pressed (something) into my hand and said, "(her words)." I have kept that with me.
You saw me (graduate, marry, have my first child), and I thank God that you did. I am who I am because of the home you built. I will tell my children about you.
Goodnight, Grandma.
(name)
A Christian tribute to a grandmother or grandfather
(Grandma, Grandpa),
You taught us to pray. Before any of us could read, we knew (Psalm 23, the Lord's Prayer) by heart, because you said it with us every night. On Sundays you would not leave for (church) until every grandchild was ready.
Our faith began in your house. We thank God for your long life, and we believe that we shall see you again.
Rest in the Lord until that morning.
Your grandchildren,
(names)
18 short tributes to a grandmother or grandfather
Use one of these when each grandchild is given only a line or two, or for a wreath card, a WhatsApp status or a post online.
Short tributes to a grandmother
- Grandma, your house was the one place where I was never in trouble. Thank you for every holiday. Rest in peace.
- You fed us first and asked questions later. Nobody will ever cook (food) like you. Sleep well, Grandma.
- You prayed for each of us by name every morning. We are still living on those prayers. Rest well, Nana.
- I have your name, your eyes and your love of (singing, sewing, the garden). I will carry all three proudly. Good night, Grandma.
- You told me the stories of our family. I promise to tell them to those who come after me. Thank you, Mama.
- You spoiled me, and I am better for it. I love you, Granny. Rest in peace.
Short tributes to a grandfather
- Grandpa, you taught me to be on time and to keep my word. I am still trying. Rest in peace.
- You always had a coin, a sweet and a piece of advice in your pocket. I miss all three. Sleep well, Grandpa.
- You were the tallest man in my world. You still are. Rest well, Granddad.
- Thank you for the long evening talks, and for the lessons you hid inside them. Good night, Papa.
- You asked for my school report before you asked how I was. I know now that it was the same question. Rest well, Grandpa.
From all the grandchildren
- Grandma, you had room on your lap and in your heart for every one of us. Thank you. Rest in peace.
- Grandpa, the family tree stands because the root was strong. We will keep growing. Rest well.
- Your door was always open and your pot was never empty. We will keep the family coming home.
Short and simple
- Thank you for everything, Grandma. Rest in peace.
- We love you, Grandpa. Till we meet again.
- A long life, well lived. Rest well, Grandma.
- Forever our Grandpa, forever in our hearts.
A tribute from young children
For small children, write down exactly what they say. Do not tidy it up. Their own words are the tribute.
"Grandpa gave me biscuits and let me sit on his chair. I love you, Grandpa." (name, aged 5)
You can also print a child's drawing, or a photo of the child with their grandparent, with one line beneath it.
If you lived far away, or did not know them well
Some grandchildren grew up in another city or country. Write what is true, and keep it short.
Grandma, I knew you mostly by your voice on the phone. You always asked if I was eating well, and you always ended with a blessing. Thank you for praying for a grandchild you rarely saw. Rest in peace.
Bible verses to end a tribute to a grandparent
Many families close a tribute with a verse. The wording here is from the King James Version.
- Proverbs 17, verse 6. "Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers."
- Psalm 91, verse 16. "With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation."
- 2 Timothy 1, verse 5. "When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also."
For more, see Bible verses for funerals.
Reading it aloud
If the grandchildren's tribute will be read at the service, choose one or two readers. The others can stand with them. Keep it under two minutes. Practise once, slowly, and print it in large type.
Ask the minister or the master of ceremonies where it comes in the order.
Questions people ask
How do I write a tribute to my late grandmother?
Start with the name you called her, share one clear memory, say what she taught you, and say goodbye. One true detail, such as the food she cooked or the song she sang, is worth more than a line of praise.
What do grandchildren say in a tribute to a grandfather?
They speak about the time he gave them: the stories, the lessons, the school reports he checked. Thank him, say what you will keep from him, and end with a short farewell.
How long should a tribute from grandchildren be?
For a printed funeral programme, 100 to 200 words is a good length. A tribute read aloud should take under two minutes.
Can a young child give a tribute to a grandparent?
Yes. Write down the child's own words and print them with the child's name and age. A drawing, or a photo of the two together, also makes a good tribute.
Check before you send it
- The spelling of every grandchild's name
- That no grandchild or household is missing from the list
- That it fits the length you were given
- That it says "Grandma" or "Grandpa" the same way each time
- That a parent has read it, in case a memory needs a small correction
For a longer guide, see how to write a tribute. Your parents can use tribute to my late mother or tribute to my late father. For the facts of the life, see the sample biography of a late mother or father.
Collect tributes with Homegoing
Homegoing gives the family one link to share. Each grandchild, wherever they live, can open it on a phone and add a tribute. The tributes go straight into the funeral programme, in the order the family chooses. Start a programme