a sample eulogy speech

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Eulogies are pieces of writing or funeral speeches that are typically shared at a funeral or gathering for someone who has passed away. The speeches often contain a description of the person who passed away, the kind of person they were and personal memories that the person delivering the eulogy finds meaningful to share. That being said, eulogies can be fully customized to fit your writing style and needs and can come in all types of formats. Somber eulogies, eulogies filled with stories, short eulogies, and funny eulogies are all common. The best eulogy speeches are those that are written from the heart.

How to write a eulogy

Outstanding eulogies posted on ever loved, example eulogy templates, eulogy examples for a friend, eulogy examples for a father, eulogy examples for a mother, eulogy examples for a grandmother or grandfather, eulogy examples for a son, eulogy examples for a brother or sister, eulogy examples for a grandson or granddaughter, eulogy example for an infant, eulogy examples for a parent, eulogy examples for a wife, eulogy examples for a coworker, eulogy examples for various professions.

Not sure where to start? Don’t know how to write a eulogy for a mother? Friend? Sister? Grandfather? Try to relax and remember that many people don’t know how to write a eulogy, especially for someone important in their life. To start, the main parts to include in a standard eulogy are as follows:

Introduction

A brief introduction usually looks like “Thank you all for being here” or “Thank you all for coming”. You’re acknowledging the audience and thanking them for sharing this time with you and yours.

Short story

Including a short story about your loved one is customary and is usually a story that really shows their personality or what about them made them special. If you’re interested in a lighter eulogy, consider sharing a funny story. For more somber atmospheres, stories about lessons taught by the individual or a story about their achievements is a great alternative. Other popular story topics include major accomplishments, life events, the impact the person had on others, childhood memories and years, stories about traveling, marriage, family, children, or other important stories.

Favorite memories

Similar to the story, it’s not unusual to see eulogies include one or two favorite memories the person had with the deceased. These memories can be of simple or complex moments; this is up to you and what feels right.

Important quote

If your loved one had a favorite passage, verse, quote, or poem, you can include it in the eulogy itself. Alternatively, if you have a passage or quote that you feel is relevant and important to share, you can include that as well.

You can end the eulogy by summarizing the impact this person had on the lives of others and by acknowledging the family and those who chose to attend the services again. It may also feel fitting to end the eulogy with a treasured quote or passage.

Order a eulogy

If you're looking for examples of real eulogies that have been written and read by folks on Ever Loved, here are some outstanding examples. Reading through example eulogies can help inspire you and guide you when it comes time for you to prepare a eulogy.

Shannon McMasters' eulogy

Written by Stephen McMasters Shannon McMasters' eulogy, written and read by her brother, Stephen, is a beautiful testament to a woman who Stephen describes as a "shining star that burned out too soon". Shannon's life was far from easy, but reading about her perseverance, determination, and strength and hearing her brother recount meaningful moments in their life and the impact she had on him and those around her is powerful. Shannon's eulogy is an example for those who are looking to honor the struggles and difficulties their loved one dealt with while remembering other important aspects of their life. Visit Shannon's memorial website to learn more about her life.

Read Shannon's full eulogy below:

Shannon had such a big life and touched so many people, it’s hard to know where to begin. Other than our mother, Shannon was the closest person to me growing up. I was basically raised by my mom and sister. Many of my earliest memories are of the two of us, singing Disney songs together, watching The Breakfast Club on rerun, and of course, fights in the backseat of the car. Later in life, she was the cool big sister. And I wanted to be just like her. I have so many fond memories with Shannon, from the University of Florida to moving cross-country to Los Angeles and on to Atlanta. I would not have done many of these things if not for her. Shannon was my best friend. We laughed at everything together, our sense of humor was nearly identical. We bonded over music sharing two of our top three favorite bands. People even said we look alike, which I was never sure was a compliment or not. The bulk of my life was spent with Shannon; it’s hard to believe she’s gone. She was a shining star that burned out too soon. I don’t know too many people that met Shannon and didn’t have something wonderful to say about her. She truly had a gift to connect to people, understand them, make them feel special and like they mattered. I believe she got this gift from our mother who also had a knack with people. Everyone’s life was brighter having known my sister, especially mine. People think Shannon was lucky to have me, but I was lucky to have her. I know I would not be the person I am today without her. She was always positive and believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. Because of her, my dreams were bigger, my achievements were bigger, my life was bigger. Shannon was fearless in her pursuits; she accomplished so much in her short life. She graduated from UF, double-majoring in Political Science and Theatre. She then graduated from UCLA Law. She obtained degrees from both institutions while enduring bone marrow transplants. Later she went to cosmetology school at the Aveda Institute in Atlanta. I think it’s fair to say Shannon was dealt a rough hand from the start. In 1997, and again in 2004, she was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia, an extremely rare disease in which the bone marrow quits producing red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Even with a donor, chances of survival are still not 100%. Fortunately, I was a match. I was Bone Marrow Boy as Shannon liked to call me. Throughout both transplants, she had to undergo chemotherapy, hospital isolation, and months of recovery before returning to her normal life. Her oncologist declared her in remission in 2012, but she suffered from graft versus host disease, which caused numerous side effects both internally and externally. For years she took cancer-causing immunosuppressant drugs to suppress her immune system so her body would not reject my marrow. Not only did Aplastic Anemia do tremendous damage to her body, it wreaked havoc on her mind. Doctors told Shannon she would not live passed 40 and would likely be barren. I can’t imagine hearing this as an 18 year-old. Living more than half of her life with a terminal illness resulted in clinical depression and PTSD. She was also told she may develop mental disorders later in life due to her extraordinary illness. As a young adult, her way of dealing with the condition was to not be emotional or vulnerable. She dealt with her illness by pushing it aside and pursuing her academic and career goals, leading many of us to forget that she was ever sick at all. Music, painting, and dancing also played significant roles in my sister’s healing. Shannon viewed dance as therapy. In 2014, she was a research participant in one of my school projects. She tied her connection to music and dancing directly to her illness. She stated, quote, “It’s where problems don’t exist. When you’re not thinking of everything else going on in your life, therefore your anxiety is reduced. Moving and dancing to music makes you happy. You’re not feeling depressed. It’s all about the whole getting lost in the moment. That’s a lot of what Buddhist practice is, staying in the present.” My sister seemed to have found peace in those moments of presence on the dance floor. She also found peace through painting, which she spent a lot time doing the last five years. I think that’s one of the many reasons we all loved Shannon, she made us feel special every moment we were with her. We were present because we felt her presence. In the summer of 2015, Shannon had her first psychotic break. Later that year, she was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder borderline Schizoaffective Disorder. Mental illness would prove to be the battle of Shannon’s life. She really struggled those last few years. During this time, her mind was changing and she was helpless to stop or reverse it. She lost many of her close connections, not because she OR we didn’t want them, but because she was trying to navigate her new reality that included mania, paranoia, and delusions. Losing our mother in 2021 and her dogs Osa and Kiki back-to-back was just too much to handle. She was hurting and trying to survive the only way she knew how, but I know she did not want to hurt herself and what happened was an accident. She told me not too long ago that she knew she was never going to be the same again, and she hated her illness and what it had done to her. It just isn’t fair what happened to Shannon. In the end, I think she felt misunderstood and no longer accepted, and that’s what hurts the most. I think she felt alone, like she didn’t have anyone. That’s the tragedy of mental illness, not just because of what she went through, but it’s hard for us to understand and even when we try to help, relationships suffer. Unfortunately there were no easy answers or quick fixes, and I underestimated her ability to cope with her illness. The transplants may have saved her life before, I just wish I could’ve saved it again. Sometimes I feel I didn’t do enough and maybe I’ll always feel guilt for that. Shannon recently told me she prayed to God frequently to take her. I think she was ready to go. I think she has been ready for a while. She felt she had a bigger purpose beyond this place. She came into our lives briefly, laughed with us, cried with us, danced with us, made us smile, made us feel special, then left as quickly as she arrived. Maybe that was her purpose here, to have a positive impact on all of us by leaving us better than she found us. I suppose death is what makes life beautiful, knowing that our time here is finite, to make the most of it and remember what is important. Shannon reminded us of that. When she died, a part of me died too, but a part of her and our mother will always live on in me because they make up so much of who I am. While my heart is broken that she is gone and I will never see my sister again in this life, a part of me feels that she is no longer suffering and is at peace with our mother in God’s kingdom. Some birds simply aren’t meant for this world, their feathers are too bright. That’s how I’ll always remember Shannon, and God called her home to be with our mother.

Juanita Pearce's eulogy

Written by Christopher Cost Juanita Pearce's eulogy, written with love and forethought by her grandson Christopher, is a wonderful example for those who are looking for a unique way to deliver a eulogy for a loved one. Christopher gives beautiful insight into Juanita's life by describing one of his earliest memories, describing how she was throughout her life, and what kind of emotional impact she had on all those she knew. Her dedication to her family and willingness to sacrifice for the good of others is detailed throughout his tribute. Additionally, Christopher takes the time to address members of the family, a beautiful departure from the standard eulogy format that makes Juanita's eulogy incredibly heartwarming and unique. Visit Juanita's memorial website to learn more about her life.

Read Juanita's full eulogy below:

Good morning. I am Christopher, Juanita’s grandson from her daughter, Debbie. My nearly 42- year life is right about the length of the job she retired from. She made it to her 89th birthday and then some. From her birth in 1933 to her retirement was just around 60 years. I still have 18 years to get to that point. A lot can happen within that time span. Memory and Truth are funny things. My memory tells me that of all the family, I feel I may have spent the most time with her. The truth is that of all the people that have been in my life, my grandma is the one that has been the most present and participatory. One of my earliest memories of time with my grandma, which is a bit fuzzy at this point in my life, is going to work with her during a summer I was staying with her. She was a manager at Southwestern Bell and visitors had to wear a special badge. What I remember is that I was playing with the alligator clip on the badge and managed to pinch and hurt my finger. I remember my grandma and many other grandmas running to my rescue. I remember my grandma taking me to see these giant catfish that were bigger than me at the time. I remember that I was being a dumb kid and fell and hurt my wrist and she found a way to get me patched up. I still have the scar. My earlier memories may be fuzzy and even failing me, but the truth isn’t: my grandma was always there for me, no matter what. For many of you, perhaps family most of all, that knew grandma before our car accident in 2004, there may be memories of a woman with strong beliefs. You may have memories of her sharing her opinion, and perhaps even memories of some strong judgments and prejudices. For those of us that were especially close to her, we likely also have memories of her always learning and growing into a person that overcame her prejudices. What I remember is she became a woman that even with her opinions, and attitudes, and judgements, never let that get in the way of doing the right thing and rendering aide and support when it was needed. The truth is I’ve only collected two-thirds the memories that my mother and uncle can recall. Her elder sister and only surviving sibling Helen may be able to recall my grandmother’s entire lifetime as memories. The truth is memories are but glimpses and moments and no singular memory or even the collection of memories from a single person will ever adequately define an individual. A lot of you may be blessed by only the last few years of my grandma’s life. I dare say they may be some of the richest blessings you may receive. Truth be told, for as long as I have memories of her, they are made up of sacrifice and offering, one after another. Be it driving to Texas to take care of her grandchildren when my uncle and aunt had to go on a trip or an overnight drive into the mountains of Arkansas to help my mom care for me and my sisters. Or middle of the night runs to the emergency room when one of my sisters or myself had an emergency and mom needed support. No matter the reason, no matter what she was doing, my memories are of a woman who was always there for her family. These last 18 years of my grandma’s life were some of her most challenging. Yet, while she always brought her ornery and cantankerous personality, she also brought every bit of survival fight and strength of character to fill my memories with a woman who scaled an ever-increasing mountain of health and physical and mental challenges. For the 8- and one-half years I directly cared for my grandma following the accident, we tackled daily physical and occupational therapy at my parents’ house and then at the clinic until she could finally return to her own home. We later battled through a relocation to find her and me a new home that was better suited for her ongoing needs and care, to only then face breast cancer before getting into thyroid surgeries. My mother then took over for a few years on daily care before my sister Rebecca took over principal care and support in 2020, just as the pandemic hit. Most of you have your own memories of these last two or three years that I ask for you to recall as I share what I believe of the last few years of my grandma’s life. I believe the truth is that our individual and collective memories tell of a woman that continued to be there no matter what the situation was. They tell of her being a person of support, care, and growth both personally and as an example for everyone around her. And I believe that she will continue to be that person in spirit through the end of each of our lives and the lives of each life we touch. I would like now to speak directly to a some of our family that have been part of Grandma’s daily life and were crucial in the ongoing fight my grandma put up these last 18 years. Kylie, You may never understand how important you were to Grandma Juanita. You were born just ahead of our car accident that changed her life forever. By the time she came to your grandma’s and grandpa’s house for her recovery, you were a source of ongoing reason for her to keep going. I hope that you will from time to time calm your mind and heart to just let her example of love and value for family guide you as you enter your adulthood. RyLee and Lora, She didn’t play favorites often--I should know because I did spend so much time with her--but she does have a special connection with each of you. Ava, Your video calls lighted your Grandma Juanita’s day and gave her a bright smile. To Owen, You don’t understand this today, but Grandma Juanita will always be with you. You were her source of strength and inspiration to keep fighting when her life was turned upside down going from living alone to living with you, your two big sisters and brother, your mom and dad, and the dogs. It was not an easy adjustment for her, but she was able to make that transition because of you. And as your Grandma Debbie and mommy will remind you in the years to come, your partner-in-crime will always be with you, even if you cannot remember her. And, to Kaison and Gavin, the twins, You brought her fresh spirit when her life was yet again shaken with a relocation and then her stroke earlier this year. To my dad, David, Despite your own health, you found the energy to help grandma with her laundry and as always, the two of you continued to keep each other on your toes in conversation. To my brother-in-law Matthew, you helped to clean up messes and did a lot of the heavy lifting with RyLee to relocate her lifetime of things to the new house and storage. To her sister Helen, I know that having a close relationship with you, and your brothers Dillard and Dalford when they were still with us, was very important to her. And, to all of grandma’s family and friends with whom she spoke or saw, there have been so many “cooks in the kitchen,” but she was always grateful for each of you. You each played a role greater than you may know in her ability to continue bringing us blessings and love for 89 years. To my sister Rebecca, who possesses a soul of infinite compassion and caregiving, I want to thank you for the life you were able to let our grandma keep. I may have taken care of her first, but you stepped up and took care of her when she needed support and assistance that allowed her to retain her dignity and privacy in a way a grandson couldn’t provide. And, finally, to her daughter, my mother, You’ve been here as a coordinator and source of medical knowledge and wisdom that completed out and has been no less important than the direct care Rebecca and I provided. Life has thrown you one personal or family health challenge after another, and you have continuing challenges in front of you. Always remember that you too can always calm your mind and heart to allow your mom’s strength and guidance to pick you up when you’re in doubt or facing uncertainty. Death is not the end! It is merely another step we must all take. For those of faith and spirituality that believe Juanita is in Heaven with God, death on Earth is but her means to move to that eternal life. And, for all of us, her death is merely a transition to an ongoing presence on Earth for as long as we each continue to keep her memory within us and grow from her and for as long as you each keep her as part of your truth. In a few hours, some of us will go on a bit of drive to Anadarko to inter her body with her parents and two of her brothers. For as far back as I can remember, this was an annual pilgrimage over Memorial Day weekend. Each year, I can recall the same story as we would pass by Sonic on the highway. Grandma would always remind us that she grew up in a house behind that Sonic. I don’t think that specific Sonic is still there. But for any of you that join us for the burial this afternoon, as you enter Anadarko and see what looks like an old Sonic on your right, let it be a reminder of how precious memories are. For me, I will always remember my grandmother as the woman that took me to the store to get hamburger meat, go home and cook spaghetti and Ragu, spread towels on the floor in front of the TV, and watch movies while we ate on those towels. No matter what memory of her beliefs, opinions, and judgments, I will always know the truth is Grandma loved me, her family, and her friends. The truth is she wasn’t only present, she was actively participating when present. It is in great part through her example and pruning that I am the person I am today. I thank you, Grandma, for every gift and lesson and moment you gave me, and there are nearly 42 years of them to draw on. I love you and carry you with me always!

Barbara Burton Kleinert's eulogy

Written by Christine Maszkiewicz This beautiful eulogy is a wonderful example of how to interweave testament to someone's personality and character with the core occassions of their life. Barbara's eulogy is able to paint a thorough picture of what she enjoyed, what she was passionate about, how she was as a mother, her educational and career choices, and so much more. It's clear that anyone who had the privilege to listen to this eulogy (or to read it in its written form) was given a wonderful opportunity to learn deeply about who Barbara was as a mother, partner, friend, and person. To learn more about Barbara's life, visit her memorial website .

Read Barbara's full eulogy below:

Hello everyone, I am Christie Maszkiewicz, Barbara’s daughter. Today we come to honor and remember the life of Barbara Kleinert. My mother passed away four months exactly from the day my father passed away this year. We sit here in the same spot where we held his memorial back in February. It’s surreal. My family is still dealing with raw heartache from his death and now we are all feeling the pain from hers as well. They both left a void in our hearts. My brother and I are now without our dear parents. My nephews have lost both grandparents on their father’s side. It’s been a tough year so far so I want to thank you all for coming out to remember Barbara and to support this family once again while we are all trying to come to terms with such a great loss. I know many people could not make the trip to Colorado for health reasons or travel reasons. Barbara’s sister Laurie, brother Dave and niece Jenny all are here in spirit and watching online from the east coast and beyond. They wish they could be here today. They joined my brother and I and our spouses in the days leading up to my mother’s passing. We sat around her bed and talked with mom and reminisced about our time with Mom. At times I know for sure that Mom heard and reacted to what we were saying. She was surrounded with family and love in her last days and to me that is the most important thing. Love you Laurie, Dave and Jenny. Thank you, guys, for being there and for being here virtually today. My mom, Barbara was a sincere and warm person. She was a daughter, a grandchild, a niece and then a big sister. She was a close friend, a parishioner, a nurse and a teacher. She was a wife, a sister-in-law, an aunt, and a grandma. To many in her life she was a listener, a singer and a hand to hold. To me she was my mom. My mom loved to care for others throughout her life. My aunt Laurie told me one of her earliest memories was Mom, known as Barbie to Laurie, picking her up out of her crib when she was upset one night, holding and comforting her. During my mom’s childhood she grew up feeling unseen and unheard; she felt she didn’t really fit in or live up to her mother’s expectations. Her heart though was full of love, she turned those feelings of hurt into good. She reached out and helped others to make them feel seen, to make them feel heard. Her passion growing up was very much the church and music. She learned piano but found the guitar to be her instrument of choice and she used it throughout her life to bring song into a youth group or on a mission trip. When she was older, she went to nursing school to help others. Giving of herself was her calling. In her mother’s last year’s my mom was by her side and took care of her and the two eventually made peace. My mother was persistent about peace and understanding between those she loved. Mom was always involved in hobbies that helped others; she even met my dad through her volunteering activities. They met at the U.S.O. in New Jersey where she volunteered. Through her giving spirit she and my dad saw each other through some rough early years. Mom worked nights so dad could work and go to school. She juggled raising a young son while working long hours and supporting her husband. Eventually when a second child came along, she stopped working to be a stay-at-home mother and continue supporting her husband as he continued working and pursuing a Master’s Degree. My brother and I don’t have early memories of daycare, we have memories of being home with mom. Memories of being loved and cared for by her. That was a sacrifice she made, family was very important to her and I know we both appreciate the fact that our parents made that choice. When she went back into the workforce, she had to volunteer to get experience, since a Nursing degree wasn’t enough apparently. She volunteered and eventually worked in the school district with severely handicapped children. The passion she had for helping others became a lifelong career. Mom was always devoted to helping others, through her church St. Michaels in Colorado Springs, she joined the prison Ministry Kairos. I remember as a child answering the phone on weekends when mom was away on a Kairos Retreat. I very politely told the caller that mom was not here right now, she was in prison, could I take a message? My parents always got a chuckle out of that. As a child I connected with my mom’s fun spirit. She was childlike in the sense that she found wonder and beauty in the world where ever she went. She loved animals and nature. As child she had a bunny named Thumper that she adored. Later when she married my dad they acquired a pet skunk named Flower….I think we can figure out what name a pet deer may have acquired. Growing up we couldn’t have a dog or a cat since dad was allergic. With two kids and a wife wanting a critter he and mom figured out a way to make a guinea pig work with dad’s allergies. We had a spotted female named Cutie for a time and then we brought home Skeezics, a red spiky haired guinea pig. My mother had so much fun with him. We’d let him run around the living room and race down the hallway of the house. Many times mom had to help dad dismantle the huge sleeper sofa to get the guinea pig out from underneath where he was hiding. My mom would also sing various songs to the guinea pig, especially at treat time. That little pig would squeak so loudly when he heard the song….”What Shall we get for the Pig” since he knew he was getting a tasty treat. When we moved from CO to VA it was very hard on our family. Mom made sure to help us kids adjust and get involved in activities. As a horse crazy 8-year-old I wanted my own pony. The next best thing, riding lessons. My mom was at every single riding lesson camera in hand. She stood at the fence cheering me on as I learned new things like cantering or jumping. When I had my first fall she rushed to my side and as the old adage tells you, encouraged me to get back on. I’m sure as a mother that goes against many instincts to encourage a child to continue something that injured them. That next week she got me up early every morning so I could soak in a warm bath to ease my pain. In VA my mother continued with Kairos Prison missions but also got involved in Therapeutic riding for special needs children. I joined her a few times at the farm helping with the horses. She loved working with the children. They would come alive up on horseback, it relaxed them and they responded to the games mom and other volunteers played to engage the children. The smiles were just as bright on her face as they were on the children’s. My mother continued to love critters even after our family didn’t have any more pets. Our deck in the back of the house was not our deck. We didn’t have patio furniture or a hot tub out there. Nope, we had birds and squirrels lined up on every single railing eating the seeds and peanuts placed out there by mom. At night we ended up having raccoons at times. One evening there must have been 12 raccoons eating the seeds and other goodies mom fed to the critters. A special guest was Petey, a Virginia Opossum. This little critter loved noodles with BBQ sauce a specialty my mother whipped up for for her culinary delight. Mom spent hours taking photos of this sweet little creature. One day the opossum was still there in the morning and we watched her run off the deck to the underside of the front porch. She came back out with 10 babies clinging to her back and headed off into the woods. Mom made sure we all there to see it and she took pictures of the spectacle. Growing up loving animals just like my mother I didn’t have to look far to find a fuzzy or feathery friend to enjoy. My mother would often take in the birds that flew head first into the window. She would let them rest in a darkened aquarium until they came out of shock and then released them back to the woods. One such incident occurred with a little Tufted Titmouse, aptly named Tufty. He hit the window and needed help. When mom went to catch him, the little guy flew into the house and into the powder room that I was just exiting. My mom and I spent 15 minutes trying to catch that little bird to get him back outside. As I got older and moved on to college and beyond, I acquired the pets I didn’t have growing up, the fuzzy allergy triggering ones. My mother and father loved their grand-dog Spencer. He was a silly little Jack Russell Terrier. Mom never begrudged the fact that I didn’t want children of my own she accepted her four legged grandchildren. Every time I brought Spencer over you would hear the shrill voice of mom bellowing “Grand-Dog! Grand-dog”. He certainly was a spoiled grandchild. When I finally got my pony, my mother was there to meet her, happy as a clam to see me with Daenerys and to share the moment. My mother was constantly documenting our lives with photos. This was before digital photos which now everyone takes pictures of EVERYTHING. My mom invented that; out would come the camera and us kids would groan. Now we have boxes and boxes of memories to sort through that I know we will cherish as we walk down memory lane and thank her for being the shutterbug she was. Kodak stayed in business for a long time because of mom! My mother was the ever-present cheerleader and moral compass of our family. She brought a light to our lives, she often instigated fun but was also patient when we stepped out of line. Surviving my teenage years is a testament to the patience and love my mother had for her family. One hard part I’ve learned about losing someone is having to go through their belongings. Though I will state this act can shed light on memories that will warm the heart. So honestly this burden is one my brother and I are happy to take on. While looking through some books I came across a note mom wrote. She made many notes and comments in nearly every book she read. This particular note though was about parenting. She wrote that parents will make many mistakes. These mistakes shouldn’t really matter if the child knew they were loved. And mom, yes….we knew we were loved. Very much so. This year has been a hard year but with all the tragedy and difficult times we’ve had to endure, this year has been a year full of love, last moments and memories. I cherish these memories and they bring me comfort that there was so much love. I hope each of us can reflect on the memories we have of my Mom, Barbara….and that those feelings can bring us all comfort. We will love you forever Mom. We will love you forever.

Barbara Fritsche Olmanson's eulogy

Written by Leif Olmanson Written in the form of detailed descriptions of different memories Leif had with his mother, Barbara's eulogy is a perfect example of the how the accumulation of small moments woven together end up creating a beautiful landscape of a life well lived. Leif's description of each memory that he cherished with his mom is a perfect way for the reader to gain an understanding of the type of woman Barbara was and the effect she had on those around her. For those looking to share a eulogy that's built on memories, Leif's eulogy is a wonderful place to gain inspiration. To learn more about Barbara's life, visit her memorial website .

Read the full eulogy below:

Remembrances of Mom: When she was ten years old our mother was baptized at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in New Ulm, but I think one reason she chose the Church of the Holy Communion for our family was because of the beauty of the church and its history. I recall being told that the ceiling was designed to look like an upside-down ship—basically a vessel to bring the parishioners to heaven. And that the stained-glass windows came from England by sailing ships and overland by ox cart. The Dodd family grave in the back of the church evokes pioneer history. Mom had a keen interest in local history, and this Episcopal Church building is a living reminder of that history. The obituary focuses on Mom’s love of travel, especially their long trip to Burma and their service to a disadvantaged part of the world under difficult conditions. I think this was a formative experience for them—at times a trial by fire. In some ways, they must have been different people by the time they returned to resume their life in St. Peter. It was a few months after they returned to St. Peter that I (Leif) was born, and my little sister Lori followed shortly. With six kids you would think that the adventures would stop, but that was not the case. Although sometimes they traveled without the kids, often they brought all of us or some of us along. There were memorable trips to the Boundary Waters, Canada, the Black Hills, Florida, Yucatan, and the Cayman Islands. These trips instilled a sense of travel in all of us. Long after we all left home, when Mom was 70 and my sister Trudi was 40, she decided to fulfill her bucket list. It started with Trudi and Thor traveling with my parents to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Other adventures included Peru - Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca, Panama (with Trudi and Eric), Norway and Germany (with Trudi and Eric), and Trinidad and Tobago (with Trudi, Leif, and grandkids Britta and Anders) where I made the mistake of calling my parents elderly when we were inquiring about a boat trip. I was set straight by Mom right away but had reason to be concerned since the docks were in bad shape and the captain had to time the waves to get them on and offboard. There were also several trips to Mexico with each of her children and several grandchildren joining them. The most memorable trip was for Mom’s 80th Birthday where Trudi and I were with them for the entire 21-day trip and all but one of the other siblings and Anders joined for a week. We started in Puerto Morales (a great discovery and location we returned to many times for easier traveling as our parents aged) and then went to Tulum. From there we headed to Xcalak (which was one mile from Belize) and ended up staying at a scuba diver training facility which was cool since they had students from around the world and for the diving trips, we were outnumbered by diving instructors. Mom and Dad enjoyed the snorkeling and bird-watching trip. For such a small fishing village they had some great restaurants with some interesting locally sourced gourmet dishes. We were having a great time and I was using my iPod to text my brother Thor to tell him to come to Xcalak. He misunderstood my messaging and indicated he would meet us in Punta Allen. When Mom heard that we were off to meet Thor in Punta Allen. The travel books said the road from Tulum to Punta Allen was anywhere from 1 to 4 hours depending on road conditions. Well from Xcalak we had a 4-hour drive to Tulum and what turned out to be another 4 hours to Punta Allen. (This long drive was the first time I noticed signs of Alzheimer’s in my dad.) Amazing how well my mom and dad were able to cover it from us. So back to the story. It had been raining so the roads were more like small lakes than a road. With mud puddles covering most of the road and as it turns out it was the route for the adventure Jeep tours you would see if you would go on a cruise or to a big resort. So, there we are in our Jetta size car with luggage and five passengers, Anders on the hump in the back seat. Since the few people that lived on this route did not like the jeeps ripping up the road, they would put in Jeep size road bumps to slow them down. So, every time we came upon one, I would stop and have everyone get out of the car to make it over the bump. After we finally got to Punta Allen the streets were not any better since they were also flooded. We met up with Thor and his girlfriend at the time and had a wonderful time with some great food and company. The adventure continued with Schelli, and Lori joining us Back in Puerto Morelos and trips to Chichen itza to recreate childhood photographs and Ek Balam. A great and memorable trip. Other memorable occasions: Dad and Amby were working on the Ford Model As that were being used for Schelli and Amby’s Wedding parade. Right before the ceremony, Mom saw Amby and took him into the bathroom of the church and said no man would marry her daughter with greasy hands, so she helped him scrub the grease off. When she was babysitting Marty when he was 3, he helped her pick berries and make jam. When Schelli picked him up, he had dark red around his mouth, and she said “the jam must have been good”. Mom gave her a funny look and brought a washcloth over and said, I think he got into a Woodtick that fell off the dog. Picking Morel mushrooms, canoeing, her amazing cooking inspired by traveling including braunschweiger dip, kawswe, elderberry Kiekle, Burmese curry, homemade sauerkraut, and her conch ceviche Mom was always willing to go, whether it was dancing, fishing, going to the lake and tubing behind the boat, and paddle boarding at 80, and they really enjoyed garage sales. Mom was an anchor for our family. She took care of us when we were sick, fed us, taught us about nature and history, and encouraged our interests. She was the keeper of holiday traditions, adapting her more German Christmas traditions by adventurously adding her husband’s annual Norwegian delicacy: LUTEFISK. Regular Christmas guests were: Violet, Charles, and Pauline Kinson (Violet’s shrimp paste), Bernie Bornhagen (black mustard for the lutefisk), and other friends we adopted along the way. One Christmas when we all arrived Mom said they had noticed an awful smell in the house. They remembered their Springer Spaniel dog (Spike) had a dead squirrel in the yard. Sure, that she must have brought the carcass into the house they did a thorough search of the house and to their surprise, they discovered a piece of lutefisk under a chair. The dog must have grabbed it out of the bucket it was soaking in. Dad told us that he rinsed it off and put it back in the bucket. We were pretty sure he was joking. Lots of great memories and we will miss her greatly!

Juliann Therese Weimholt's eulogy

Written and read by Josef Weimholt In Juliann's eulogy, Josef does an excellent job at delivering many of the details you'd find in a eulogy in a loving, descriptive, and beautiful way. In addition to thanking the community, describing his mother's impact on those around her and her character, Josef includes a beautiful and creative tribute to his mother with additional context and pledges for what he aims to do in the future to honor his mother. To learn more about Juliann's life, visit her memorial website .

Good morning. Before I begin, I want to take the opportunity, on behalf of our entire family, to thank all of you for being here today—in person, in this beautiful, old church that our mom loved so much, or virtually—to help us celebrate our mom’s life. We’d like to thank everyone who travelled from out of state to be here today, including those on our dad’s side of the family who traveled from as far away as California. Let that sink in for a second—there are people here today who flew from warm, sunny California. To Chicago. In February. To attend the funeral of an in-law, essentially. Now, I know they came in part to support our dad in his time of grief, but I think it really speaks to the impact our mom had on people. And that’s been evident as well in the flood of messages we’ve received since Mom passed, which have come not just from close friends and family, as you’d expect, but from those who worked with her briefly decades ago, those who met her only recently—including members of the Breakers community in Edgewater, where our parents have lived the past couple of years—from friends (and friends of friends) of my sisters and mine who may have met her only once at one of our weddings years ago. So many have reached out with a kind note, a memory, a heartfelt message about how our mom affected them. As everyone here can attest, to meet Mom was to know instantly what a beautiful person she was, inside and out; a kind, caring soul; sharp, funny, and fun to be around; someone who brightened the lives of all those around her. I heard it said recently that grief is simply unexpressed love. The moral, I think, is that grief isn’t something we should avoid or try to overcome, but something we should embrace. If grief really is just a reflection of the love we feel for the person we lost, then we should hope to always feel some measure of grief for our departed loved ones. I like that sentiment; I think there’s some wisdom there, and perhaps some solace for those of us who are grieving our mom’s loss so deeply still. But it got me thinking about that notion of "unexpressed love." Unexpressed love: that was a foreign concept to Mom. Like our dad, she never missed an opportunity to tell my sisters and I how much she loved us, how proud she was of us, how happy we made her, how lucky she was to be our mom. And we always reciprocated—in person, on the phone, over text (including, in recent years, through liberal use of heart emojis in any text with Mom). Now, I don’t know whether that has lessened our grief any, but I do know that I speak for my sisters, our dad, our Aunt Mary Kay, and everyone who was on the other end of those exchanges with Mom, when I say that we are incredibly grateful for each of those moments, each of those expressions of love that my mom would simply not let go unexpressed. It was in that spirit that I set out some time ago to put down in writing exactly what my mom meant to me—an impossible task, to be sure. I regret deeply that I didn’t finish it before she passed, but I’m grateful I can share it here today with her and with all of you. I initially intended for it to be a poem, as that’s the language that she loved best, but I’m afraid I didn’t inherit her poetic voice (or talents). So I ended up with something else, I’m not sure what exactly. But I call it, “My Mother’s Son.” My Mother’s Son I knew it was coming, every time I would visit Mom at work—usually to ask for money for the movies or to pick up the car to meet friends or for some other equally important reason—never just to say hi, or ask about her day, or tell her how much I loved her. (There would always be time for that later, right?) “You must be Julie’s son!” It was probably my nose or the shape of my face; perhaps the hazel eyes or brown, curly hair. At first, I was annoyed. I didn’t want to resemble a short, middle-aged woman—beautiful though she was—and rued the fact that I didn’t inherit a chiseled jawline or muscular physique instead. So I usually just smiled sheepishly. But beyond an amusement at the resemblance, there was something else evident in their tone. “You must be Julie’s son!” The front desk staff, her fellow nurses, the doctors and residents, the custodial workers—they always made sure to tell me how much they loved working with Mom—how kind and skilled she was with patients, how supportive and generous she was with colleagues. They were quick with an anecdote or an expression of admiration. Eventually, I came to embrace the comparisons—proudly wrapping my arm around her (and sometimes giving her a playful pat on top of her head, which by then came up only to my chest) whenever a new friend, colleague, or stranger remarked on the resemblance. In her later years, as her health declined and the Parkinson’s loomed like a storm cloud growing nearer and more ominous by the day, I would reflect often on the connection I shared with my mom, on what it meant to be her son. Apart from any physical traits she may have passed down, I knew she would be leaving for her children and grandchildren something truly precious and rare. Something that couldn’t be simply inherited, but would need to be earned—brought to fruition through the countless small acts and daily decisions that make up a person’s life. Now that she has passed, and I think about the man I strive to be for my own family—for my wife, Sarah, and our daughter, Tessa, who will grow up without having truly known her Ama—I find in my mom’s legacy a clarion call, a beacon guiding my way, a pledge I must continually renew: I will be kind to friends and strangers alike—especially the less fortunate, the marginalized, and the forgotten among us. I will be generous with my time, energy, and resources, and will commit to causes greater than myself. I will laugh, loud and often. My patience will know no bounds. I will smile constantly and exude warmth so that others are uplifted even when I’m down. I will be selfless and unfailingly loyal. I will not swoon at the sight of blood, but will swoon over a mariachi band (or really any live music). I will create. I will nurture. I will dance with enthusiasm. I will be open to all things, and constantly seek out new adventures, foods, cultures, and people. I will find happiness in the simple things, and peace in nature. When my health fails me or curveballs inevitably come my way, I will put on a brave face to spare my loved ones their worry, and will fight with a strength and tenacity that will make them proud. I will laugh some more, through everything. I will be grateful for all that I have been given. I will love, and be loved, and the world will be a richer, better place for my having been here. I will, I pray, truly and forever be my mother’s son.

Richard "Dick" Floyd Messalle's memorial speech

Written and read by Renee Messalle In this memorial speech, there are plenty references to memories, passions, hobbies, and delights that Richard took part in during his time. These references help paint a loving and broad picture of what Richard's life was like and the kind of person he was. In addition to the personal stories shared, Renee also includes a beautiful poem at the start which kicks off the metaphor of the Train of Life for the rest of the memorial speech. To learn more about Richard's life, visit his memorial website .

Welcome everyone. Thank you so much for coming today. Carl and I wanted to share a few memories about our Dad before the service started. I wanted to start off by reading this lovely poem that I saw recently. Train of Life At birth, we boarded the train of life and met our parents, and we believed that they would always travel by our side. However, at some station, our parents would step down from the train, leaving us on life's journey alone. As time goes by, some significant people will board the train: siblings, other children, friends, and even the love of our life. Many will step down and leave a permanent vacuum. Others will go so unnoticed that we won't realize that they vacated their seats! This train ride has been a mixture of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells. A successful journey consists of having a good relationship with all passengers, requiring that we give the best of ourselves. The mystery that prevails is that we do not know at which station we ourselves will step down. Thus, we must try to travel along the track of life in the best possible way -- loving, forgiving, giving, and sharing. When the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty -- we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who continue to travel on the train of life. And let’s remember to thank our God for giving us life to participate in this wonderful train ride. I am so glad that I was on my Dad’s train for 51 years. And thanks to those that joined the train at one time or another. His stop and his step down was so very unexpected for us – but he left so many great memories, and we are so grateful he stepped off on a high note! We have all loved hearing what others thought of my Dad – and am so happy that it was what we knew of him. The prevailing theme – he was such a kind and gentle and smart person. And several people said he was a “Renaissance Man”. And I totally agree – he loved to learn and knew a lot about everything. He was so happy in his recent move to Greenspring where he had a big office surrounded by at least 1,000 of his books, all in one room. And most importantly my Dad loved math and data. He had a bachelor and master’s degree in Math. He worked for the Navy using his math skills. And in going through things in his office – we saw that my Dad doodled math everywhere. And he did at least a sudoku a day. I have great memories of him helping us as kids with homework, which he enthusiastically did, and especially of course with math. My high school friends even fondly remember his tutoring us in math. After retirement, he even spent many years tutoring various students – even his grandsons. Just recently he helped Brandon and me with some math homework and sent us detailed descriptions and steps to help us. And he was still the volunteer Treasurer for the Four Corners neighborhood association, which he had been doing for many years. After grad school with his advanced degree in Mathematics, he met my Mom on their first day of work at US Navy, David Taylor Model Basin as they were both trying to find the math lab! My Mom worked there until I was born. And then, when I was looking for a summer job in college, I decided to apply where my Dad worked. This turned out to be the start of my government career as well, and I eventually worked in the same Directorate with my Dad for the summers and then for 7 years after college. It was a great chance for us to know and see each other in different ways, learn what my Dad did at work, have similar co-workers, etc. After my Dad retired, he had so much fun taking liberal art classes at the community college. He also loved going to see plays with my Mom, so they both ushered at various local theaters for over 30 years. And he even directed and acted in some community theater plays. Despite my Dad’s quiet demeanor – he definitely had had a wild and adventurous side …. He loved rollercoasters. Even as recent as about 5- 10 years ago, he was still going on roller coasters and rides at Disney and Universal with my husband and niece and Brandon, and even on the water slides at the water parks. When we were younger, he took us on a hot air balloon ride. He loved to bike – biked to work, biked with friends, biked long distance rides of 100 miles, and biked as a family. He did Hang gliding for a while – and even bought one. I remember playing in fields while my Dad would hang glide off of small hills. He even bought a Unicycle. He also loved science fiction, and he introduced us to Star Wars as kids. And I was able to take my parents to the new Disney Star Wars theme park in February, right before Covid. And I just took him to the movie theater at Thanksgiving to see the new Dune movie, which he loved. My Dad was always around and involved when we were younger. We always had family dinners, he made breakfast every Sunday (where I was introduced to and then loved scrapple), he washed the dishes every night for my Mom, and was always willing and around to assist us with our school and homework. And then he continued to be present and involved in my life as a grandfather to Brandon, especially since we lived somewhat close by. He set such a great example for me of what a father and what a spouse should be. And I am so happy that he met the love of his life, and that he and my Mom had such a wonderful marriage of 53 years – best friends - truly soul mates. In summary, my Dad had a fun life on that train for 79 years, sharing 55 of those years (70% of his life) with my Mom! He left many great memories for me and for others. Thanks Dad – I love you and you will be missed.

Following you will find some eulogy examples, with most of them being short eulogy examples. Shorter eulogies can become longer simply by adding in stories and memories that you hold dear or different aspects of your loved one’s life you’d like to share.

Thank you all for being here today. I’m honored to share this time with [Name]’s friends, family, and others in remembering [his/her] life.

I met [Name] [number] years ago at [description of meeting location]. I immediately liked [Name]’s [sense of humor / personality / presence] and knew we would make fast friends. Once, when we were [description of memory], [Name] turned to me and said “[Quote]”.

[Longer description of memory]

After we met, I [description of life after meeting person] and [he/she] went on to [description of what they did]. When [Name] met [spouse], everything changed. [He/she] became [description] and was one of the best [husbands/wives/fathers/mothers] a family could ask for.

I know I’ll always miss my best friend and that no one can replace [him/her]. With that, I’d like to leave you all with one of [Name]’s favorite quotes, by [author]: “[quote]”. Thank you.

[Name] was my best friend, confidante, partner in crime, and one of the best people I’ve ever had the honor to know. I first met [Name] in [location] and we quickly became fast friends. We shared a love of [hobby] and a desire to [description], something that very few others connected with me on.

[Name] taught me a lot about [description], something I will never take for granted. Our other friends refer to [Name] and describe [him/her] as [description]. What I know for certain is that anyone who knew [Name], knew how [brave/special/funny/kind/unique] they were. You don’t meet someone like that every day.

One of my most cherished memories with [Name] was the time we [description]. If not that, then it’s definitely the time we [description].

I want to thank you all for gathering today in honor of [Name], I know it would’ve meant the world to [him/her]. Let’s honor [his/her] memory by continuing to spread love in this world and to try our best each and every day. Thank you.

For those who don't know me, [Name] and I have been friends for practically our entire lives. We grow up in [town] together, lived down the street from one another, and went to the same schools from elementary to high school. We planned on going to the same college together (but [Name] was smarter than I and got into some schools I didn't). We weren't just friends, we were [brothers/sisters].

When I was younger, [Name] used to take me to [area]. We'd play [game] and sit out in the field, talking about [subject] for hours on end. [Name] was there for my life's most important events. [He/she] was there for [list out important life events] and always remembered my birthday and other important anniversaries. [He/she] was beyond thoughtful -- [he/she] was one of the kindest and most compassionate people I've ever met and will ever meet.

Losing [Name] is akin to losing a family member. [He/she] is irreplaceable and their loss is felt deeply, more than words can ever describe. At the same time, I know [Name] would hate it if they saw me up here crying, talking only about their loss and ignoring all the wonderful things [he/she] did with their precious time here on Earth. So, I'd like to take this time, to thank [Name] for everything [he/she] taught me: [list out lessons or important takeaways]

Let's honor [Name's] memory today (and all days) by being kind to one another and remembering the struggles that we all have to face during our time here.

Joie and I met before we were born -- our mothers were in the same prenatal group and bonded over their hatred of the lack of sushi in their lives. We were born only a few days apart, spent our first years of life held by each other's moms and had almost no chance in not becoming great friends. Little did our moms know -- they'd given us more than friendship when they became friends. They'd made us family -- sisters.

Both of our families had decided to only have one child, so Joie and I filled the void that every only-child experiences. She was my sister, through and through. I was there for every one of her life's major accomplishments (and letdowns). She returned the favor in kind. Joie was my support through my first relationship, my first heartbreak, my first degree, my first marriage (and second!) and my first child. I was there for so many of her firsts, seconds, and thirds in life. That's the kind of person Joie was. Supportive. Constant. Foundational. She was my rock and the rock for so many people around her.

Even in death, Joie knew we'd be lost without her support. Her husband, Robbie, is constantly finding small notes that Joie left behind, just little reminders that she still cares for him and is supporting him, despite this complication we call existence. Two days after Joie was diagnosed with cancer, she gave me a call. She told me to sit down and to get ready for the "shit to hit the fan". I thought it was just another rant about her job or some stupid thing she saw at the store or a 30 minute monologue on the downfall of American reality TV.

When she told me she had cancer, I nearly passed out. But she explained to me that now, more than ever, she needed me to be the strong one. Not just for her, but for her husband, for her family, and for myself. She told me not to embarass her in this eulogy, so I'll restrain myself from doing that by going over the top. Please just know, if you're here today, you meant something to Joie. If you're here today, you matter and are important. If you're here today, please honor Joie's memory by being the rock for someone else in your life.

Joie, I love you so, so much. I can't wait to see you again.

Thank you all for being here today. I’m honored to share this time with our friends, family and community and join in remembering [Name]'s life and ongoing legacy.

I met [Name] at [location] around [number] years ago and instantly knew we'd become lifelong friends.

We spent all our time during that summer [description of activities] and the following years were spent periodically visiting [location] and inviting friends out for our annual [description of trip].

[Name] was the kind of person who you never forget. [He/she] was [describe personality]. [He/she] instantly made people feel like [description]. [He/she] was endlessly [selfless, loving, caring, etc.].

I know this loss is one that runs deep for many of us gathered here today, but I also know that [Name] wouldn't want us to sit around mourning [his/her] loss and instead would want us to look towards the future and think on what we can do to make this world a better place.

In [his/her] memory, let's try our best.

For those who don't know me, [Name] was my childhood best friend. We met when we were [age] and instantly connected. We bonded over [subjects], we spent summers at [location] and I could almost always be found at [his/her] house on the weekends. I spent so much time at [Name]'s house that I was known as [his/her] [brother/sister], even by [his/her] parents own admission.

A lifelong friendship is incredibly hard to find and even harder to live without once you've experienced it. To say that this loss is hard is an understatement. [Name] was one of the [describe personality] people I've ever met. [He/she] was unique. [He/she] was hilarious. [He/she] was irreplaceable.

For all those that are gathered with me today, I ask that you join me in honoring [Name]'s life by practicing the values they held so dear. Be kind, be loving, enjoy life, and live life slowly.

Before I get started, I wanted to thank each and every one of you for showing up to honor and remember the incredible life of [Name]. If you knew [Name] (which, if you didn't, why are you here?), you know how magnetic they truly were. Standing up here with only a few minutes to speak on how amazing they were and what they meant to me feels impossible. How can I describe [Name] in a way that's accurate? How can I sum up the impact they had on me, on those around them, on the field of [career field], on the world? It's a near impossible task, so I decided to list out the top 10 things I appreciated most about [Name]. I plan on integrating these top 10 things into the way I treat others as a way of honoring their memory.

Things I learned from [Name]:

Thank you for joining me and listening to me today. I hope you take some of these values and ways of being with you.

Memories of [Name]

Instead of a standard eulogy, I wanted to use this time to share some of my most cherished memories of [Name]. These are ones I've picked out intentionally as I feel they best represent the type of person [Name] was, at least to me. While not all of these memories are ""positive"", they are the ones that have stuck with me the most.

[List memories]

We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of a remarkable young man, who was taken from us far too soon. [Name] was a 25-year-old Marine, who loved hunting, woodworking, and theater. He had a stoic, but kind personality that drew people to him, and he had a deep passion for nature, exploration, and family.

[Name] was a skilled hunter, who spent many hours in the woods, quietly observing the world around him. He had a deep respect for nature and all of its creatures, and he loved nothing more than being out in the wilderness, breathing in the fresh air, and feeling the sun on his face.

In addition to his love for hunting, [Name] was also a talented woodworker, who enjoyed creating beautiful objects out of wood. He had an eye for detail and a steady hand, and his creations were always stunningly beautiful.

But perhaps most of all, [Name] loved theater. He was a gifted actor, who had a way of bringing his characters to life, and he had a deep appreciation for the art of storytelling. He loved nothing more than being on stage, basking in the spotlight, and entertaining his audience.

Throughout all of his endeavors, [Name] was guided by his dedication to his family. He was a loyal son, a devoted brother, and a loving friend, who always put the needs of others before his own. He had a heart of gold, and he never hesitated to lend a helping hand or a listening ear to those in need.

[Name] was a remarkable young man, who touched the lives of all those who knew him. He will be deeply missed, but his memory will live on in the hearts of those he loved. Rest in peace, [Name]. You will always be remembered.

First, I want to thank everyone here for showing up today. It means a lot.

Losing my dad is one of the most difficult hardships I’ve ever had to go through. That being said, this process has made me realize just how lucky I was to have a father like [Name]. Without his example, encouragement, advice, and love, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I am eternally grateful for his life as an example for how I should live my own.

My dad was difficult to sum up in a few words, but some that come to mind are: [hardworking/gentle/loving/caring/strong/hilarious/funny/serious/crafty/intelligent]. When I was younger, we’d spend time [description of memory]. That’s where I first learned to [description of skill].

I remember once when I was younger, we [description of memory].

Dad, you will never be forgotten. Our family is eternally lucky to have had you as the head of our family. We will honor your memory by [way you’re going to honor memory].

Thank you all for coming today.

Growing up, my father was always [description of attitude / personality]. My friends would always say that he was [description of friends’ thoughts]. His coworkers would describe him as [description]. But to me, he was just my dad.

One of my favorite memories with him is when we [memory description].

Another time, we went to [memory description].

Those are the times that I keep in mind whenever I think of my dad, some of the best times of my life. It’s impossible to describe the amount of love I hold in my heart for my father, so I’ll leave it to someone else to describe for me. In the words of [author name], “[Quote]”.

Hello, everyone. Before I get started, I just wanted to acknowledge everyone's presence today. It means so much to me and to my family that you decided to be here with us today to remember my father's life. I know he's smiling on us from above and is absolutely thrilled that so many of you showed up today to remember him.

My dad is impossible to sum up -- we'd be here all day if I had the opportunity to share with you all all the wonderful things he did, taught, and accomplished in his life. To spare you all from that (and to shield you from watching me cry for a few hours) I've decided to restrict this to a short list of some of my favorite qualities of my dad. Without further ado, here's the things that made my dad the man he was:

• My dad taught me and my brothers the meaning of what is was to be a man.
• He was compassionate and kind, funny yet stoic, bubbly yet reserved, and quietly bonded our family together through difficult storms and joyful moments.
• He was the BEST on the grill and 5 year winner of the Best Chili award at our annual chili cookoff.
• He hated the Patriots, with a passion.
• He'd sneak out in the middle of the night when we were younger to take us to midnight premiers of our favorite movies -- much to Mom's dismay.
• He once drove over 500 miles to help me move out from an ex's apartment -- again, in the middle of the night.
• He was known by my entire group of friends as "The Cool Dad".
• Even during his last months, he was ensuring me and my brothers knew what to expect, knew what was coming, and what our responsibilities to each other were.
• His family was the most important thing in his life.
• My mom was the love of his life and never failed to put a twinkle in his eye.

My dad is the reason I am the person I am today. He was endlessly encouraging, loving, caring, and intelligent. To lose him is to lose a piece of who I am, though I know he's with me in spirit. Thank you once again for showing up to support our family and remember this great man.

[Author] once said, "[Inspirational quote]". Little did he know, this quote would go on to be the foundation of my father's life.

While most knew my dad as a [descriptor] person, those closest to him knew him for his [kindness, bravery, love, caring, tenderness, softness, etc]. A man of few words and many talents, my father spent much of his life in [work / career description] and caring for [his children/family/wife/etc.]. His greatest love in life was [Name] and his favorite pasttime was [pasttime]. Not a day goes by that I don't think of him and not a day goes by that I'm certain the world is worse off without him in it. Losing my dad has taught me two things: [list lessons]

Thank you all for joining me, please tell your parents how much they mean to you and please do kindness, wherever you can.

My father was not an easy man. He was someone who hated the idea of small talk, celebrated people who worked hard (but knew when to take a break), and would be more than happy if no one talked to him for months, leaving him to read through his favorite detective novels.

His life could also not be described as easy. My father grew up poor, he lost his own father at the young age of 8 and had a mother who could be described as absent (at best). His youth was spent attempting to make ends meet through illegal jobs he held while attending school. He ended up dropping out of highschool in order to pursue a job as a dishwasher and support himself.

It was at this point that he met my mother, who seemed to be one of the only people on the planet who could charm my dad. He described her as "The first sense of relief I felt on this earth." and would refer to her as the love of his life for the rest of his life. He did his best to shield me and my brothers from the harsh upbringing he endured. He pushed us to attend college, he pushed us to stay in school, and he pushed us to cherish those in our family -- something he never had.

He worked hard to get to where he was and without a doubt, could be described as a successful man. My father was resilient, generous, and reserved. Though he was a man of few words, he made sure that my brother and I knew we were important, were loved, and were cherished.

I love you Dad and I hope you rest easy. You did a wonderful job.

Lessons from [Name]

Instead of delivering a 20 minute eulogy on my father, that I know he would've hated, I've instead decided to share some of the lessons he taught that could go on to help others. These are lessons that have helped me navigate this life and are lessons I'll cling to now that he's gone. If they resonate with you, please feel free to take them for your own. I love you, Dad.

[List lessons]

My father laid the foundation for my life as a man. He took the lessons his father taught him (rather harshly), picked them up, brushed them off, and buffed them, turning them into the lessons he shared with me (much less harshly than his father did). He was patient. He was kind. He was handy. He was incredibly intelligent and well-spoken, yet preferred to let others speak. If there was a party, you'd often find him on the balcony, in the backyard, or in a corner somewhere, people watching and smiling kindly at anyone who wandered near him. He preferred learning above all else and would most often be seen in his study, with ten different books at varying stages of being read. I owe my father everything and I credit my success in life to the way he raised me, each and every day. To lose him, means to lose a piece of myself. Dad, I love you.

To say my dad meant the world to me is an understatement. A man of few words, and even fewer faults -- he was the stoic figure in my life, the foundation that stayed true no matter what was thrown at him, and the reason I became the woman I am today. I learned to let things go, to love people who loved me back, to befriend those without, and to stay close to those who mattered. My dad meant everything to me, and more. Rest in peace, Dad.

We all dream of having a mother who is kind, loving, and genuine. [Name] was exactly that type of mother. She guided us through years and years and years of hardship, difficulty, joy, and achievement. Our mother was the foundation of our family and without her, it’s difficult to know what to do or what comes next.

I’ll miss her [laugh/smile/generosity/humor/jokes/other descriptor], but am lost without her [guidance/thoughts/advice/other descriptor]. I know we’ll all miss her [insert personality trait or something she was known for].

One of my absolute favorite moments was when my mom [description of memory].

Another one of our family's favorite memories with [Name] was when she [description of memory].

Thank you all for showing up today to honor my mother’s memory and legacy. I know it would’ve warmed her heart to see you all here and I appreciate it greatly. In the words of my mother, “[quote]”

It is an impossible feat to sum up the importance that one’s mother has in one’s life, so I’d like to instead, share some of my favorite memories that I had with my mother. Before I start, let me give you a breakdown of the type of woman my mom was. [Name] was [hardworking/intelligent/ferocious/hilarious/kind/gentle/etc.]. She was always [description] and she never [description]. Her top three favorite things were: [name three things]. One of my favorite memories with my mom was the time we [description]. This is followed closely by the time we [description]. Her [smile/laugh/voice] would light up a room and bring joy to those around her. Her presence was deeply felt and her loss is almost too much to bear. So thank you to everyone who decided to come here today, it means the world to me. One of my mom’s favorite quotes is from [name of author]. It reads, “[quote]”. I’d like to leave you with that today as we celebrate my mother. Thank you.

Thank you for joining me today as I navigate the impossible task of summing up the life of someone incredible, in only a few minutes.

I guess I'll start by sharing one of my favorite moments with [Name]. I was [age] and had just [descriptor]. My mom took me to [location], one of my favorite spots. We had just gone to [location] the previous year, so this was a nice change. We spent the day [descriptor], working on [descriptor] and eating [food]. At night, we [description] and met with [people you met with].

Nights like this weren't uncommon with Mom -- she constantly made sure we had the most fun possible whenever we could. Her free time was spent supporting us, cheerleading for us, driving us to various activities, picking us up, hosting sleepovers, paying for our (many) mistakes, and being known to all as "the best Mom". My friends have all insisted I was blessed with her as my mom, and I know this to be true.

Today, I want us to join together to remember that. To remember the kind of woman she was and the kind of person she taught me and everyone who knew her to be. A woman of joy, light, kindness and warmth. A woman of love and positivity and a ray of sunshine that will be so desperately missed from this world. Mom -- I love you.

To my mother,

I miss you so much. You were the glue that held our family together. You were always there for me when I needed you. I am so grateful to have had you in my life.

You were an amazing woman and an even better mother. I will never forget all the things you taught me. I will never forget your unconditional love and support.

I know you are in a better place now, but I still wish you were here with us. I know that we will see each other again one day, but until then, I will cherish all of our memories together.

I love you, mom.

My mother was the most incredible woman I have ever known. She always supported me in everything that I did, and she was my biggest cheerleader. I know that she is up there looking down on me now, watching over me and guiding me as I navigate through life without her by my side.

Although my mother is no longer with us in this life, I know that she lives on in the memories that I have of her, and the love and support that she gave me throughout my life. She was strong, kind, and warmhearted, and I will always treasure the time we spent together.

I know that it is difficult to lose someone so important to you, but my mother's memory will live on forever in my heart. In her honor, I plan to spend the rest of my days living a life full of kindness and compassion, just as she did. She will never be forgotten.

I am so grateful to have had such an amazing mom, and I know that I will never be able to forget all of the wonderful things she taught me throughout my life. We will cherish all of the amazing memories we have of her until we meet again someday.

Hello all. Before I get started, I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has decided to join us today (and even those who reached out and mentioned they couldn't make it). We're gathered in this beautiful location to celebrate my mom's life. For all of those who decided to travel long distances, who reached out to us during our time of need, and who took the time to help us get this set up -- you have no idea how much this has meant to our family.

What's been most clear to me during this difficult time is simply the staggering amount of people my mom influenced, cared for, and loved. So many folks, even those she hasn't seen in over a decade, have written in and let us know the impact she had on their lives. To say she made you feel loved, seen, and appreciated at all times was an understatement. She was the pillar of our family, a pillar of her community, and would take each and every opportunity available to her to make those around her feel supported and seen.

This has been one of the hardest times our family has gone through and I'm so warmed to know all these bright and smiling faces here today. Thanks for coming to honor my mom.

To lose a mother is to lose a piece of your soul. My mother was no exception. Some would say our relationship was too close and my father used to warn me against "relying" on her too much, since he was trying to protect me from this exact day. My mom was the center of my life and without her, I feel lost. I'm angry, I'm confused, and I miss her so, so, very much. I want to ask each and everyone one of you visiting today, who took the time out of your busy schedules to show your support to my family -- please huge your parents. Please resolve any unresolved issues you currently have, if you love them -- none of it matters. Once you don't have the opportunity to make amends, it feels like everything was so silly. Mom, I miss you, I love you, and I'm lost without you.

Friends and family, today we gather to remember and honor the remarkable life of a woman who truly made a difference in this world. She was a devoted mother, a compassionate humanitarian, and an inspiration to all who knew her.

As we heard from her obituary, this incredible woman faced immense tragedy at a young age, losing her husband in a tragic accident. But instead of giving up, she channeled her grief into a powerful force for good. She joined the Peace Corps, dedicating her life to helping those in need in underdeveloped countries around the world. Her commitment to service was unwavering, and she spent years traveling the world, spreading love and kindness wherever she went.

But she was not only a humanitarian. She was a devoted mother to her son, who was her greatest joy in life. She instilled in him the values of kindness and compassion, and he is a testament to her incredible parenting.

Though we mourn her loss, we can take comfort in knowing that her legacy lives on. She touched so many lives with her kindness, generosity, and unwavering dedication to making the world a better place. She will be deeply missed, but her memory will always be a source of inspiration for us all. Rest in peace, dear friend.

Today, we gather to honor the life and legacy of Chef Kimmino, a beloved chef who has left us too soon. Chef Kimmino was a true culinary artist, whose passion and creativity inspired all who had the pleasure of experiencing their dishes.

Sadly, Chef Kimmino's battle with breast cancer came to an end at the age of 45. But let us not mourn their passing. Instead, let us celebrate the life they lived and the joy they brought to countless individuals through their delicious and unforgettable meals.

Chef Kimmino was a true master of their craft, always experimenting with new flavors and techniques to create dishes that were both innovative and mouth-watering. Their culinary creations were a reflection of their adventurous spirit, and they were never afraid to push the boundaries of traditional cooking.

But Chef Kimmino's impact went beyond their culinary talents. They were a mentor and inspiration to many aspiring chefs, always encouraging them to pursue their passion and follow their dreams. They were also a philanthropist, using their talents to give back to the community by donating their time and resources to various charities and organizations.

Chef Kimmino's passing is a great loss to the culinary world and to all who knew and loved them. But we can take comfort in knowing that their legacy will live on through the countless lives they touched with their passion and generosity.

So let us honor Chef Kimmino's memory by continuing to share their love of food and cooking with others. Let us keep their spirit alive by embracing their adventurous approach to life and always striving for excellence in all that we do.

Rest in peace, Chef Kimmino. You will be deeply missed but never forgotten.

We’ve all heard the heartwarming stories many have about just how great their [grandmother/grandfather] was, but I’m here to tell you today that mine was the best. Our [grandma/grandpa], [Name] was such a classic [grandma/grandpa] that it’s almost too difficult to believe. [She/He] was the best at [baking/cooking/fixing things/trips/parties/crafts/giving advice/etc]. [She/He] made the most amazing [food/hobby]. [She/He] also was a part of many clubs, including [list of clubs]. Loved by everyone around [him/her], [name] was the star of the show from the very beginning. When [she/he] was young, [she/he] participated in [activity]. As [she/he] grew older, [she/he] became a fan of [description of hobby/interest]. As [her/his] grandchildren, we were lucky enough to spend time with [him/her] doing [description of time spent]. Now that [she’s/he’s] gone, a hole is left in our hearts and in our souls, but we know we will see [her/him] again soon. One of [name]’s favorite passages was, “[passage]”. I think that sums up who [she/he] was quite well. Thank you all for being here today and I know that [Name] would’ve been in tears just seeing all of you who loved and cared for [her/him] show up for [her/him] today.

My [grandmother/grandfather] was one of those women who [description]. [She’s/He’s] incredibly difficult to sum up in just a few words so I’ll do my best. To start with, my [grandmother/grandfather] was most known for [his/her] [description of something they were known for]. Every single person who came into contact with [her/him] would tell me stories about how [he/she] would [story] and [story].

My favorite memory with [her/him] was the time we went to [description of memory].

I’ll always remember [her/him] as a [loving/caring/kind/gentle/wise/intelligent/hilarious] soul who would try [her/his] best each and every day to put a smile on the faces of others.

For those of you who knew my [grandmother/grandfather], you knew just how special and important [she/he] was to our family. I thank you all for spending time with us here today in honor of [her/him] and the person [she/he] was.

My grandmother was an amazing woman. She was always so kind and loving, and I will never forget all of the wonderful moments we shared together. I am so grateful to have had her in my life, and I know that she will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

She was a strong and independent woman, who always put others first. She was always there for me when I needed her, and she was such an important part of my life. I know that she is now at peace, and I take comfort in knowing that she will always be with me in spirit.

Those who knew her, knew how much she loved her family, and she was always so proud of us. She was the heart of our family, and we will never be the same without her. We will cherish all of the memories we have of her, and keep her in our hearts always.

Thank you for everything, Grandma. I love you so much.

My grandmother was one of the most influential people in my life and the lives of so many others. Never one to back down from a fight, she spent almost her entire life dedicated to trying to improve our system, to the best of her ability.

Whether this was through community service, time spent volunteering, or simply being a listening ear to those who needed one, her time spent on this planet was time spent caring for others.

I want to honor my grandmother's legacy by continuing in her footsteps and ask all here to do the same. Be kind to each other. Find ways to help those who cannot help themselves. Figure out how to invite joy into your life and how to cultivate it in the lives of those around you.

Grandma, thank you so much for being the bright soul that you so were. I adore you always and forever.

Before I get started, I wanted to say thank you to every single one of you who has shown up today to honor the life of my grandmother, [Name]. Each and every one of you meant something to her and I know that you know that, without a doubt.

Now, to the hard part -- summing up the life of such an accomplished, loving, and special woman. [Name] -- you were one of the most unique and special souls that has ever graced this earth. Everyone who encountered you immediately felt like one of your best friends. You held that special talent of conversing easily with strangers, of making newcomers feel like oldtimers, and of holding space for anyone and everyone that needed it. I have run into so many people that have said to me, "I'm so sorry for your loss, [Name] was one of my best friends." I've heard this phrase so often it's astounded me -- how did [Name] have so many best friends?! It's because she was special and she knew how to make others feel just as special.

To say the loss we've suffered is great is an understatement -- there is no way to describe the hole that is left by her passing. That being said, I aim to honor her life and legacy by attempting to make others feel just as loved, held, and cared for as she made them feel. I invite everyone here, to do just the same. Thank you.

I know my grandmother would be rolling in her grave if she could see me up here giving her even the slightest bit of praise. Always one to tut at any kind of recognition of her good deeds, she'd absolutely hate that we were all gathered here today to do just that. I can say, without a doubt, that my grandmother was the love of my life. She was the first person to make me feel like I had a home and a place in this world. She encouraged me to pursue my passions, no matter what they were. She was the first person I called when I decided to switch majors at college. She was the first person I called when I needed relationship advice, or advice on how to fix my toilet, or instructions on how to change a tire. She was endlessly crafty, knowledgeable, loving, and hilarious. She hated sad movies and loved a good horror film. Her church group referred to her as "The Old Commander" because she was so stringent in getting them to submit their projects on time. It didn't matter if it was for a church potluck or a wedding reception, she kept people in line and kept all of us in her orbit. Grandma, I love you endlessly and have no idea how I'm to navigate this scary world without you by my side. But I know you're out there, somewhere, looking over me. I love you.

Ladies and Gentlemen, friends and family, we gather here today to celebrate the life of a remarkable man, a loving grandfather, and a proud veteran - [Grandfather's Name]. He lived a full and fulfilling life, filled with joy, laughter, and countless precious memories that will be cherished by all who knew him.

[Grandfather's Name] was born in San Francisco and spent his early years exploring the city and all that it had to offer. He was an adventurous spirit, always eager to try new things and see new places. When he was called to serve in World War 2, he answered the call with bravery and honor, defending our country and our way of life. His service to our nation was a testament to his character, and it was a source of great pride for him throughout his life.

When [Grandfather's Name] returned home from the war, he began a new chapter in his life, one filled with family, friends, and all the things he loved. He was blessed with five grandchildren, and he cherished each and every one of them, spending countless hours camping, fishing, and exploring the great outdoors with them. His love of nature was second only to his love of his family, and he always took time to share his knowledge and appreciation of the natural world with those he loved.

[Grandfather's Name] was also a talented artist and woodworker. He spent many hours in his workshop, creating beautiful pieces of art and furniture that will be cherished by his family for generations to come. His passion for creating was matched only by his love of giving, and every year he donned a Santa Claus suit to bring joy to children in his community.

In the end, [Grandfather's Name] passed away peacefully in Florida at the age of 82, surrounded by the love of his family. He left behind a legacy of love, kindness, and generosity that will live on in the hearts of all who knew him. Today, we say goodbye to a beloved grandfather, a proud veteran, and a true friend. May he rest in peace and may his memory live on in our hearts forever.

Today, we gather to honor and remember the life of Louis Pereira, a Senior Program Manager and passionate writer. Louis had a love for writing, a passion that he was able to pursue in his final years, penning over six short novels that were close to his heart.

Though Louis may be gone, his legacy lives on through his family, particularly his two beloved grandchildren. His kindness, wisdom, and love will continue to guide them throughout their lives.

Louis's dedication to his work and his commitment to his passions serve as an inspiration to all of us. He was a beloved member of the community, known for his compassion and his willingness to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.

As we say goodbye to Louis, we take comfort in the memories he has left behind and the impact he has had on our lives. May he rest in peace, knowing that his spirit and his legacy will live on through his family and his writing.

You were always determined to be the best – on the field, on the court, in the classroom. You set your sights high and worked hard to achieve your goals.

I am so proud of everything you have accomplished in your short life. You were an amazing son, brother, and friend and you will be deeply missed.

You had a passion for sports and a natural talent for competition. You were always driven to win and I know that you would have gone far in your chosen field, no matter what that ended up being.

I will miss watching you play and excel at what you loved so much. You brought joy to everyone around you and I am grateful to have been a part of your life.

Rest in peace, my son. You will be forever in my heart.

First, let me take this moment to thank each and every one of you who showed up today (and to those who are joining us online). It means so much to our family to have this support system in place after the sudden passing of our beloved son, [Name].

I'm not a person of many words, but at this point in time it feels almost like there aren't enough words in the English language to describe how I feel or the impact my boy had on those he met throughout his short life. From the day he was born, I knew he was something special. It was in the glint of his eyes when he couldn't figure out a problem, in the sound of his laughter as it reverberated through our home, in the shine of his smile whenever he came home from school. He was special. I know every parent feels that way about their kid, but it's true -- [Name] was unique.

Losing him is the hardest thing I've ever dealt with and I know the spot left behind by him is irreplaceable -- I will deal with that for the rest of my days. At the same time, my son was absolutely not the kind of person who would want his friends, his family, and his loved ones to stand by and let grief consume him. He would want his memory to be celebrated and honored through love, laughter, adventure, and a deep appreciation of everything our lives have to offer.

In honor of my son, please hug your children a little tighter today. Please take a few minutes to appreciate what this planet has to offer. And please, most of all, be kind to one another.

I knew from the second I held you in my arms for the first time, how special, unique, and incredible you were going to be. And I was right.

My heart was overflowing with love and joy each and every time I saw your sweet face. Every time you said "Mom!", even if it was said in anger or frustration. I knew how much you loved me, our family, and life itself. Our talks were some of the most special moments of my life -- whether they lasted 2 minutes or were one of our infamous "loving debates" that lasted hours.

Your mind was brilliant, your passion for justice was admirable, and you were everything I wish I could've been at your age. I love you so very much son and to say this loss is unimaginable is simply an understatement.

I will follow your trajectory through life and attempt to celebrate your spirit in everything that I do. You are my sweet boy and I cannot wait until I get to see your sweet face and hold you in my arms once again.

I love you, son.

[Name] was my [youngest/oldest] [brother/sister] and one of the most important people in my life. I know [he/she] would’ve been amazed to see all of you who have come out today in support of [him/her] and us as a family. For those who don’t know me, I’m [Name]. From the very beginning, [Name] and I were inseparable. I loved having [Name] as a [brother/sister] more than anything else in my life. I’ve tried to protect [him/her] as though [she/he] was my own [son/daughter] throughout our lives and it is incredibly painful to be here letting [him/her] go today.

Even though [Name] was taken from us too soon, I know that I will see [him/her] again soon. [He/she] lived a full and happy life, one that touched the lives of so many people. I take comfort in knowing that [his/her] legacy will live on through the lives of others.

I’d like to leave you with one of my favorite quotes that I feel sums up [Name] perfectly: “[quote]”

Thank you all again for coming.

Today we’re gathered in memory of [Name], my [brother/sister] and biggest supporter. I’m [name], [Name] [oldest/youngest/older/younger] [brother/sister]. When we were younger, [Name] & I had a difficult relationship. Lots of fights, screaming, yelling; things that siblings tend to do. As we got older, I started to realize how important [Name] was to me and how much of a supporter [he/she] was to me as an individual.

A couple years ago, we went to [location] for [reason]. We [description of memory]. Another moment that I’ll always remember is the time we went to [description of memory].

[Name] was nothing but [generous/kind/loving/helpful/hilarious/determined/accomplished] and was the pride of our family. [He/she] was my best friend, my partner in crime, and someone I knew I could always rely on. Our family is not the same with their loss, but we will press on and live our best lives as a way of honoring [his/her] memory.

Thank you all for joining me and for allowing [Name] to have a space in your heart and in your life.

Every day, after school, my brother would wait (sometimes over an hour) for me to get out of my last class. He would stand at the bus stop, a huge smile on his face every time he heard the bell ring and saw me running towards him. This tradition continued all the way from when I was around 6 to my very last year of high school.

He was one of the most protective, kind, smart, annoying, hilarious, and goofy individuals I've ever known and will surely, ever meet. Going out of his way to stand at a bus stop just to make sure I had some consistency in my life, a friendly face at the end of the day, and a safe way to get back home was the kind of person he continued to be throughout my life (and throughout the lives of his own family).

Everyone who knew him knew what it meant to him to protect those around him, and that kind of protection was one he enacted until the day he passed away. Without my brother here, I feel a piece of me has shuttered itself away. At the same time, his loss has sparked a desire in me to be better. For him, for his family, for my family, and for myself. His impact on others was incalculable and immeasurable; his life is equally difficult to sum up in just a few words in just a few minutes. I don't doubt I'll be sharing small stories from his life for the rest of my own, but I do want to make sure I make one thing extremely clear.

My brother was the best of us and this world is less bright now that he has passed. Please, keep him in your memory and in your thoughts. Honor his memory by being kind and trying your absolute best. Thank you for coming and for joining my family in remembering my brother.

If I were to say that my sister was the most important person in my life, it might be a bit of a life. (Technically, my mom is the most important person in my life.) I didn't consider my sister as a separate individual -- she was part of me. We were two parts of a whole. Together, we were a full being. Without her, I feel as though half of me is gone.

When we were young, we would stay up until way past our bedtime, whispering down the hallway to each other as we slept in separate beds. We would share our dreams, our fears, our anger, and our joy for a few hours each night. I learned about her dream to be a veterinarian and she celebrated my desire to be a janitor. (We were young!)

Each summer we would go to summer camp together (which we hated), prompted by our parents' need to get some much needed alone time. We were fused at the hip and made almost no friends during summer camps (much to our joy and delight). When we'd get home, our parents would ask if we made new friends and had a great time, we'd lie and make up names for the friends we never made.

When we graduated from college (we both attended [name of college]), she was right behind me on the stage, clasping her degree in [subject] while I held mine in [subject] -- far from our dreams as children.

Throughout our 20's we played around with moving apart and traveling but would ultimately reunite in our hometown every two years or so. When we lost [name], we lived only 20 minutes from each other and would see each other nearly every other day. She was the first person I called when I needed someone to hear me out, someone to listen to me rant, someone to comfort me as I cried, and someone to advocate for me when I wasn't kind to myself.

Losing my sister is the hardest thing I've ever had to go through. I will never feel whole again. At the same time, I know she would want me to remember her in a bright light and know that I carry her with me at all times. I truly aim to do this. In her memory, please give your loved ones a hug today and let them know how much they mean to you.

Many of you attending today know my sister through her immensely successful career as a nurse, some of you know her through her brief stint as a filmographer, and many of you know her because she made a deep impression on you at some point during our childhood. To say she was a lifelong friend to many wouldn't be doing her justice. My sister was the kind of person who somehow found the stragglers, the outcasts, the nerds, the misfits, and the people who didn't feel like they had a community -- and gave them one. She opened up her home to those in need, rented out (and sometimes just lended out) her extra rooms, constantly helped people find jobs, resources, and connections when they were new to the city. She was everything to so many and I'm so blessed to see you all here today. Please try your best to fill your life with generosity and gratitude as a testament to her and her life. Thank you.

Thank you for joining me today in honoring my sister's memory. From a young age, I knew my sister was special. She would pick me up each and every day from school. When I went to college, she was there to drive me to the dorms. When I graduated, she drove me across the country. Without her constant and unrelenting support, I wouldn't have made it through the last 40 years of my life. She showed me how to be a better sister, a better person, and a wonderful mom. I owe everything to her and don't know how to navigate life without her.

My grandson, [Full Name] was an amazing young man. He made his family immensely proud of him every single day he lived. A teacher, an educator, a passionate writer, and a talented artist, his multifaceted personality and talent arsenal impressed everyone he met.

He was a strong and independent man, who always put others before himself. Even when he was younger, he'd be the first of my grandkids to ask how he could help. If I was fixing the car, he'd want to watch. If I was working in the garden, he'd want to help. If the lawn needed to be mowed, he'd be up on a Saturday morning taking care of it. When his grandmother, my wife, had hip surgery, he was the one to run and grab us groceries every week. All of this without complaint and without making us feel as though we were burdens.

I am so proud of the man that he had become and only wish he had the opportunity to live out the rest of his days. A rare and special soul, he will be missed so very much.

Thank you for everything, [first name]. I love you and miss you so much.

To my beautiful granddaughter,

You were the light in my life – always happy, always smiling. You lit up a room every time you entered it and I will miss that light so very much.

I am so proud of the woman you were becoming and I know that you would have accomplished great things in your life. You had such a bright future ahead of you and I am heartbroken that it has been cut so short.

I will cherish all the memories we have together – from your first steps, to your first day of school, to your high school graduation. You were always my pride and joy and I will miss you more than words can say.

Rest in peace, my sweet granddaughter. You will be forever in my heart.

Example # 3

Those of you who know me, know how much my grandson meant to me, our family, and our community. [Name] was a rare individual -- someone that, in today's day and age, is becoming increasingly more rare. He thrived on connecting with others and building up his community in any way he could. Countless hours were spent volunteering with the food bank, the humane society, setting up various cancer walks and runs and trying his hardest to do good in this world and to provide a sense of togetherness with the few precious years he had on this planet. His loss is deeply felt by everyone in our family and of course, many of those who are not (but according to him, would be called family). Please consider honoring [Name]'s memory by volunteering your time in any way that you find meaningful. Maybe that means setting up a walk or run (or any other fun activity) for a charity that you hold dear. Maybe that means picking up trash on the road. Maybe that means spending time in the community garden. In any case, know that any time spent building up the lives of others is time spent remembering and honoring the life of [Name] -- and for that, we are forever grateful.

When I gave birth to [Name], my life was permanently changed. I'd heard how this can happen from friends and family, stories about how having a child changes your life. I'd known this would happen but no amount of warning could've prepared me for how rapidly and totally my world was consumed by my baby. When I held her in my arms for the first time, I knew. I knew my life's purpose. I understood the unspeakable bond that tethers a mother to her child. I was hesitant to release her, to let anyone else but me hold her, even her father. I was obsessed.

With each day, she grew into the bright, confident, and cheerful little girl she ended up being. Every flower was a burst of laughter, interactions with puppies and dogs was a cause for joy, she cried incessantly and wouldn't let me sleep for over 2 months -- but it was so worth it. Seeing her bright, chubby cheeks light up as I turned the corner into her room made it so very worth it.

My daughter was my world and I have no idea how I am to cope with her loss. No parent should undergo the rage and grief that accompanies picking out a casket for your small child. Her life was tragically taken from her and I'll never get to know what kind of person she would've been -- though I have theories. I know she loved every day she got to spend on this earth and I know she felt loved for each and every day.

What I learned from her was to embrace joy, to find a spark of happiness in each and every day, and to cry it out when you have to. [Name], sweet girl, you are so loved and so very missed.

Thank you for joining me and my family today to celebrate, remember, and honor the life of [Full Name]. [Name] was a [man/woman] of [describe characteristics] with a penchant for [description] that always showed itself whenever [he/she] would [description]. A [man/woman] of many talents, [Name] showed us that it was never too late to start [hobby/career].

My [father/mother/sister/brother/relation] was, without a doubt, my best friend, my biggest cheerleader, and my constant supporter. When I was interested in [hobby], [she/he] showed up to all the events. When I decided I was obsessed with [hobby], [he/she] went out and purchased [item]. When I decided to [description], [she/he] was the first person to [description].

My [mom/dad/relation] was an unforgettable and truly remarkable human being. I endeavor, with all my heart, to follow in [his/her] footsteps for the rest of my life. I will honor [his/her] time on Earth and [his/her] contributions to our society by [describe how you'll honor their life]. I ask that everyone here today join me in this endeavour as we aim to honor the life of [full name]. Thank you.

To my wife,

You were my best friend and my partner in life. We shared everything – our hopes, our dreams, our lives. You were the love of my life and I will miss you forever.

We had so many happy years together and I am grateful for every moment we shared. You brought joy to my life and I will cherish our time together always.

I am so proud of the woman you were and I know that you touched the lives of everyone around you. You will be deeply missed but never forgotten.

Rest in peace, my love. You will be forever in my heart.

Choosing a favorite moment from my life spent with my wife is impossible. Was it the time that we went to Lake Minetonka and passed out on the shores after sharing a box full of wine? Was it when she surprised me with tickets to see The Black Crowes in concert, only two months after I'd mentioned it to her? When I'd wake up in the morning to a hot cup of coffee and a brief rant on the political state of the world? The way she mothered our children effortlessly and still took the time to ask me about specific relationships at work? My life has been full of these warm memories -- I can't land on one. What I do know is that my wife emanated love each and every day. Every single day I felt loved, supported, and known. It made me want to make sure she was taken care of in each and every way. I did my best. I tried to give her the life she so deserved, but even if I could give her the life of a queen, it wouldn't have been enough for what she deserved. My wife was everything and is the center of my joy. I miss her each and every day and I know I will see her again.

Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be married. I was obsessed with any and all films of prince charmings, beautiful and big weddings, and women being swept off their feet. I was convinced that my time would come by the time I was 20 (how naive!). I went through college and by the time I was 32 realized I'd never had a boyfriend. I'd never been courted. I wasn't even sure I liked men. My desire to be swept off my feet dwindled and I became secure in myself.

Until I met [Name].

Immediately, within the first 20 minutes of meeting [Name], I was absolutely smitten. I thought of almost nothing else when we were apart -- and we hated each other! She was competing with me for the same promotion at work and we were both tenacious and fierce women. She was stubborn, confident, and sure of what she wanted -- much like myself.

After she got the promotion I so desperately wanted, she invited me out for a conciliatory drink -- a move I never would've made. She would go on to refer to this as our first date, though I considered it the first brick towards building a bridge away from dislike and towards camaraderie.

I was swept off my feet, in a completely unexpected way. During our first years of dating, I found myself wanting to provide for her, take care of her, make her smile at all possible moments. When she ranted about work, I wanted to defend her. When she managed to burn chicken each and every time, you wouldn't hear a peep from me. When she suggested we get married, I wanted her to be the star of the show. I wanted to show her off to every important person in my life. She'd lovingly refer to me as her ""Princess Charming"" -- a role I happily inhabited.

My wife brought joy, kindness, love, courage, strength, and purpose into my life. Without her by my side, I feel an unhealable void. At the same time, in her way, she prepared me as best she could. I ask those gathered here today, in her memory, to help me keep her presence alive. Please spread joy in all the ways you can. Tell people how you feel. Advocate for yourself. Be free.

My life's greatest years were spent with [Name], the love of my life. She loved everything about life, even the downsides -- she embraced it all. Life was hard, but it was also worth it for her. From the moment I met her, I knw my life would be different and that I'd found the one.

[Name] made such a massive difference in the community around her, especially after becoming president of the charity she worked for. Her favorite things in life were witnessing others transform their lives for the better, helping people access community resources wherever possible, and advocating for those less fortunate. Go out today and try your best to emulate everything she did, and more.

I am so saddened by the loss of [Name]. We didn't always see eye to eye, but I always respected [him/her] as a hard worker and a great person. [She/He] was always so kind and helpful, and I will never forget all of the times [she/he] went out of [him/her] way to help me. [She/He] will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing [him/her].

When we first met at [company], [name] was one of the first people to make me feel welcome. I’ll never forget how [she/he] took the time to get to know me and helped me feel like I belonged there.

I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to work with [him/her], and I know that [she/he] has left a lasting impression on everyone [she/he] met. [She/He] was an amazing person, and I know that [she/he] will be deeply missed. Thank you for everything, [name].

May you rest in peace.

Throughout my career, I've met plenty of personalities, characters, and people -- but none as special as [Name]. When [Name] first entered the front doors to our building, I immediately knew we would get on. [Name] was the type of person you'd easily become friends with. People who met [him/her/them] would immediately want to work alongside them. As one of my first direct reports, I can't tell you how many people would come to me on the side and request to be paired with or on a team with [Name]. Why? [He/she] was special. People gravitated towards them. People wanted to be in their sphere of influence. People wanted to work alongside them and get to know them.

That's rare. This is the first time I've seen the majority of my company in one room that wasn't our building -- and it's for the funeral of our very special friend and colleague -- [Name]. Thank you to [Name's parents] for raising such an incredible human being. Please know that your [son/daughter/child] changed the lives, every day, of so many people around them. I have never in my 50 years of managing imagined running into someone like [Name] and I am blessed to have known them. Rest well and peacefully, [Name], you did well.

Today we come together to honor the life and legacy of a beloved retired musician, who touched so many lives with his passion for music. He was a kind-hearted man who enjoyed pushing boundaries and exploring new horizons. He was an avid traveler, having visited countries all over the world. He also had a strong connection to animals, particularly cats. His home was often filled with cats of all shapes, sizes and colors.

He had a variety of musical influences, which he blended together to create his own unique sound. He was an incredibly talented musician who could play various instruments including the guitar, piano and flute. He wrote some beautiful melodies that will live on long after him.

He was also a generous soul, always ready to lend a helping hand. He had an open door policy and welcomed people into his home with open arms. More than anything else, he loved sharing stories and swapping ideas with those around him.

Today we celebrate the life of this incredible man who left behind a beautiful legacy of music and of kindness. He will be remembered for all that he has accomplished and the many lives that he touched. May we strive to follow in his footsteps and honor his memory by living our own lives with love, humility and caring. Thank you.

These eulogy examples are for those who would like to focus on a loved one's profession or career choices as their way of honoring their life's work.

Eulogy for a speech pathologist

Dear friends, family, and colleagues,

Today, we gather to honor the life and legacy of Sarah Kwambe, a remarkable woman who touched the lives of so many people during her time with us. Sarah was not only a skilled speech pathologist but also a former professional soccer player who had to leave the sport she loved due to a career-ending injury. However, Sarah didn't let that setback stop her from pursuing her passion for helping others.

Sarah's journey began in South Dakota, where she lived with her beloved cat, Sam. She dedicated her life to making a difference in the lives of young people, particularly middle schoolers, whom she worked with as a speech pathologist. She had a remarkable ability to connect with her students and inspire them to achieve their full potential.

Despite the challenges she faced early on in her life, Sarah never gave up on her dreams. She was an accomplished athlete who excelled in soccer, but when her injury put an end to her career, she channeled her passion and determination into her studies. She pursued a degree in speech pathology, and her dedication to her work was evident in everything she did.

Sarah was a compassionate, caring, and selfless person who always put others first. She was a mentor to many, a friend to all, and a source of inspiration to everyone who knew her. She had a warm smile and a kind heart that could light up a room, and her love for her students was evident in the way she interacted with them.

Although Sarah never had children of her own, she had a deep love for her cat, Sam, who was always by her side. Her commitment to her feline friend was just one of the many examples of her kindness and compassion.

In conclusion, Sarah Kwambe was a truly remarkable person who touched the lives of many people in ways that will never be forgotten. Her legacy will live on through the countless students she helped, the colleagues she inspired, and the friends and family who loved her dearly. She will be deeply missed, but her spirit will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

Rest in peace, Sarah Kwambe.

Eulogy example for an environmental activist

Dear friends and family,

Today, we gather to remember and celebrate the life of Rachel Chen, a remarkable woman who dedicated her life to protecting and preserving our environment. Rachel was an accomplished environmental scientist, mother of three children - Irina, Bliss, and Mario, and a loving partner to her husband of many years.

From a young age, Rachel had a deep love and appreciation for nature. Her passion for the environment inspired her to pursue a career in environmental science, and she quickly became a respected expert in her field. She spent many years working tirelessly to protect our national parks, and her dedication to this cause never wavered.

Rachel was also an avid gardener, and she had a remarkable ability to bring beauty to everything she touched. Her love for nature was evident in everything she did, from the way she tended to her garden to the way she spoke about the natural world.

As a mother, Rachel was loving, patient, and kind. She instilled in her children a deep respect for the environment and a desire to make the world a better place. Her children were the light of her life, and she was so proud of the people they had become.

Rachel's passing is a great loss to us all. She was a remarkable person who touched the lives of so many people in countless ways. Her legacy will live on through the countless national parks and natural spaces that she helped to protect, as well as through the love and memories that her family and friends will always carry in their hearts.

Rachel, we will miss you dearly, but we know that your spirit will live on through the beauty of nature that you cherished so deeply. Rest in peace.

Eulogy example for a young adult

Today, we come together to celebrate the life of Zach Peterson. Zach was a talented mechanic, a loving son, and a loyal friend. He passed away far too soon, but his memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew him.

Zach had a passion for auto maintenance that was unmatched. He loved nothing more than working on cars, and he was always happy to help a friend in need. His skills were truly remarkable, and he had an uncanny ability to diagnose and fix any issue that came his way.

But Zach was more than just a mechanic. He was a gentle soul who cared deeply about those around him. He had a warm smile that could light up a room, and he was always quick with a joke or a kind word. He had a way of making everyone feel welcome and included, no matter who they were.

Zach's passing has left a void in our lives, but we take comfort in knowing that his memory will live on. We will remember his kind heart, his infectious laughter, and his unwavering loyalty. Zach was a special person who made a lasting impact on the world around him, and we are all better for having known him. Rest in peace, Zach.

Eulogy for an infant

With heavy hearts, we gather here today to mourn the loss of a precious child who has been taken from us too soon. We know that God has a plan for each and every one of us, but it is still difficult to understand why a young life has been cut short.

As we come together to remember this beautiful child, we take comfort in knowing that they are now in the loving embrace of our Lord. Though their time with us was brief, they brought immense joy and love into the world, and we will cherish the memories we have of them forever.

We know that this is a time of deep sorrow, but we can find solace in the fact that this child is now at peace in the arms of our Heavenly Father. May we all find comfort in our faith, and may we hold this precious child close in our hearts as we navigate this difficult time. Rest in peace, little one.

Eulogy for a grandmother

Today we gather to remember a truly remarkable woman - my grandmother. She was a woman of many talents: a masterful cross-stitcher, an incredible fudge-maker, and a loving grandmother to a whole gaggle of grandchildren.

Grandma was the kind of woman who made you feel like you were the only person in the world when she was talking to you. She always had a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye, and she had a way of making even the most mundane tasks seem like an adventure.

And oh, her fudge! I think we can all agree that Grandma's fudge was a work of art. It was creamy, decadent, and so rich that you could only eat a tiny piece at a time - not that it stopped any of us from trying to eat the whole batch in one sitting!

But beyond her talents and her love of fudge, Grandma will be remembered most of all for the love she had for her family. She was a guiding light for all of us, a source of wisdom and strength when we needed it most.

So, as we say goodbye to this incredible woman, let us not mourn her passing, but celebrate the incredible life she lived. She was one of a kind, and we were all blessed to have known her. Rest in peace, Grandma - we will never forget you.

Eulogy for a farmer

Today we gather to celebrate the life of a man who loved nothing more than working hard under the sun, watching his land grow and thrive. [Name] was not just any farmer - he was a tireless advocate for agricultural reform and change. His passion for sustainable farming practices, conservation, and education knew no bounds.

He was never afraid to get his hands dirty or put in long hours because he believed that every crop mattered; every seed planted had the potential to make a difference. His dedication inspired those around him and helped shape the landscape of our community.

[Name] will be remembered by all as an honest, kind-hearted man who always put others first. I’ll miss his unwavering determination to better this world through agriculture and his infectious smile that brightened up everyone’s day.

One of my favorite memories with [Name] is when he taught me how to plant corn by hand while sharing stories about his childhood on the farm.

Another one of our community's favorite memories of [Name] is when he organized a fundraiser for local farmers affected by droughts and natural disasters.

Thank you all for being here today to honor my friend’s memory and legacy. In [name]’s words “Farming is not just a profession but also an art form”. May we carry on this art form in honor of him.

Eulogy for a teacher

We are gathered here today to say goodbye to someone very special: A teacher who dedicated her life towards social justice inside her classrooms, making sure each student felt valued and respected regardless of their background or ethnicity. She empowered students from underserved communities with access to quality education - she showed them they could achieve anything if they worked hard enough.

[name]'s legacy lives on through every student she touched during her career as an educator, instilling confidence in them whilst fighting against systemic oppression within school walls.

I’ll miss her contagious energy, witty humor, and deep compassion for everyone she met.

One of my favorite memories with [Name] is when she invited me to speak in her class about my personal experiences and background, empowering me to share my story confidently.

Another one of our community's favorite memories of [Name] is when she organized a rally with her students for Black Lives Matter movement that brought people together from all walks of life.

Thank you for being here today, honoring the memory and legacy of someone who dedicated their life towards ensuring social justice inside classrooms. In the words of [name], “Education can change how we view ourselves, other people, and the world”. Let’s carry on this legacy in honor of her.

Eulogy for a foster dad

We gather here today to celebrate the life of a man who was known for his unwavering dedication towards family, golfing and fostering kids - [name]. If there’s one thing that everyone knows about him- it's that he loved nothing more than spending time with those he loved and helping those in need.

[name] had an infectious personality which brought joy to all those around him. He made sure to always put his family first no matter what, while also making time for the sport he was passionate about: Golf.

He would often take foster kids along with him on these trips; providing them a chance at a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

I’ll miss his contagious laughter, generosity, and his commitment to living every day to its fullest potential.

One of my favorite memories with [Name] is when we went out golfing together by the lake, enjoying each other’s company over some good shots.

Another one of our community's favorite memories of [Name] is when he organized a youth-golf tournament fundraiser raising funds for underprivileged children.

Thank you all for being here today honoring someone who lived their life so fully dedicated towards their passions - Family, Golfing & Fostering Kids. In the words of [name], “Life is like a round of golf; try your best from tee to green but don't forget to enjoy the moments along the way."

Eulogy for a soldier

Today we come together as friends and family members mourning the loss of someone whose bravery knew no bounds- [name]. A soldier who sacrificed everything including her own life during deployment serving her country valiantly.

Her courage has inspired us all and reminded us that freedom sometimes comes at great cost—she gave up everything she had just so others could have something better tomorrow.

She will be remembered not only as a hero but also as a friend whose selflessness touched countless lives on and off-duty alike. Her positivity knew no bounds even in times where things felt like they couldn’t get any worse.

I’ll miss her infectious energy, unbreakable spirit and her ability to inspire people around her even in the darkest of times.

One of my favorite memories with [Name] is when we went on a vacation together after she returned from deployment, catching up on life post-duty and just enjoying each other’s company.

Another one of our community's favorite memories of [Name] was when she organized a fundraiser for veterans who had been wounded during active duty.

Thank you all for being here today. We celebrate someone whose profound sacrifice has given us the freedom that we enjoy today- Freedom which comes at great cost. In [name]'s words: "Duty first; self second." Let us never forget this sentiment as we honor those brave men and women who serve their country valiantly.

Eulogy for an animal activist

Today marks the passing away of a woman whose compassion for animals was unmatched - [name]. She served as President at local ASPCA chapter where she inspired others through her dedication towards animal rights advocacy and protection. Her tireless efforts led to increased awareness within our community regarding animal welfare issues such as abuse or neglect.

[name] will be remembered not only as an advocate but also as a friend to all animals; big or small. Her kindness knew no bounds and it extended beyond just domesticated pets like dogs or cats- advocating for wildlife preservation too!

I’ll miss her infectious energy, unwavering passion and her ability to inspire empathy in those around her.

One of my favorite memories with [Name] is when she rescued several abandoned kittens outside our office building during lunch breaks.

Another one of our local communities’ favorite memories with [Name] was when she coordinated fundraisers which helped raise funds for medical treatment costs associated with pet care amongst low-income families.

Thank you all for being here today honoring someone who made it their mission to ensure well-being among some oft-forgotten members in society: animals. May we strive each day to extend kindness towards them, carrying on what [name] started so passionately.

Eulogy for a writer

Thank you so much for attending the services today as we gather to say goodbye to Kaleb Morris, an incredibly talented author and journalist. His work delved into the darkest corners of human behavior, shining a light on the most heinous and unthinkable crimes. Kaleb had a gift for telling stories that not only captivated readers but also helped to shed light on important issues that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.

Tragically, Kaleb's life was cut short in a boating accident, leaving behind his child and former wife, Shareece. Though we grieve for the life that has been taken from us too soon, we can also take comfort in the legacy that Kaleb leaves behind.

His writing was not just a means to entertain, but a way to make a difference in the world. Kaleb shone a light on issues that needed to be addressed, and gave a voice to those who had been silenced by violence and tragedy. He was a gifted storyteller, and his impact on the true crime genre will be felt for years to come.

Kaleb will be deeply missed by all who knew him, but his work will live on as a testament to his incredible talent and dedication to his craft. Rest in peace, Kaleb.

Eulogy for a nurse practitioner

We gather to remember and honor Cherish Abrams, a beloved nurse practitioner who touched the lives of countless patients and colleagues during her 25 years of service. Cherish was known for her compassion, dedication, and expertise, and her loss is deeply felt by all who knew her.

Cherish was like a ""grandma"" to the NICU where she worked, comforting and caring for infants and families during their most vulnerable moments. Her gentle touch and kind words provided solace and hope to those in need, and her wisdom and guidance were invaluable to her colleagues.

Cherish's tragic passing is a reminder of how precious life is and how quickly it can be taken away. But even in death, she continues to inspire us with her selflessness, her unwavering dedication to her patients, and her love for her profession.

Cherish's memory will live on in the hearts of those she touched, and her legacy will continue through the lives of the countless patients she cared for and the colleagues she mentored. May she rest in peace, knowing that she made a profound difference in the world and that she will be deeply missed.

Eulogy for a community leader

Today we gather to honor and remember the life of Michael Patel, a beloved community leader and philanthropist who dedicated his life to making the world a better place. Michael was a self-made businessman, a devoted family man, and a passionate advocate for those in need.

Throughout his life, Michael demonstrated a deep commitment to his community, supporting countless charitable organizations and causes. His generosity knew no bounds, and his impact on the lives of those he helped will never be forgotten.

Michael's passing is a great loss to us all, but his legacy will continue through the countless lives he touched and the causes he supported. We are grateful for the time we had with him and for the inspiration he provided to us all. Rest in peace, Michael, knowing that your life made a profound difference in the world and that you will be deeply missed.

Eulogy for a high school teacher

We gather here today to remember and celebrate the life of Samantha Liu, a beloved high school teacher who passed away far too soon. Samantha was a bright, energetic, and dedicated educator who brought out the best in her students and inspired them to reach for their dreams.

In her 15 years of teaching, Samantha touched the lives of countless students, colleagues, and parents. Her passion for education was infectious, and her positive energy was felt by everyone who crossed her path.

Though we mourn the loss of Samantha, we take comfort in the memories she has left behind and the impact she has had on our lives. Her legacy lives on in the countless students whose lives she touched, and in the hearts of all those who were fortunate enough to know her. Rest in peace, Samantha, knowing that you made a profound difference in the world and that you will be deeply missed.

Eulogy for a philanthropist

Eulogy example for loving mother.

We gather here today to celebrate the life of Emily Thompson, a beloved mother and grandmother who passed away peacefully surrounded by her family. Emily was a kind, caring, and nurturing woman who devoted her life to her loved ones.

As a mother of four and a grandmother of nine, Emily's love and devotion knew no bounds. She was the heart and soul of her family, providing comfort, support, and wisdom whenever it was needed.

Though we mourn the loss of Emily, we take comfort in the memories she has left behind and the love she shared with us all. Her legacy lives on through her family and the countless lives she touched during her lifetime. Rest in peace, Emily, knowing that you made a profound difference in the world and that you will be deeply missed.

Eulogy example for teacher

Marcus was a beloved teacher who dedicated his life to helping his students achieve their goals. He had a gift for teaching and his enthusiasm for learning was contagious. Marcus always went above and beyond to help his students, whether it was staying late to help them with homework, or just lending an ear when they needed to talk. He truly believed in the power of education to change lives, and he worked tirelessly to make sure his students had the tools they needed to succeed. Marcus was also a devoted husband and father. He met his wife, Sarah, when they were both in college, and they were inseparable ever since. They had two children together, and Marcus loved nothing more than spending time with his family. He was always there for his kids, whether it was coaching their sports teams or just reading them a bedtime story.

Marcus was diagnosed with cancer three years ago, but he never let it slow him down. He continued teaching, even when he was undergoing chemotherapy, and he always had a positive attitude. Marcus fought his illness with courage and grace, and he never lost his faith in God.

Marcus was a shining example of what it means to be a good person, and he touched the lives of everyone he met. He will be deeply missed by his students, colleagues, and his loving wife and two children.

Eulogy example for a chef

Isabella was a talented chef who had a passion for creating beautiful and delicious food. She was always experimenting with new flavors and ingredients, and her dishes were a work of art. Isabella had a natural talent for cooking, but she also worked hard to hone her skills. She attended culinary school and worked in some of the best restaurants in the city. But Isabella's love for cooking wasn't just about creating amazing dishes. She also loved the way food brought people together. Isabella was always hosting dinner parties and potlucks, and she loved nothing more than seeing people enjoy her food. She had a big heart and loved to share her food with family and friends. Her food was a way for her to show her love for the people in her life.

Isabella was also a devoted partner. She met her girlfriend, Maria, when they were both working in a restaurant, and they were inseparable ever since. They built a life together, and Isabella loved nothing more than spending time with Maria and their two dogs.

Isabella's death was a shock to everyone who knew her. She had so much talent and so much to give to the world. But even in death, Isabella's spirit lives on through her food and the memories she created for those who knew and loved her.

Eulogy for a principal

Today, we honor the life of a great educator who dedicated his life to shaping young minds and transforming our community through educational reform. We celebrate Michael's passion for education and his tireless efforts in ensuring that every child in this school district received quality education. He was not only an excellent principal but also a mentor, friend, and role model to many.

Michael was committed to providing resources necessary for students' success by creating programs that would enable them to have access to books, computers, and other learning materials. His unwavering commitment towards serving disadvantaged communities will forever be remembered.

We'll miss his vision for educational reform but are grateful for the impact he left on us all.

One of my favorite memories with Michael was when he fought tirelessly to get funding from the government so that we could add more classrooms and hire more teachers. His determination inspired me always.

Eulogy for a doctor

It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye today to Dr.[Name], an incredible physician who touched many lives during his medical career. While he loved fast cars, small dogs, and Margaritaville music, his dedication towards helping others never wavered.

Dr.[Name] had a way of putting people at ease whenever they were anxious about their health issues; he made you feel like everything would be okay no matter what happened.

He lived life fully and inspired those around him while doing so - even while battling his own illness—always encouraging others never to give up hope or lose faith in themselves.

I’ll miss his sense of humor but am lost without his guidance on how I should take care of myself better!

Another one of my favorite memories with Dr.[Name] is when he took me out on a ride-along in his sports car after work one day! He loved living life vicariously through little adventures like these!

To capture more memories of your loved one, consider creating a memorial website . Memorial websites are excellent tools that help you share event details, post an obituary, collect memories, and raise funds in someone’s name. They’re easy to set up, easy to use and completely free.

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Help protect your family, get free grief support, 13+ tribute ideas for a father who has died.

Paying tribute to a father who has passed away is a common gesture children and others want to make. You’ll often find tributes in books, art, film, poems, and other media, but these aren’t the only places to pay tribute to someone you’ve lost or to someone important to you. You can also pay tribute

How to Plan a Jewish Unveiling Ceremony

Many religions have different customs and rites that take place after someone passes away. If you’ve never planned and held your own unveiling ceremony, this task can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Additionally, if you’re not part of that religion, you may feel awkward or uncomfortable at

What are Memorial Websites?

If you’re looking for a place to memorialize the life of someone you loved, share their story with others, and/or connect your community around the life of your loved one, a memorial website is a great place to start. What is a memorial website? A memorial website (which can be referred to

Create a space to remember someone

How Do I Write a Eulogy?

A eulogy is a speech of remembrance typically given at a funeral or memorial service to pay tribute to someone who has died.

Writing a successful eulogy, like writing an obituary , can be challenging but also enriching, providing a moment to reflect meaningfully on the life and legacy of a beloved family member, friend, or colleague. Drawing on stories and memories, accomplishments, lessons learned, or favorite quotes, the eulogy is an expression of why this person was important and how they’ll be remembered now that they’re gone. 

“This is something that’s a big deal to people,” says Linnea Crowther, Legacy’s top tribute-writing expert. “You’ve just lost someone, a dear friend or family member — now you have to quickly gather your thoughts, write a speech, and deliver it to a roomful of people.”

This step-by-step guide has everything you need to know about how to write a eulogy, including how long the eulogy should be, how to research and gather information before you write, what to include in the eulogy, and how to edit and revise your speech. Use this eulogy writing guide to help you craft and deliver a special eulogy that pays tribute to the life and legacy of someone important to you.

Eulogy Examples: Eulogy for a Father Eulogy for a Mother Eulogy for a Grandmother Eulogy for an Uncle Eulogy for a Child

How Long is a Eulogy?

A eulogy is usually between 5 and 10 minutes long. As you write your eulogy, aim for about 750-1500 written words (or 1-2 typed pages, single-spaced) — this should be about 5-10 minutes when spoken. Plan to spend at least an hour or two writing and editing the eulogy, plus time to practice speaking. Also set aside additional time for reaching out to family or friends to collect anecdotes or other details to include in the eulogy, as well as gathering your own thoughts.  

What to Include in a Eulogy?

A eulogy can include anecdotes, accomplishments, favorite quotes — any details that help paint a picture of the personality of the deceased. The eulogy you write might include: 

• A brief recounting of their life story 
• Insights into their relationships with family and close friends (“He was the best dad a kid could have” “She and her granddaughter were thick as thieves”) 
• Career milestones and accomplishments (“She was the first in her family to graduate from college” “He was proud of his work with homeless vets”) 
• Achievements related to personal goals, interests, or hobbies (“She was determined not just to run a marathon but to win” “He spent countless hours on his boat, sailing with his trusty first mate — his grandson”) 
• Your favorite memories (“I remember the road trip to Kentucky with my grandparents — my grandmother was the navigator which meant she spent most of the drive yelling, ‘You’re going the wrong way!’”) 
• Favorite quotes, poems, songs, proverbs and/or religious writings 
• Their own words — a catchphrase or mantra, perhaps, or a poem or song they wrote   

Keep your audience in mind: most eulogies will be delivered to people of all ages and backgrounds. Any stories, jokes, songs, quotes should be appropriate for a diverse, family audience. 

Remember that a eulogy is a tribute, an expression of love, not a “fair and balanced” accounting of a life. A eulogy should highlight a person’s positive qualities — not focus on the negative or try to set the record straight.  

Of course, we all have flaws. No one is perfect and it’s OK for eulogies to reflect that. If a defining characteristic of your grandmother was that she was always complaining, feel free to include that in her eulogy (especially if you can temper with something more positive, like “behind the gruff exterior was a woman who loved her family with all her heart.”) 

Writing the Eulogy  

1. gather memories .

Start by reminiscing about the person you are eulogizing. Think about what made them unique or defined them as a person. These can be big personality traits or small quirky details: 

• Did he have a clever catchphrase? Mix a mean martini? 
• Was she passionate about opera? Did she have a special love for lizards? 
• Was he the life of the party? Or did he prefer to be by himself in the woods? 
• Did she persevere to overcome obstacles in her life?   

Also think about your relationship with this person: 

• When did you first meet him? 
• What will you miss most about her? 
• What is your favorite memory of him? 
• How did she change your life for the better?    

As you reminisce, jot down anything that comes to mind.  

Next, reach out to other family members, friends, and/or colleagues and ask them to share their memories. They can help to fill in gaps in your memory, confirm key details, or offer a fresh perspective on the life of the deceased. Together, these shared memories will shape your tribute. 

2. Organize Your Thoughts 

Look through your notes and start to group the stories and remembrances you’ve collected. You may begin to see a common thread. Maybe everyone you spoke with recalled her biting sense of humor or mentioned his enthusiastic cheering at basketball games.

Maybe many stories shared are about how she always got the last word, or how he quietly helped behind the scenes. Whatever the common thread, it can be the theme that ties your eulogy together: 

• “Kathy was always the funniest person in the room”   
• “Zach was always there for his family — yelling loudly from the stands”    
• “Doris never met a stranger”    
• “What makes a loyal friend? Just ask those fortunate enough to be friends with Bob.”   
• “Margaret was the bravest woman I’ve ever known”   

If a theme doesn’t stand out, try asking a question. Pose a general question about the person (like “Who was Ozell Hinkle?” or “What did I learn from my grandmother?”) and use the details you’ve gathered to answer it. This can help give structure to your speech.  

Remember, while it’s good to get input from others, you don’t need to include every detail and story shared with you. Highlight what you feel is most important to honor the deceased.  

Also, there’s no need to make a profound statement about life and death. Your listeners want to hear a loving tribute to someone who was important to them. So, focus on the life and legacy of the deceased and what they meant to you.   

3. Write a Draft 

Now that you’ve gathered and organized, it’s time to weave these pieces together to create a narrative about this person.  

The eulogy is a speech, so write as you would speak. Don’t try to be too formal, and don’t worry about grammar or spelling.  

In this first draft, don’t hold back; let it all come out. Just get your thoughts down on paper. 

Once you’ve written all you want to say, set the eulogy aside for a little while. It’s a good idea to take a break before you begin editing so you can look at what you’ve written with fresh eyes. 

4. Review and Edit 

Read your eulogy. Again, don’t worry about grammar or spelling. Does the eulogy make sense? Will listeners understand what you’re trying to say? Does it capture the spirit of your loved one? 

Have you said enough? Add any other important details that are missing. Consider including a meaningful quote or poem. Make sure what you want people to know about this person comes through clearly. For example, if you really want people to appreciate what a loving father he was, include examples of the ways he showed his children how much he cared.  

Have you said too much? Remove anything negative, confrontational, or otherwise inappropriate for a eulogy. If the eulogy long, look for places where you repeat yourself, make the same point more than once, or include a lot of detailed information. Try combining repetitive sections to reduce the length of the speech.

Take out extra details, especially if they don’t support your main point. Remember you don’t need to tell this person’s entire life story: focus on how and why they were important to you. 

5. Practice Your Speech 

Giving a speech is different from reading out loud what you’ve written, so it’s helpful to practice ahead of time. The better rehearsed you are, the easier it will be to deliver the speech when the time comes. You don’t have to memorize your eulogy, but you should know it well enough that you can deliver it without having to read word-for-word. 

• Speak slowly and clearly. It’s also important to speak loudly so the people in the back can hear. If you have a quiet voice, ask someone to stand far away so you can practice being heard at a distance.  
• Try to look up from your written speech as much as possible so you can connect with your audience and be heard more easily. Enlist a loved one to help you or practice your speech while standing at the mirror or looking out a window. This will help you focus on something that isn’t the paper you’re holding.  
• Time yourself saying the eulogy out loud. If it’s longer than 15 minutes, you may want to look for ways to condense your speech. If your eulogy is fewer than 5 minutes, you may want to add more. Each time you make changes, practice saying the newest version out loud. 
• Practice delivering the full and complete eulogy at least twice, or as many times as you need to feel comfortable.  
• Before the funeral or memorial service, print a copy of your eulogy in large, easily readable font and staple or number them to keep them in the proper order. You may want to print an extra copy just in case. Be sure to save a copy on your computer.    

Delivering the Eulogy

On the day of the funeral, come prepared with your speech, glasses (if needed), tissues, and a bottle of water. 

Be kind to yourself. This may be the most difficult speech you’ll ever give. This may be your first time addressing a large group of people. You may be nervous. You will be emotional. 

Let yourself cry if you need to. It’s normal to feel and show emotions, especially at a time like this. You will never have a more sympathetic audience. 

Take a deep breath and take your time. Pause if you need to. Speak slowly, clearly, and loud enough to be heard by all. This is your time to say in your own words why this person mattered. 

If you feel strongly that you are unable to deliver the eulogy , ask someone else ahead of time to give the speech for you. Giving a speech is challenging enough in the best of times, and some may be too overwhelmed after a loved one’s death to present the eulogy. We all react to the death of a loved one in our own way, says eulogy expert Florence Isaacs, so do what feels most comfortable.  

Remember, you don’t have to be an expert orator to deliver a eulogy. People want to hear words of remembrance that connect them to other mourners and provide comfort, says Isaacs. You are there to say a few simple words about someone who was important to you and those around you.

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Eulogy Examples

Here are a few examples of eulogies written by real people to pay tribute to family and friends.

Eulogy for a Father

By  Josh Kruger  for his dad, delivered April 7, 2018:

“A man,” my father once told me, “needs a purpose. He needs a reason to get up in the morning.”

While my Dad’s words were often reflections of his own life experiences, sometimes, my Dad’s words were just plain funny.

“So, when you look at a man,” he once asked me after I came out as gay, “you get the same feeling that I do when I see a woman?”

“Yes,” I replied, “that’s exactly right.”

“Oh,” he paused. “Oh my.”

And with that, we perfectly understood each other.

My father was many things, but most of all he was a good man.

He taught us how to be men: to rise above challenges, to be responsible, to stand up to bullies, to protect the vulnerable, to live honestly, to reverse course when you’re wrong, to never back down when you’re right, to let your actions, not words, determine who you are.

Dad worked diligently for years to ensure that Mom would be OK even if he weren’t around anymore.

Our whole lives, Dad, being sometimes too practical just like his own father who was also named Ken, told me and Zach about that, telling us where the important information was and what we had to do if things ever got to that point.

Then, one day, suddenly and completely unexpectedly, things got to that point.

And, at that point, we were able to be with him, all day, every day, holding his hand, telling him we loved him.

Despite the traumatic circumstances for us in the end, circumstances that would smash anyone into countless emotional fragments, we came together as a family. Our hearts were breaking, but we were united in love — for Dad and each other.

And, we did everything exactly as Dad wanted.

Still, one of the hardest things we had to do as a family was let Dad go.

The day before he died, it was snowing. We drove to the peaceful place Dad spent his last days, and we again stayed with him all day. There were no loud hospital machines anymore as there were the week prior. Instead, there was a stillness. And it was the kind of place Dad would want to be at in the end.

After he died, we had a lot of work to do. Zach and I swung into action, making calls, filing paperwork, protecting Mom as best we could. Our actions, integrity, and, if I may say so, our grace during this time is a testament to the character that Dad built in us.

We had no idea the men we could be, or the men we had grown into.

He was always willing to help us, to give us second, third, fourth chances if we helped ourselves and did our part, too.

It is now clear that Dad was training us just as life, and maybe even drill sergeants, had trained him.

It is a blessing to have had such a father, a friend, a brother, a colleague, a husband.

…my father’s legacy will be one of a courageous, compassionate man with an exceptional life story, unparalleled integrity, countless friends, and a family that loved him.

I will miss him more than I have ever missed anyone or anything in my entire life. And I know I am not alone in that.

What a legacy it is to be remembered — and truly, dearly missed — by those who love you.

And, what a legacy it is to be remembered because of love.

Read the complete eulogy

Eulogy for a Mother

By Anonymous:

On May 13th, I lost my mom and my very best friend. Not only that, but my kids lost their amazing grandma. She valued and treasured her family above all else, and she was there for every milestone in my life as well as my kids’ lives. Through good times and bad, she stuck by us, championing and supporting us every step of the way.  

When Lauren needed surgery, my mom was by our sides at every test and doctor’s appointment. The day of the surgery, she paced back and forth in front of the gift shop, waiting impatiently for it to open, so that she could comfort Lauren with a stuffed animal and huge balloon. 

When Kristen was hospitalized for two days in the 7th grade, my mom was right there with us. One of the days we were there, I remember stepping away from Kristen’s room to go grab some lunch. When I came back, I walked in on my mom lecturing the doctor, yelling things like “No one talks to Princess Kristen like that.” 

When Andrew was in 3rd grade, we had some issues with a teacher. While most grandparents would refrain from getting involved in situations like this, that just wasn’t my mom. She was right there with me, standing up for her grandson. 

My kids have truly been blessed with the most amazing, loving, and caring Grandma. She was, among so many other things, their protector, teacher, and biggest fan. No matter what, my mom did everything in her power to put smiles on her grandchildren’s faces and make sure that they knew just how much she loved them. We are fortunate to have so many wonderful memories of my mom. 

In addition to being a devoted grandmother, my mom was also my caregiver, teacher, therapist, and best friend. Most of all, though, my mom was my hero. She was always there when I needed her most and in ways I can’t even begin to describe. 

And now she’s my guardian angel. The day you took your last breath, a piece of me went with you. Goodbye mom, my angel. 

You will always be loved, always be missed, and always be in my heart. 

Eulogy for a Grandmother

By Jessica Campbell for her grandmother  Jean Breland Campbell , delivered Sept. 2, 2018:

The day I was born, there was a bad storm in Tuscaloosa. The wind damaged the roof of Granny’s house. But she never seemed to hold it against me. 

Occasionally, when Granny and Granddaddy road-tripped, they took me along for the ride. We went with them to the World’s Fairs in Knoxville and New Orleans. One year, they took Carrie and me on a trip to Tennessee and Kentucky. Highlights included Opryland, Cracker Barrel (the first time we’d ever been), Mammoth Caves, Lincoln’s birthplace. But before we could get to Tennessee, we had to get out of Birmingham. I will never forget driving through downtown and north Birmingham with Granny yelling at Granddaddy “You’re going the wrong way!” 

Berating Granddaddy was a constant. He would launch into a story, and she would talk over him, chiding him “You’re telling it wrong!” And then when he kept talking, she would turn to the rest of us and say, “He’s not telling it right…”  

When Granddaddy died, her complaining about him subsided. Conversations instead focused on her health, Alabama football, the worldly whereabouts of assorted children and grandchildren. But in my last visit with Granny in July, she came through with one last dig at Granddaddy, declaring “If I’d listened to my husband, I’d be dead…”  

She then told this story: One time many years ago, she smelled gas. She told Brooken who said “You can’t smell gas. It’s odorless.” “Well, I smell it!” she insisted. In the end Granddaddy called the gas company, they fixed the gas leak, and crisis was averted. Sometimes, there’s a fine line between persistence and belligerence. Occasionally, belligerence is justified.

When she wasn’t traveling, Granny could be found watching television or reading. She would watch just about any sport on TV. College football was a particular favorite, though she also watched plenty of basketball, tennis, the Olympics. When the Olympic Games came to Atlanta in 1996, she was there in person.

Some people travel or read or watch movies because they enjoy the journey, whether from one place to another or through a good story. Did Granny enjoy the journey? Hard to say, but having ridden in the car with her plenty of times, both when she was driving and when she wasn’t, I’m going to say no.

Whereas for Granddaddy the journey was the story, for Granny, I think it was more about the destination. Or perhaps, more accurately, the sum total of all the destinations: visiting all 50 states, watching all 100 top movies, reading so many books… Granny collected these experiences like some people collect stamps or rocks or Beanie Babies (and based on some of her papers, she may have collected those too).

The day I was born, there was a bad storm in Tuscaloosa. In 2011, another bad storm struck. This one included a mile-wide tornado that devastated Tuscaloosa, coming within yards of Granny’s house. Inside, alone in her house, Granny waited out the storm.

Granny and her house survived, though the neighborhood is still recovering. During her nearly five decades in that house, neighbors came and went. The community transformed from all white to predominantly black. But Granny stayed put in a house largely unchanged since my childhood.

Television sets cycled through. Occasionally there was a new recliner. Eventually Aunt Gale’s vanity made way for a computer desk where Granny could research family history or send a to-the-point birthday email: invariably “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” in all caps. (Granny was pretty tech-savvy for a nonagenarian, but verbose she was not.)

Granny’s house didn’t change, but she did, at least a little. She softened somewhat, especially with her great-grandchildren. Never a hugger, she would ask young Bennett and Zella “Aren’t you going to hug my neck?” She glowed as she showed off photos of Joseph. One time the perennial birthday email arrived with “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” in hot pink.

Granny was a survivor and fiercely independent, taking care of herself until nearly the end. She endured trauma and loss in her childhood, chronic pain and discomfort in her later years. And she endures in my memory, standing sentinel in her driveway in Tuscaloosa, watching us depart after our visit in July, just as she had done for my entire life.

Goodbye, Granny. I will miss you.

Eulogy for an Uncle

By Melanie Marsden:

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Uncle Jimmy is family. My earliest memories I have of him are sitting around my grandmother’s kitchen table or watching from the Eden Street park as he, Carol and the boys would visit Carol’s mom. Jimmy was a devoted husband and loving father. He was not only a great son he was a great son in-law. He was a caring brother, cousin, uncle, friend and papa. His family was his world. He loved his wife Carol, his sons Jamie and Jeff and his daughter-in-law Eveline but it would be Jonathan who would make Jimmy One Happy Papa. Jonathan lit up Jimmy’s world. He loved that little guy so much-he beamed with pride and if you are lucky enough to have met Jonathan you know why.  

I’ll never forget how Jimmy was there for me when my dad Zeke died. From my high school graduation to getting my wisdom teeth out he was always there when it mattered. When I was away at Eastover, he went up to Woodbrook regularly with Carol and the boys to check in on Peachie and help out. If it weren’t for his help, I am not sure if our summer camp would still be in our family.  

When his sister Betty died, the hospice nurse said to Mimi “oh you’re an only child — how sad.” And Uncle Jimmy wrapped his arm around Mimi’s shoulder and pulled her in close and said — “she has all of us.”  

Jimmy was a quiet, gentle force. He was always looking out for other people. He was always happy to see you. He lit up a room when he walked into it. When he asked how you were — he really listened and cared to know. I don’t think I ever heard him say a bad word about anyone. While he was a man of few words in a crowd, when he did speak, it usually ended up with everyone busting up laughing. Jimmy Connors was a very funny guy.  

Jimmy loved to cook for people. When he visited Woodbrook you could count on him to be serving up a mean breakfast. He didn’t stop there though, he was always stepping it up on the grill making something fancy. He couldn’t stop, he just liked to take care of others. He regularly attended the annual “Manly Man Weekends” in New Hampshire. Every year awards were given out on Saturday night. Though no women are allowed at the Manly Man Weekends, I’m told many of the awards were mocking and sarcastic in nature. As I understand it, one year when Jimmy was given an award, he thanked the group, polished it with pride then, always being a jokester, casually proceeded to drop it in the trash.  

Jimmy was a wealth of knowledge when it came to Charlestown and family history. Whenever I needed to know something I always knew where to find him. I would stroll down to the old bank-building coffee shop and there he would be hanging out with friends where he would always take the time to visit and provide me with fascinating facts. About a month ago I called Carol and Jimmy and said, “If you need anything, let me know”. Jimmy replied, “TELL HER IF SHE NEEDS ANYTHING, TO LET ME KNOW”. That’s just how Jimmy was. On Friday when Jimmy passed away, I was out on the porch with Jonathan. The sun had just broken out after days of rain. Jonathan looked at me, pointed to the sky and asked, “Is Papa up there now?” I said, “Papa’s in Heaven but he will always be your Papa.” And a great Papa he was.  

Yeah, Jimmy Connors was a man you don’t meet every day. He was the epitome of a stand up guy and while I am sad because he has left us physically, Jimmy will live on in all of us through our memories, stories and how he affected our lives. I love you Uncle Jimmy and I am REALLY going to miss you. We all are. And don’t worry about Carol, Jamie, Jeff, Eveline or Jonathan — They have all of us. 

Eulogy for a Child

Ask anyone who knows me — I am someone who is rarely at a loss for words — but when Trux and Lauren asked me to speak about Gage, I wasn’t sure I would be able to find the right ones.     Gage Dole was larger than life, and far bigger than words.     An old soul..he was wise — well beyond his years. He came here to teach us and I learned so much from him…     I wasn’t and I’m still not sure I can do my amazing friend justice with simple words…In the end, all I can do is try my best to tell you about Gage as we knew him. How we met him, and how he touched my life…….forever.     Just in case any of you don’t know what craigslist is, it’s an online classified that has made traditional newspaper classifieds virtually obsolete. Craigslist is popular for a lot of things…Some people find used furniture, electronics, or jobs on Craigslist. Other’s find a roommate, a relationship or even a used car…     My family — The Marsdens — we found Gage.     Well sort of. It was Trux actually. While scanning the barter section I noticed his post looking for temporary housing in Boston — of course I wanted to help.     Strangely enough, my dad Zeke died of cancer 20 years ago this weekend. I was 17 at the time, and while it was terribly hard on my family, I can’t even begin to imagine how much harder that time in our life would have been if we had to pack up and move clear across the country to get my dad the treatment he needed. Dealing with cancer is hard enough, but having to do it away in a strange place seemed more of a burden than I could fathom.     While that was a very dark time in our lives — it was also one of the most beautiful. The whole community came out and supported us in any way they could. I didn’t want to imagine how my family would have gotten through such a tough time in our lives without the support of our family, friends, and neighbors. For years I’d wondered how I was going to even begin to repay all of the people who had reached out to my family when my father was sick. And on that day when I saw Trux’s Craigslist posting — I felt like this was meant to be. It was our turn to pay it forward.     If Lauren, Trux and Gage had to leave their home behind to get the treatment that Gage needed, the least we could do was help them with a place to stay and hopefully make them feel a little more comfortable in this very difficult time.     And just like that, within a few short weeks — strangers from opposite ends of the country became housemates, and not long after that, family.     Gage was just 4 when he and his parents came to live with us in Charlestown. My brother Michael, my mom Peachie, Lauren, Trux, Gage and myself all lived together under one roof for 3 months while Gage received Proton Radiation Treatment at Mass General. While it was a short amount of time in the grand scheme of things, those three months had a profound effect on me.     Growing up — no matter where our days took us as kids out exploring — 5:00 o’clock meant time to head back home for Supper. And Supper time in the Marsden house was called “Quality Time.” Quality time meant no phones, no television, no video games — just a family around the table — sharing a meal, taking turns talking about our day. But when my father died — the pain was so great and the grief so heavy that sitting around that table didn’t bring the comfort or joy it once had in our lives. It was a constant almost unbearable reminder that someone was missing; the glue that held our family together was gone.     I hadn’t taken much time to think about how tough having a child with cancer coming into our house might be. No, in retrospect I hadn’t given it much thought at all. There are so many problems in the world that we can’t fix — but here was one — staring me in the face that we could help with. The Doles needed a place to stay. We had a couple of spare rooms. Before they moved in my brother asked me “are they bringing this boy here to die?” I’m sure he was thinking that maybe we couldn’t handle that — After all we still hadn’t fully recovered from losing my dad.     I told Michael that they were bringing him here to fight. And that we had no control over what the outcome would be but we could make sure that his memories of Boston were more than of Hospital stays and medical treatments. I honestly thought we could live in the same house with them and keep a healthy distance emotionally — boy was I wrong. When they arrived — you couldn’t help but fall in love with the whole family — especially Gage.     While our intention all along had been to help Gage and his family — in the end, it was Gage that helped us. When you lose someone close — you’re afraid to feel that hurt again. You’re afraid to love and let people in. But you couldn’t keep Gage at a distance. It was impossible. He was so full of love that it spilled out of him and wrapped around you and you just had no choice. Like the story of the little brave soul who came into the world to unlock love — Gage brought love and joy and laughter back into our home. And I have no doubt that when Gage volunteered to be a brave little soul, my dad Zeke pulled him aside and said “hey Pal — while you’re down there — can you do me a favor and stop by 38 Mystic Street. They really need a dose of LOVE.”     Here was this 4 year old boy with strength and courage that most people who live very long lives never possess. But Gage never so much as complained or let the battle he was facing — slow him down or weaken his spirit. Gage loved life. Here he was a sick child….     BUT I’D NEVER MET ANYONE MORE ALIVE!!!     He’d run around the house in his super hero pajamas. Cracking jokes, telling stories, and bringing joy wherever he went. In our time together he helped clarify what was truly important in life. He brought us back to a time when everything made sense. A time before the rug was pulled out from under us. A time before we lost my dad. He brought us back to the kitchen table as a family. He helped us to love again. And if he could face life without fear — we had no choice but to follow his lead.     We were blessed to have him with us for Halloween and Christmas that year. He completely lit up our house. You should have seen Trux, Lauren, Peachie, Michael and Myself following batman all around town while he collected his loot. I’m not sure who had more fun — us or him..? And Christmas that year was better than any I’d remembered — We put on the Chipmunks Christmas Album, We decorated the tree together. Michael put Christmas bulbs up his nose and he and Gage got a kick out of it. That was the Christmas of the Blue Power Ranger Gun and a visit to meet Santa in the Berkshires.     My father used to say, “We’re all going to die. And once we accept that — we really start to live.” And boy did Gage live.     Knowing Gage and loving Gage has made me a better person. When his family lived with us they brought a joy back to our home that had been missing for years. People would hear about the story and say “how sad.” And we’d reply — spend 2 minutes with Gage and sad would be the furthest thing from your mind.     During that time, I learned so much about Power Rangers and Pirates and Pretty Girls. He could spot a pretty girl from a mile away. And you could tell the ones he really liked because those are the ones he’d show his scar too. Or whatever temporary tattoo he happened to be sporting that week. One of my favorite memories of Gage was when we went to visit him before the Bone Marrow Treatment. The last thing he said to Michael as we were leaving was — “Hey Michael, don’t ever let them make you wash those off,” referring to Michael’s very real tattoos — which Gage must have assumed were the wash off type. He probably was trying to figure out how Michael managed to avoid soap and water all those years.     Some of my family’s favorite memories of Gage were: 

Peachie reading stories to Gage. 

Gage belly laughing while we watched Mahna Mahna over and over again.     Watching Veggie Tales and singing silly songs.     Gage’s love of Pizzeria Regina Pizza with Black Olives.     Michael’s thumb magic trick — which Gage would ask to see over and over again.     At dinner time Trux would say, “Gage stop beating up Michael and eat your Food”.     Gage telling Michael “No Toys at the Table.” When Michael was using his cell phone.     The no playing until we eat rule and how Gage and Michael found a way around the no toys at the table rule by using neckties as headbands and playing Commando — Since technically, they argued, neck ties are not a toy — they are apparel and Trux and Lauren agreed wholeheartedly.    Hearing “One two three four I declare a Thumb War.” Every time Gage and Michael Thumb Wrestled.     Gage asking Michael if he could be his “pretend little brother”.     The snowball fight in the hospital     And on and on… 

Michael was 27. Gage 4. But neither of them acted their age…     Gage, no doubt because of his condition, was blessed with this amazing Spirit which helped him, and in turn all of us, not only get through some tough times, but have a lot of fun along the way. Gage came here to teach us. He came to this world knowing the importance of family, friends, laughter and love. Of kindness and courage and strength. And he lives on in us.     I’d like to close with a quote that hangs on our wall that was given to us by Gage’s family: 

If you’ve had a kindness done you — pass it on.   It was not meant for you alone — pass it on.   May it linger through the years — may it dry another’s tears   Till in Heaven it appears — pass it on. 

May we all go forward with strength and courage as Gage did.  

Pass it on. 

Jessica Campbell

Writer, editor, and senior content strategist, at Legacy since 2005. Her feature stories include "The Long, Loud History of Sports and Politics (in 66 Pictures)," "How Women Dressed 100 Years Ago," and "The First Brave Woman to Allege Sexual Harassment."

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Powerful Eulogy Examples to Help You Write a Eulogy

Giving a eulogy for a loved one is an important and meaningful task. It’s a joy and a blessing, but can also be a bit intimidating.

So we’ve provided some samples for your inspiration, including short eulogy examples accompanying each.

14 Meaningful Eulogy Examples

Skip to our favorite full-length sample eulogies for a….

• Grandmother
• Grandfather

But first, we’ll start with some short funeral speech examples.

Short Eulogy Examples

Here are some brief examples of eulogies that are short and to the point. Sometimes, fewer words is best.

Short Eulogy for a Mother

My mother, Lydia Jane Ethridge, had many passions in life. She had a passion for her children, for ensuring that we were well taken care of at all times. She had a passion for teaching art, which she did at her beloved Edwards Christian Academy in Southerfield. And she had a passion for the environment, which she instilled in my sister Valerie and I from an early age.

She was a very hard worker, and I think we can all agree that she was a talented artist. She had a deep love for her husband, Sam, whom she married in this very church on July 7th, 1993. As many of you know, Sam is no longer with us, but the years that he and Mom were able to spend together were the greatest years of her life. It gives me peace in knowing that he and Mom are finally together again.

Each of you was special to Mom in one way or another, and I want to thank you for being here today.

Short Eulogy for a Father

My Papi, Edwin James Garza, was an exceptional man. Coming from a very poor family, with just the shoes on his feet and the shirt on his back, Papi built a solid foundation for his business and for his own family. The cornerstone of this foundation was the deep-rooted pride he had in his heritage and his faith.

My Papi was usually a quiet, gentle man, but he knew how to be loud and proud when he had to be. He loved his grandchildren and instilled in them The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you… the same Golden Rule he so often repeated to his own children while we were growing up. As an adult, he made the decision to leave Catholicism. However he made it clear that although he was no longer a Catholic, he was still a Christian, and would always be proud of his Catholic heritage.

When my Mama, the love of his life, passed away last year, Papi was not quite the same. My family members and I find peace and solace in the fact that he is now reunited with her in heaven.

Short Eulogy for a Grandmother

My Grandma held many jobs throughout her life, from waitress to cafeteria aide. But of all the jobs she held, she perhaps took her job as “Grandma” most seriously.

I have many wonderful memories of time spent with my grandmother through the years. She was naturally a very friendly and happy person. She was always willing to give you advice if you came to her with a problem. She was instinctively a very helpful and insightful person. She was an excellent listener, and was well-versed on multiple topics. She was very wise, and would always say, “Look forward to tomorrow, Greg, but take life one day at a time. Each day has enough worry in it.”

She loved games and puzzles, especially jigsaw puzzles. I used to watch my Grandma do her jigsaw puzzles with awe. Now as I stand before you all today, I see the bigger picture and the significance of her fitting together and connecting the pieces. It was symbolic of her ability to get through life’s challenges…with enough perseverance and dedication, you can master any challenge life throws your ways, any obstacle, any hardship.

In a world that’s a box full of jumbled pieces, with a little time and effort, you too can create a picture that is fulfillment in life. Laura Lee did – she completed her puzzle and has left us with an extraordinarily beautiful picture.

Short Eulogy for a Grandfather

Thank you all for being here today as we’ve gathered to honor the life and legacy of my grandfather, Robert Alan White. To each of us here, he was either Dad, Papa, Uncle Bob, or simply Bob.

No matter what we called him, he held a special place in each of our hearts that can never be replaced, but will always be remembered with great love.

Papa was born on April 16th, 1939 in the outskirts of Montgomery, Alabama, a place that he held close to his heart. He had fond childhood memories growing up in his small Southern hometown.

When he would recollect these memories, which was often, he would speak of the people who made him who he was: his dad and mother, Ned and Betsy, as well as of his siblings.

He served our country in the United States Air Force for 9 years, and was married to the love of his life, Abby June (better known as Nanny) for 50 years. Papa was a good man. He was a man of few words, but you knew when he was in the room. He had an infectious laugh and a genuine smile. He loved his family deeply and wore his heart on his sleeve.

At the age of 13, Papa accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. He shared with his family that once when he hit a dark spot in life and his faith was tested, he asked God to help him get through it.

The Lord provided a way. And from then on, his faith never wavered.

For this wonderful reason, even though Papa has passed on from this old life, we can say without a shadow of a doubt, this isn’t so much “Goodbye” as it is, “See you soon.” And while “Twas hard to give thee up, thy will o God be done.”

So before we leave, I’ll say this: we love you Papa, and we’ll see you again soon.

Short Eulogy for an Aunt

I think I had the honor of introducing myself to everyone here earlier, but just in case I missed you, I’m Annie, Faith’s niece.

Aunt Faith raised me from the time I was three until I left home. She was more like mom to me than an aunt, and I’ll be forever grateful for the example of Christ’s love that she provided me during my growing up years.

I wasn’t the easiest kid sometimes, but her love for me was unconditional and forgiving, just like the love of Someone else we know.

My aunt, Faith Eugenia Hamilton, was born September 4th, 1969 to my granddad and nana, John and Susie. She grew up right here in Richmond, went to high school just down the road and later to Selina’s Cosmetology School.

She never married, and for this reason I would sometimes jokingly call her “Aunt Nun.” But to be honest, I was glad that it was just me and her. She was always there for me whenever I needed her, whether I had an issue with a teacher, a friend, a guy, with myself or even her. She was the most non-judgemental person I knew.

She was a prime example of what it means to show grace and forgiveness, what it means to take the narrow way without so much as a complaint. She oversaw many activities in her church and community, and continued her good works until she was no longer able to due to her cancer.

So before I close, I want to remind you all that it was her wish that you should donate to St. Jude’s in lieu of buying flowers for her grave! Or to any charity of your choice, really…it would make her happy knowing that some good is still being carried out on her behalf.

Short Eulogy for an Uncle

Good morning everyone. My name is Jerry. I’m Lonnie’s nephew. I like to say I’m Lonnie’s favorite nephew, but that’s a given really, since I’m actually his only nephew. (If you can’t already tell, I inherited my uncle’s lame sense of humor) .

Leonard Roy Davis was born February 3rd, 1950, in Altus, Oklahoma. As a young man, Lonnie left high school early to join the Army. He enjoyed military life, but he also missed the simplicity of life in his hometown.

When Vietnam ended and he got to go home, the first thing he did was propose to his high school sweetheart, Emily. When Emily was tragically killed in a car accident two years into their marriage, he was never the same.

Uncle Lonnie had always wanted children but knew that he would never have any of his own when Emily died. So when I came around, he was beyond excited. He would watch me, with a little help from Granny, during the evenings back when Mom worked as a nurse.

My own dad was no where to be found back then, so Lonnie became sort of a father figure to me. He taught me how to hunt, how to fish, how to change a tire. How to talk to girls in a way that would get them to actually talk back to you! How to drive when I got older. Needless to say, he was the best.

If there was a cause in this world that Uncle Lonnie cherished the most, it would be the prevention of animal cruelty. So if you could find it in your heart to make a donation in his name, to the ASCPA, PETA, or your local animal shelter, I know that would have really put a smile on his face.

Short Eulogy for a Cousin

It has been the most difficult experience in the world to lose my cousin McKayla. She was so proud to be a “beach girl” through and through. Surfside was home to her, and while it isn’t the beautiful, blue-sea experience you might find elsewhere, she was proud to live here.

McKayla cared deeply about our beaches, the ocean, and the creatures that lived in and around it. She was a member of Brazosport High’s Keep It Clean club, which meets twice a month in the spring and fall to pick up litter along the coast.

Kitty’s Purple Cow Café also held a special place in her heart… looking around I also see several of her co-workers, and I just want to say thank you. Our families were regulars there for many years when we were younger, and it was a dream of hers to one day get to work there. You made that dream come true for her.

My cousin was very outgoing and some would even say extroverted, but she was also just the sweetest girl you ever met. Her best friends since elementary school, Karissa, Alex and Gracie, are here today and can attest to this! Guys, I want you to know that you were McKayla’s world. Each of you gave her so much happiness in her young life, and in return I know that she, with each of you, built memories that will last a lifetime. I want to thank you, Karissa, Alex, and Gracie, for being here today to honor her memory. I know that this is the hardest day ever for you, but the fact that you are here would have meant the world to her.

McKayla was only 16 when God took her back to heaven. She missed her 17 th birthday by just four days. It just doesn’t seem fair, does it? But who are we to question God’s will? They say that He breaks our hearts to prove to us that He only takes the best, and now I believe that with all my heart. McKayla was a beautiful, rare soul that will be forever young and beautiful, and greatly missed.

Need help writing your eulogy? We’ve written a helpful guide that will show you how, from start to finish, plus tips on how to deliver it well. If you don’t have time or are unable to write it yourself, you can reach out to Aubrey at Eulogies by Aubrey and she’ll craft a lovely eulogy using your stories and in your voice.

Full-Length Eulogy Speech Examples

Read our full-length example eulogies for each person below. These are typically about 1,000 words (700-1200 is ideal) and should take about five minutes to deliver.

Eulogy Example for a Mother

Good morning all.

My name is Steven Lewis and I am Lydia’s son. On behalf of myself and my sister Valerie, I want to thank you all for being here today as we formally say goodbye to our mother. I recognize most of the faces here, but there’s a few I don’t know. I would love to speak with you and shake your hand after today’s memorial service, if you have a few moments before you leave. Each of you was special to Mom in one way or another and I want to recognize that.

My mother was born Lydia Jane Ethridge on February 25 th , 1959 to my grandparents, Lucille and Edgar. She spent her childhood in Oklahoma City, where she made many lifelong friends. At the tender age of seventeen, she met my father, Hank Lewis, who was visiting the area from Kentucky. The two eloped on September 1 st , 1976 and he took her home to Louisville.

Valerie and I were born just one year apart. My parents were still very young when we came around, and were struggling to get by. When our dad was laid off from his job, Mom took it upon herself to help make ends meet. She was a wonderful painter. She was able to create artwork and sell it at school functions, local fairs, and even neighborhood garage and estate sales. Mind you, the internet was not around back then for her to market her work–Mom’s paintings were good enough that word of mouth alone brought her quite a bit of opportunity.

Mom would never say this, but her work was actually compared more than once to that of famous artist Claude Monet… and maybe you knew this or not, but Mom once won a contest for best Monet impressionist.

Mom was also a big giver and often painted her birthday and Christmas gifts for friends and family. I wouldn’t be surprised if many of you here today own one or two of her original pieces!

When my parents separated in 1985, Mom decided to go back to school. She moved us to Lexington to start classes at the University of Kentucky, where she graduated in 1991 with her degree in Art History and Visual Studies. The next year she realized her lifelong dream of becoming an art teacher when she joined Edwards Christian Academy in nearby Southerfield. At Edwards, she met the man who would become the love of her life, Sam Reynolds. The two wed on July 7 th , 1993 in this very church.

I see that many of you here today are teachers and students from Edwards, which sadly closed its doors for good in June of last year, about a year after Mom first started to get sick. I just want to take this time to acknowledge each of you, and to say thank you for welcoming my mother to the school like you did. She loved that school and I think her love for the kids there it was evident in the work she did. The art club that she started in 1996 went strong until the school closed its doors, starting out the first year with just 13 attendees and ending its final year with almost 100 members.

Today I also want to acknowledge my stepfather Sam. As many of you know, Sam Reynolds is no longer with us, but the years that he and Mom were able to spend together were the greatest years of her life. It gives me peace in knowing that he and Mom are finally together again.

Besides her love for painting, for Edwards, for her children and for Sam, Mom had a love for Mother Earth. It drove her mad to see litter on the side of the highway and she would often stop herself to pick it up. She stopped using plastic bags and straws long before it became trendy to do so. She had a compost garden bed and regularly participated in not only the city’s recycling program, but also her neighborhood’s Green Club. This club met once a month to make crafts out of household odds and ends that would otherwise be thrown away. Having lived an eco-friendly lifestyle for as long as we could remember, Mom instilled her passion for caring for the earth in my sister and I, and eventually in Sam, although it took him a little bit longer to adopt her ways!

That passion is actually why Mom’s remains are not here with us today. Several months before she passed, and still feeling relatively okay, Mom began to research her own final disposition. She discovered that, after death, her body could be cremated and placed in a biodegradable pod. She could be “planted” rather than buried or inurned, and her remains could provide nurture to a tree for years and years, possibly centuries, to come…. In other words, as I speak, Mom is caring for the planet in her own special way, even in death.

How wonderful is that?

Before I close, on behalf of myself and my sister, I want to share a special memory of our mother that I think does a really great job at highlighting just how wonderfully bright her heart was. From the time we were tots until probably our mid-teens, Mom thought it was fun to randomly stop whatever she was doing– painting, cooking, laundry, whatever– and yell out at the top of her lungs, “dance party!” And whatever my sister and I were doing– playing, studying, even arguing– we were obligated to stop and dance with our mom for about ten minutes, or however long Mom wanted us all to dance together! Both Valerie and I attribute this little ritual we grew up with as one of the reasons we have always been very close, and there is no else to thank for that but our wonderful mother.

So, thank you all once more for being here today as we say goodbye to our beautiful mother. A very special thank you to Angels Among Us Community Hospice, who took such good care of her in her final days. Also a big thank you to Little Bethel House of Faith for opening their doors to all of us today. Mom was not a member here but it means everything to us that we can send her off today, back to Sam, in the very place where they were united.

Eulogy Example for a Father

Hello everyone. My name is Katherine Hernandez and I am Edwin James Garza’s eldest daughter. On behalf of my family, my brothers Jose, Carlos, and Edwin Jr., and my sister Esme, and all of our children, I want to thank you all for being here today.

Papi was born in Los Angeles on October 2 nd , 1933, and first came to San Leandro as a little boy with his family in 1940. His father and mother, Jose and Cecilia Garza, ran a Mexican grocery store and did not make very much money. To help support his parents and siblings, Papi dropped out of school at the age of sixteen and went to work for a local construction agency, T&T Dynamics. Here, he learned the value of a hard day’s work and also discovered his passion in real estate.

Together with his older brother, my Uncle Victor, Papi established Garza and Co., which he continued even after my uncle’s death in 1997. He flipped houses and also managed several rental properties up until 2005, when he officially retired and sold the last property.

Besides his family, his business was his pride and joy, and my father had a tear in his eye the day Garza & Co. closed its doors for good. His work afforded his own family a comfortable living that he was not able to enjoy growing up. My siblings and I are very grateful for that upbringing, Papi, and I hope that you knew that.

On January 1 st , 1955, he met a beautiful young lady, our mother Rosalind Reynoso, at a dance hall here in San Leandro. They had a relatively quick courtship by today’s standards, and were engaged by that summer. On New Year’s Day 1956, exactly one year after they met, they wed at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. At first, the priest would not agree to marry them, since it was a holiday and also a Sunday. But after some persuasion by my father and his parents, the priest finally agreed to unite them that evening.

In the 1960s, against the wishes of their families, Mama and Papi left the Catholic Church to join a community church, Faith and Friends, which was started at a neighbor’s house down the street from where we grew up. Although his faith label changed, his faith did not. Papi always made it clear that although he was no longer a Catholic, he was still a Christian, and would always be proud of his Catholic heritage. “It’s where I first found the Lord,” he would often say.

If there is anyone here today who did not know my father personally, let me tell you a little bit about who he was as a person. My Papi was usually a quiet, gentle man, but he knew how to be loud and proud when he had to be. He loved his grandchildren and instilled in them The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you… the same Golden Rule he so often repeated to his own children while we were growing up.

In his old age, and especially after Mama died, his children and his grandchildren were his pride and joy. He had a special relationship by my son Oscar. Oscar has a special love for all things skateboarding, and when he was ten years old, wanted nothing more than to visit the Braille Skateboarding warehouse here in San Leandro. Papi was able to get them tickets to an event Braille was holding that year, and Oscar got to meet Aaron Kyro and other professional skateboarders that he looked up to. Oscar will always have this special memory of getting to do that with his grandfather.

To all of the grandchildren in our family, Oscar, Christina, Alejandro, Caleb, Amy, Jaxon and Adele, Abuelo loved each of you very much. I know that it was so hard for you all to be here today to say goodbye to him, but I wanted you all to know that he was so proud of you and the amazing young people that you are.

Of course I cannot close this eulogy without any mention of the famous Mexican singer Vicente Fernandez! Papi loved him with a passion, to the point that my mother would sometimes say to him, “Why did you marry little old me and not Vicente, Edwin? You love him so much!” This would make him laugh, and then all of us kids laugh. But it was true. Papi loved everything about Vicente Fernandez. He was constantly playing his albums on our old record player, and most of the house, including the master bedroom, displayed Vicente Fernandez memorabilia. It was a joke to everyone but Papi, who took his love for Vicente quite seriously.

When my Mama, the real love of his life, passed away last year, Papi was not quite the same. He was his usual loving self, especially around the grandchildren. But this past year he had become very sad, and was not very good at hiding it. When he died in his sleep last week, my first thought was, what a blessing . I was not expecting the news, but I was not surprised, either. What a long and beautiful life he had led. What an inspiration he was to his children and grandchildren. And there was no pain for him at the end. But there is no question in my mind that he died of a broken heart. My family and I find peace and solace in the fact that he is now reunited with Mama in heaven.

I want to say a special thank-you today to Jaime Rodriguez, the funeral director here at Esperanza & Sons Funeral Home. You have shown such patience in caring for my family this past week. We are a handful, I know, but you never faltered in showing us compassion and grace when we needed it the most. I want to thank each and every one of you for being here today, as well, as we say our final goodbyes to our Papi and Abuelo. Edwin James Garza was 85 years old, he lived a long, beautiful, loved-filled life, and I want all of you to remember that as we lay him to rest today.

Related: How to Deliver a Eulogy Without Crying

Eulogy Example for a Grandmother

Hi everyone. I think I know most of you here today, but just in case, I better introduce myself. I’m Greg, Laura Lee’s oldest grandson.

We all know that these times we’re living in are a little crazy, to say the least. So before I begin, I want to take just a moment to thank you all for being here today as my family officially says goodbye to my grandmother. It means the world to me, and I know it would have meant the world to her.

My grandmother, Laura Lee Wilson (or Lee Lee, as she was sometimes called by those who knew her best), was born on March 18th, 1929. From a young age she called Frederick County, Maryland, home. In 1949 she married the love of her life, my grandfather Edward Wilson. They enjoyed a classical love story, meeting and falling in love the old-fashioned way. They courted, went steady for awhile, were engaged and finally were married. Grandma described meeting my grandfather as love at first sight. They were married for 60 long and love-filled years, until his death in 2009.

After getting married, they started their family and put down roots in Rochester, New York. They had three beautiful children together: my Uncle Jim, who passed away in ’90, my mom Alicia, and my Aunt Katie. In 1980, they moved once more, this time to Kentucky. Kentucky quickly became home to them and they immensely enjoyed the many years they spent there together.

Grandma held many jobs throughout her life. She worked in a retail store called Frank’s Sales for awhile, was a waitress for a few years, and served as a cafeteria aide for the Horse Trails School District. But of all the jobs she held, she perhaps took her job as “Grandma” most seriously.

Grandma adored her grandchildren. It was a love we could feel a mile away. All of us: myself, Alexandra, Kyle and Sam, and even the next generation of us: Lily, Macie and Kane, all knew how much we were cherished by her.

I have many wonderful memories of time spent with my grandmother through the years. We enjoyed camping trips and fishing together. No matter what we’d catch she cook it up for us to enjoy. After dinner, we’d crack up over a board game or two, or three. There was always joy to be found when you were with Grandma. There was always a board game waiting to be played, always laughter echoing through the house, and always excitement that can only come to you as a grandchild in the presence of your grandmother.

My grandma was naturally a very friendly and happy person. She was always willing to give you advice if you came to her with a problem. She was instinctively a very helpful and insightful person. She was an excellent listener, and was well-versed on multiple topics. She was a very wise person and would always say, “Look forward to tomorrow, Greg, but take life one day at a time. Each day has enough worry in it.”

Now that I’m older I realize just how sound that advice really is. If you think about it, even in the midst of all the crazy news we’re bombarded with every day, if we only take things a day at a time there really isn’t a need to get overwhelmed.

In life, my grandmother was very proud of her children and grandchildren, that we all turned out to be good people and that we all had a touch of her attributes. My grandparents lived by a fairly strict, Biblical way of life. They did not allow foul language or arguing, and they were known to implement curfews. They loved God and were sure to say their prayers at mealtimes. But they still knew how to have a good time, a life skill they passed down to their children and grandchildren.

But Grandma didn’t just talk the talk, she walked the walk, too. Throughout the years she took a helpful role in her community. She served as a volunteer at the Trails Regional Hospital for many years, and also volunteered in her retirement community. She would make soups and desserts for the elderly residents in her community.

She also enjoyed traveling. I was most intrigued to hear about her fantastic trip to Wales she took in 1995. She described it as a really great time in her life.

She was simply an amazing woman all-around. She was an excellent listener and was an encyclopedia of knowledge. She was very well-mannered and maintained an abundance of politeness, whether that meant carrying a box for someone, holding the door open for them, or just acknowledging someone by saying hello. Her good deeds for others spoke volumes. She also believed in leading by example…back in the early 80’s, for instance, she and my Grandpa took part in the Great American Smoke Out. They stopped smoking that very day and never looked back. It was little things like that that made all the difference in the lives of her children and grandchildren, whom she knew were always watching.

And if you knew Grandma, you knew that she loved games. Board games were her favorite. She enjoyed crossword puzzles too, and spent a lot of time working on her jigsaw puzzles. She was also incredibly skilled at crocheting. She would make me and my sister the absolute best homemade hats, gloves, scarves and socks. And quite possibly the warmest blankets on planet Earth.

My grandmother, Laura Lee Wilson, lived a long and fulfilled life. Towards the end of her life, she was suffering from Alzheimer’s, which robbed her and us of precious time together. She gave it her all but passed away at the age of 90, and yet somehow that just seem like near enough time. I miss her like crazy, my family misses her, and there’s no doubt everyone here does, too. And we always will. But maybe being missed like crazy is a sure sign of a life well lived…and of a life well-loved.

I used to watch my Grandma do her jigsaw puzzles with awe. Now as I stand before you all today, I see the bigger picture and the significance of her fitting together and connecting the pieces. It was symbolic of her ability to get through life’s challenges…with enough perseverance and dedication, you can master any challenge life throws your ways, any obstacle, any hardship. In a world that’s a box full of jumbled pieces, with a little time and effort, you too can create a picture that is fulfillment in life. Laura Lee did – she completed her puzzle and has left us with an extraordinarily beautiful picture.

Before I close, I want to thank you again for being here today to support my family and to honor my grandmother. I especially want to thank my mom, who went above and beyond for Grandma, especially towards the end. I love you Mom, we all love and appreciate you, and Grandma sure did as well.

And Grandma, we all love you too. Thank you for your everlasting wisdom, and for all the wonderful memories you gave us. We will do our best to pass down your generosity and kindness to the next generation, your love for all things family and friends, and your ability to always see the bigger picture.

Related: Comforting Bible Verses for Grief

Eulogy Example for a Grandfather

Hello, everyone. I know most of you here today, but for those who may not know me, my name is Kate, I’m Bob’s granddaughter. Before I begin, I want to thank you all for being here today as we’ve gathered to honor the life and legacy of my grandfather, Robert Alan White. To each of us here, he was either Dad, Papa, Uncle Bob, or simply Bob. No matter what we called him, he held a special place in each of our hearts that can never be replaced, but will always be remembered with great love.

Papa was born on April 16th, 1939 in the outskirts of Montgomery, Alabama, a place that he held close to his heart. He had fond childhood memories growing up in his small Southern hometown. When he would recollect these memories, which was often, he would speak of the people who made him who he was: his dad and mother, Ned and Betsy, as well as of his siblings. He spoke of childhood jaunts with his brother John. They would spend days together doing what boys would do, he’d say, picking tomatoes to snack on when they got hungry, that sort of thing. He spoke of time spent with his brother Silas, too, particularly of time spent together after Silas was grown. Even though Papa was ten years older, they shared a mutual love for the great outdoors and for animals, as well.

Papa loved his parents and family, and he knew that he was loved in return. His mama taught him from an early age how to read the Sunday comics, and that joy of reading stayed with him his whole life. He enjoyed reading so much so, that he would read all of his new school books within the first few weeks of the new school year. And although he was born and raised in and around Montgomery, no one in his family was surprised when he grew up and eventually settled in Texas; they always knew he’d leave home one day to visit or live in one of those interesting places he’d read about.

In 1955, at the young age of 16, Papa enlisted in the military by fibbing about his age and having his daddy sign for him. He served our country in the United States Air Force for 9 years, serving in places near and far: from Oklahoma to New York; from France to New Zealand.

Papa was married to the love of his life, Abby June, best known as Nanny, for 50 years. Papa loved Nanny more than life itself. He spent his last years taking care of her as best he could. When he was no longer able to himself, he would visit her every day that he could. He couldn’t stand leaving her when it was time to go, and often said he wished he could stay the night with her so he wouldn’t have to.

In his final year, Papa would speak of how blessed he was, how thankful he was for everything, with his only regret being that Nanny wasn’t there at home to spend it with him.

Papa was a good man. He was a man of few words, but you knew when he was in the room. He had an infectious laugh and a genuine smile. He loved his family deeply and wore his heart on his sleeve. When I think of Papa, I think of the way he said my name when I called to talk or when I came over to visit him and Nanny. Nanny would always say, “It’s Kate,” or “Kate is here, Bob.” He would immediately reply with, “You mean Katelyn Leann Smith!” When I got married, he changed it to “Katelyn Leann Smith Lewis!” He was always so happy to talk to me and I knew I was loved by him.

Me and my siblings, and all of the cousins, have wonderful memories growing up of…movies. So many movies! When we were little Nanny owned a movie store in town, and we were always the first to receive copies of the latest films, before anyone else did. This made Christmas extra fun every year.

Papa was a simple man with simple hobbies, but he was a very thoughtful and intellectual man at the same time. He enjoyed listening to and playing all kinds of music. He was very good with technology and computers, and was also into researching his family’s genealogy, a passion that he passed down to his children and grandchildren.

He loved to fish, and often spoke fondly of fishing trips he would take with his neighbors. His children remember watching him race cars in Amarillo, and also going to wrestling matches together. They remember bowling outings, too, among other activities. He loved old westerns and car shows, he loved feeding the birds and squirrels, and he loved his dogs and cats.

At the age of 13, Papa accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. He shared with his family that once when he hit a dark spot in life and his faith was tested, he asked God to help him get through it. The Lord provided a way. From then on, his faith never wavered.

For this wonderful reason, even though Papa has passed on from this old life, we can say without a shadow of a doubt, this isn’t so much “Goodbye” as it is, “See you soon.” And while “Twas hard to give thee up, thy will o God be done.” So before we leave, I’ll say this: we love you Papa, and we’ll see you again soon.

Eulogy Example for an Aunt

“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind, but now I see.”

Amazing Grace was Aunt Faith’s absolute favorite hymn. From the time I was little, I remember her singing it in the kitchen making dinner, or humming it out in the garden. She would even belt it out opera-style while in the shower sometimes… well, she may not have wanted you all to know that part!

I think I had the honor of introducing myself to everyone here earlier, but just in case I missed you, I’m Annie, Faith’s niece. Aunt Faith raised me from the time I was three until I left home. She was more like mom to me than an aunt, and I’ll be forever grateful for the example of Christ’s love that she provided me during my growing up years. I wasn’t the easiest kid sometimes, but her love for me was unconditional and forgiving, just like the love of Someone else we know.

From the time she was 19, she was a licensed cosmetologist, and that was something she was very proud of. I enjoyed it, too, of course! She knew how to create any hairstyle or makeup look you could dream up, which made prom, school dances, and the occasional date night for either of us super fun.

Aunt Faith never married, and for this reason I would sometimes jokingly call her “Aunt Nun.” But to be honest, I was glad that it was just me and her. She was always there for me whenever I needed her, whether I had an issue with a teacher, a friend, a guy, with myself or even her. She was the most non-judgemental person I knew…you could complain about your entire day to her and she wouldn’t berate you for it. She would listen first and then simply remind you, in a way that only she could, to see the bigger picture and to look at things from a different perspective.

Aunt Faith didn’t just say it, she lived it, too. She was a prime example of what it means to show grace and forgiveness, what it means to take the narrow way without so much as a complaint.

She was an active member of her church’s women’s outreach group. Every Christmas she headed our Sunday School’s class’s (and all the other Sunday School classes’) Operation Christmas Child initiative. She sewed and donated lovies to her local children’s hospital, volunteered regularly at her local soup kitchen, and donated regularly to several children’s charities.

All this on top of keeping her community beautiful from the comfort of her salon!

Because of these activities, I grew to understand on a deep level what it means to truly feel empathy and to care for those around you who are less fortunate. I’m forever grateful to her for the experiences she made sure I had.

Three years ago Aunt Faith was diagnosed with breast cancer, the same disease that took my Nana. She was in pain for much of this past year, but even as she digressed in her illness, she spent what energy she had not on herself, but on others. Up until about two months ago, you’d still find her down at the soup kitchen, handing out sandwiches, all while donning her favorite pink bandana and her face still dolled up.

My beautiful aunt passed away on December 8th, just a few weeks shy of her favorite holiday. I’m happy to say that she was still able to enjoy Christmas this year – we just celebrated a bit earlier than usual, with all the usual works. Including our annual “Happy Birthday Jesus” cake… even if she could only eat a bite or two this time.

Before I close, I want to remind you all that it was her wish that you should donate to St. Jude’s in lieu of buying flowers for her grave! Or to any charity of your choice, really…it would make her happy knowing that some good is still being carried out on her behalf.

I also want to take a moment to thank you all for being here today. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for all your messages of love and support over these past several months. All the texts, phone calls, emails, and even old memories and photos shared online, I will keep tucked away in my heart for the rest of my life.

And I want to thank you, too, Aunt Faith, for everything you have given me. You raised me as your own, taught me to be the person I am today. You taught me everything I know. I literally have no idea where I’d be in my life without you, and I hope to one day be able to pay that love forward to someone else who needs it like I did. I love you, I thank you, and I will always cherish your memory.

Related: 100 Best Saying Goodbye Quotes to Someone You Love

Eulogy Example for an Uncle

Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” When you’re younger, you know, you think you know what that verse means and what it stands for. It’s not until you’re hit with the reality of death that you come to realize the significance of that verse…and to feel the comfort it offers.

Good morning everyone. My name is Jerry. I’m Lonnie’s nephew. I like to say I’m Lonnie’s favorite nephew, but that’s a given really, since I’m actually his only nephew. (If you can’t already tell, I inherited my uncle’s lame sense of humor).

Truth be told, I didn’t even know myself a lot of what I’m about to share with you about Uncle Lonnie, until after he passed away last week. To me, he was just always Uncle Lonnie, who lived on the ranch, who ran Lon’s Mini Mart his whole life. Who always had and always would. I’m 35 years old and it baffles me how I never even thought to ask him about his life before I was in it. Because as close as we were, I had no idea any of this, no idea of the giant of a man he actually was in life, until my Mom and Aunt Jemmy told me I was gonna be giving the eulogy today. “Uh-oh…” I thought, “I better get to diggin’.”

So as I stand here before you now, I am so proud to share with you all some of the stories about my uncle, the man I called my best friend, but whom I apparently never really knew.

Leonard Roy Davis was born February 3rd, 1950, in Altus, Oklahoma. It wasn’t until his 12th birthday that he asked to be called “Lonnie” rather than Leonard…some kid at his class birthday party had made fun of his name. Long story short, that kid ended up with a bloody nose and Lonnie’s party was cancelled…I think the experience was a little traumatic for him and he hated the name “Leonard” ever since.

As a young man, Lonnie left high school early to join the Army. He enjoyed military life, but he also missed the simplicity of life in his hometown. When Vietnam ended and he got to go home, the first thing he did was propose to his high school sweetheart, Emily. I never had the opportunity to meet Emily because their time together was long before I came around. But according to my mom, Emily was the one who turned Lonnie from a boy into a man. He went from rough around the edges to as gentle as a mourning dove, she said. And when Emily was tragically killed just two years into their marriage, in a car accident just down the road from the ranch, he was never the same.

Uncle Lonnie had always wanted children but knew that he would never have any of his own when Emily died. So when I came around, he was beyond excited. He would watch me, with a little help from Granny, during the evenings back when Mom worked as a nurse. My own dad was no where to be found back then, so Lonnie became sort of a father figure to me. He taught me how to hunt, how to fish, how to change a tire. How to talk to girls in a way that would get them to actually talk back to you! How to drive when I got older. Needless to say, he was the best.

When I was a teenager I became a big trouble-maker and started to hang out with the wrong crowds. When my parents couldn’t get through to me, you could bet Uncle Lonnie could. It wasn’t harsh towards me by any means. But there was something in his voice that made you shut up and listen when he was talking to you. There was something in his voice that made you want to respect him, and not just because you “had” to. I wish more than anything I could here that voice now. It was a voice of thunder but at the same time a voice of comfort, and now that’s he’s gone, if I can be honest with you, I’m feeling a little lost.

If there was a cause in this world that Uncle Lonnie cherished the most, it would be the prevention of animal cruelty. If you’ve ever been in his house, you’d see first thing walking into the den, two stuffed ducks hanging up on the wall. And you may wonder about what I just told you! Well, just believe me when I say that those two ducks were the last animals he ever hunted. There was just something about them, he’d tell me, that made him feel terrible about what he’d done to them. So even though he’d taught me how, he never hunted again, but he kept those two stuffed ducks on the wall, as a reminder I guess of his newfound convictions.

Those ducks are mine now, by the way. And I’m not about to give up hunting anytime soon. Sorry Uncle Lonnie! Not really….

All this to say, I see a lot of flowers up here in the front today. If you sent flowers for Uncle Lonnie, I’m sorry to break it to you…but he wasn’t a big flower guy! I’m just messing. But I will say, if you can find it in your heart to make a donation to your local animal shelter, the ASCPA, or even to PETA (I can’t believe I just said that), I know that would have really put a smile on his face.

Before I step down, I want to thank you all for being here today. I want to thank Mom and Aunt Jemmy for encouraging me to give the eulogy today, because I almost didn’t. And I want to thank my Uncle Lonnie for everything he was and everything he did for me. I wouldn’t be the man I am today without his example, guidance, and commitment to see me through some of the darker points in my life.

Love you, Uncle Lon. And thank you. I’ll see you again one day.

Eulogy Example for a Cousin

Hello everyone.

My name is Denise Johnson. I’m McKayla’s cousin, for those who don’t know who I am. I want to start off by saying thank you to everyone who joined us here today to help us say good-bye to McKayla. It has been the most difficult experience in the world to lose her and I just want to express our appreciation for you being here.

McKayla Jade Brewer was born in Galveston on July 7 th , 2002, right in the middle of summer. Her mom and dad, my Aunt Claudia and Uncle Mark, used to say that she brought summer with her the day she was born, because she brought so much sunshine into their lives. She was an only child, but she never once asked for a brother or sister. When she was little she would say that the fish and dolphins and sea turtles were her brothers and sisters.

McKayla grew up here in Surfside, right on the beach. Maybe to you Surfside isn’t the beautiful, blue-sea experience you might find elsewhere, but the gulf was McKayla’s home and heart and she was so proud of it. Anyone who knew McKayla knew how proud she was to be a “beach girl” through and through.

Do you picture a sweet teen girl having the time of her life in the waves with her best friends on a bright, balmy day? That was McKayla. She was very outgoing and some would even say extroverted, but she was also just the sweetest girl you ever met.

Her best friends since elementary school, Karissa, Alex and Gracie, are here today and can attest to this! Guys, I want you to know that you were McKayla’s world. Each of you gave her so much happiness in her young life, and in return I know that she, with each of you, built memories that will last a lifetime. I want to thank you, Karissa, Alex, and Gracie, for being here today to honor her memory. I know that this is the hardest day ever for you, but the fact that you are here would have meant the world to her.

As she grew older, McKayla took her passion for the ocean to the next level. She participated in A & M Galveston’s Sea Camp for five years in a row. There she got to experience the ocean, her home, hands-on and in a way that she never had before. Aggie Sea Camp ultimately led to her decision to one day become a marine biologist. Quite the career change from wanting to be a professional mermaid!

McKayla cared deeply about our beaches, the ocean, and the creatures that lived in and around it. She was a member of Brazosport High’s Keep It Clean club, which meets twice a month in the spring and fall to pick up litter along the coast. I see several of her Brazosport peers and teachers here today…thank you so much for being here. Just last week I was telling McKayla that I couldn’t believe that she was going to be a senior this year. And now I wish it was the only thing I couldn’t believe.

Looking around I also see several of her co-workers from Kitty’s Purple Cow Cafe. The Purple Cow held a special place in McKayla’s heart; our families were regulars there for many years when we were younger and it was a dream of hers to one day get to work there. So I want to thank you all for granting her that dream last summer and all the memories that went with it.

McKayla often expressed her desire to learn how to surf, and sadly she never got the chance to do that. But I like to think that she’s surfing the waves of heaven’s oceans right now, as I speak. If any of you surf, why don’t you catch a wave one day soon in her memory? I think that would have put a huge smile on her face.

I’m sure that everyone here today has several special memories of McKayla, and I would like to share one of mine. I am older than my beautiful cousin, but for many years our families lived right next door to each other, up until just a few years ago. One day when she was about seven, we were playing in the water and Aunt Claudia had asked me to watch McKayla while she went back to the house to get something. As soon as my aunt was gone, McKayla started screaming, “Shark! Shark! A shark just bit my hand!” I thought I was in big trouble! I ran up to her and tried to look at her hand. She was flapping it back and forth and a little crab flew up in the air and back into the water. She looked at me and I looked at her and we busted out laughing!

It’s precious memories like these that take my breath away. How could someone who was so full of life and love and joy just be taken from us like this, in the blink of an eye? McKayla was only 16 when God took her back to heaven. She missed her 17 th birthday by just four days. It just doesn’t seem fair, does it?

But who are we to question God’s will? They say that He breaks our hearts to prove to us that He only takes the best, and now I believe that with all my heart. McKayla was a beautiful, rare soul that will be forever young and beautiful, and greatly missed.

On behalf of my family, Aunt Claudia and Uncle Mark, her best friends forever Karissa, Alex and Gracie, and everyone who was touched by my cousin’s light, thank you for being here today. I would like to extend a special thanks as well to Martin-Deen Funeral Home for taking care of us this past week, and for helping us to get through today as gently as possible.

Lastly, I want to say thank you, my beautiful cousin McKayla, for all the love and smiles and giggles and memories that you generously gave to each and every one of us. Your life was painfully short, but the memory of you will last a lifetime.

What Do You Say In a Eulogy?

A typical eulogy consists of a introduction of yourself and your relationship to the deceased, followed by a mini chronology of their life: when and where they were born, who they married, their career, when they died.

The speech can include some of your favorite memories of them, as well as special aspects of who they were:

• What were their greatest accomplishments in life?
• What were they most proud of?
• What were some of their favorite hobbies?
• How did they leave the world a better place?

Remember that your eulogy doesn’t have to be all serious. Feel free to tell funny stories of your loved one or share some of their favorite jokes or sayings. This is a little trick that will not only lighten your mood, but also the mood of your audience. Feel free to add any favorite poems, song lyrics, verses or  other quotes  that you feel are appropriate.

The eulogy usually ends with a special thank-you given to a church, family or close friends, hospice or anyone else who has supported the family or cared for the deceased during the last several days. If you want, it can also include a heartfelt final goodbye to your loved one.

As you are preparing to write a funeral eulogy, it’s important to remember to keep the focus on your loved one who has died.

When writing, it can be easy to veer off topic and onto yourself and how you’re feeling (this is only natural, especially if you are nervous about public speaking).

Of course you should highlight your relationship to the deceased and the impacts they had on your life, but keep in mind who you’re honoring in this special moment: the person who has passed away. Putting the focus off yourself and onto the decedent will also help you calm your nerves.

Related: How to Write a Great Eulogy

Tips for Giving A Eulogy Speech

Besides keeping your mind on the purpose of your funeral speech, here are a few tried-and-true tips for the writing process, as well as the delivery.

Get all your thoughts down on paper.  Collect your own favorite memories of the deceased, as well as memories and stories from family and friends. Get all your dates in order – your loved one’s birthday, date of death, marriage anniversary, date they graduated from college, year they retired, etc. Place your thoughts in the order you want to say them, pick the tone of your eulogy, and write out the rough draft.

Include a personal anecdote. Most people are familiar with the person’s life events. Your unique contribution can help show what kind of person they were by relating one or two fond memories that you shared together.

Choose the right words. Once you’ve written down something of their life story, revise with an eye to selecting the best way to convey what you’re trying to say.

Get input from family and friends.  Chances are, you already know someone who has previously given a good eulogy. Ask for their thoughts on what you’ve written, and what they think you should add (or keep out).

Practice your speech.  Stand in front of a mirror and go over your eulogy a few times. Practicing it will give you the chance to not only pick out any errors you’ve made in your rough draft, but also pinpoint any sensitive spots at which you are likely to become emotional.

Write your final copy.  It’s a good idea to pick a support person and make them a copy of the eulogy, too. This way, if at any time during the eulogy you begin to struggle, they can join you with their copy and help you finish. Also consider making enough copies for everyone who attends the funeral service to take home with them as a memento.

Take deep breaths before you begin, and during the eulogy. On the day of the funeral, remember that everyone is focused on the person who has passed away and how much they miss them. They are not focused on you. Keeping this in mind will help you stay focused if you feel your nerves getting the best of you. When you get to a sensitive spot in your speech at which you know you’ll probably tear up, take some more deep breaths to help clear your mind and heart.

Look to your support person when needed.  If you’ve picked out a support person, have them sit in the front row of the room in which you’ll be speaking. Make sure that you can see them, and that they have a copy of your speech. Make eye contact with them when you need to for encouragement, or just to stabilize your emotions. It may be a good idea to have a secret signal, word or hand gesture that only the two of you know, in case you need them to join you at the mic to help you finish the eulogy.

Related: Eulogy vs Obituary: What’s the Difference?

Consider Help from a Professional Eulogy Writer

Each eulogy sample above was written by Aubrey of Eulogies by Aubrey . If you don’t have the time or simply feel overwhelmed about the eulogy, Aubrey is a terrific writer who is easy to work with.

She has written many articles for this website, as well as many eulogies. She is a wonderful communicator, both in regards to communicating with you to get it just right, and with the words, tone, and phrasing of the final eulogy you’ll receive.

I highly recommend her if you need someone to write the eulogy for you, using your tone and capturing the highlights of your loved one’s life story.

• How to Deliver a Eulogy
• Eulogy Template (free download)
• 20 Best Eulogy Quotes
• 101 Funeral Poems

Daniel has been working in the funeral industry since 2010, speaking directly to grieving families as they made funeral arrangements.

He began researching and publishing funeral articles on this website as part of his role as product and marketing manager at Urns Northwest.

Having written hundreds of articles and growing the site to multiple millions of views per year, Daniel continues to write while providing editorial oversight for US Urns Online’s content team.

1 thought on “Powerful Eulogy Examples to Help You Write a Eulogy”

It was helpful when you explained that a 1,000-word eulogy will take about five minutes to give. My siblings and I are currently looking for a funeral home for my dad who passed away after a stroke last week. I want to say thanks for sharing this info I can pass along to my brother to give him some guidance for writing the eulogy.

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Free Sample Eulogy Speeches (Plus Writing Tips)

Kelly has more than 12 years experience as a professional writer and editor.

Learn about our Editorial Policy .

Sample eulogies can provide ideas when you need to prepare a speech for a funeral. Being asked to give a eulogy is a great honor, but it can also be daunting. Finding the right words to mark the passing of a friend or family member's life is difficult when emotions run high. There is no right or wrong way to write a eulogy, but each tribute has a basic flow. The speech doesn't have to be perfect; it just has to come from the heart.

Eulogy Example for a Friend

Following an easy format makes it easier to pull together a eulogy for a friend and takes some pressure off starting from scratch. Follow this format to make composing the eulogy easier.

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Thank you all for coming to help us celebrate Liza's life and share our grief at her passing.

• Introduction

My name is Carol, and Liza and I have been best friends since childhood. We lived just five houses apart on National Avenue, and we spent part of nearly every day together as kids.

When I think of Liza as a child, I remember how much she loved exploring the ravine behind our house. Half of our summers were spent wandering through the woods, looking for crayfish under rocks along the creek, climbing trees, and generally doing things that would have given our parents gray hair much sooner if they knew what we had been up to each day. I have to share one memory that really illustrates Liza's fearless, and sometimes impulsive, nature. Some of the neighborhood boys had built a rope swing in a tree along the ravine's edge. Liza, being fearless, decided to give it a try. As she swung out over the edge, one of the boys jokingly called out, "Jump!" My heart leaped to my throat as I saw Liza let go of the rope on her next swing out. Luckily she wound up with nothing more than skinned knees and a sheepish grin that said she couldn't believe she had just done that, but it just goes to show what a risk taker she was.

More than a simple risk taker, Liza also had a generous soul, as I'm sure many of you here this morning can attest to. She never met a person in need that she didn't find some way of helping. Her work as director of our local family shelter became her greatest passion, and she put in tireless hours organizing meals and places where "her families" could all stay together until they could get back on their feet. I say, "her families" with all seriousness because she didn't just take them into shelters; she really took them into her heart and kept contact with them even after their lives were back on track.

Mention of Family/Friends

When you combine the facts that Liza was a compassionate soul and willing to take risks, it's not difficult to understand why she ventured out in that terrible snowstorm on Wednesday night to try to take food and diapers to one of her families in need. Yes, maybe they would have been alright until morning, but that wasn't how Liza would have thought about it. She would have worried about their empty stomachs and imagined the sound of that baby's crying. She would have set any thoughts for her safety aside and gone to their aid, and that's exactly what she did.

Of course, we now know that she never made it to that family. We can second guess Liza's decision with 20/20 hindsight, or we can embrace the fact that she died doing something she believed in so deeply. Knowing her as I did, I can tell you that her only regret about her decision to go out on the road that night would have been that her husband, Mitch, is now left to carry on without her. As passionate as she was about her shelter work, Mitch was truly the love of her life.

It may comfort us all a bit to realize that Liza is now reunited with her beloved parents, Lee and Meredith, and that someday we'll all be together again when we cross over to the other side. This is only a brief parting in the larger scheme of life.

One thing you may or may not know is that Liza was a huge fan of the band Queen. She particularly loved a song called Dear Friends , and she once made me promise that if she passed before I did, I would play the song at her memorial, or at least read the lyrics. So, I'll read those now in closing, and I hope they leave you with the message that time will heal our wounds, and that life truly does go on.

Eulogy Sample for a Parent

Writing a eulogy for a parent's death can be an incredibly emotional task. Use the following sample to help you create one personalized for your parent.

Welcome and Introduction

For anyone who may not know me, my name is Jean, and I am Rita's eldest daughter. Thank you all for coming here today to help us say goodbye to Mom.

To me, Mom was my guiding light. She set the example of what a good wife, mother, and friend should be. She always did her best to be patient with all of her children, and there were five of us, so that was no easy feat. She tried to carve out some quality time with each of us, and believe me, we were all jealous when it was someone else's turn. However, that just shows you how much we all loved her and wanted that one-on-one time with Mom. When it was your turn, you found out that she hadn't really missed out on anything that was going on in your life, she just hadn't talked with you about it yet.

As for her life with Dad, she set a shining example of the kind of unconditional love required to see a marriage through good times and bad. I remember when Dad lost his job at the auto factory. He was so worried about finding work, and he felt he was letting Mom and all of us down because he couldn't provide for us. Mom gave him a big hug and told him she had no doubt that he would find another job that was as good or better than the one at the factory, and she took a job as a cashier at the grocery store to help tide us over until he found work again, this time as a manager in another factory instead of just working on the line. That was Mom; always an optimist, always willing to pitch in and do whatever was needed, all the time truly believing that things would work out in the end.

Mom was also a fantastic friend. She always saw the good in people, and if she saw the bad, she certainly didn't gossip about it. If you needed her, she was there and asking what she could do to help. I remember how she helped Mrs. Johnson get back and forth to work one week when her car was in the shop. When her best friend Mary needed a new pair of glasses and didn't have quite enough money, Mom insisted on loaning her the rest. Mom was there for all the highs and lows of her friends' lives, and I think the size of the gathering here is a testament to how much they all loved her.

Mention of Family

As much as I'd like to think I was Mom's favorite child, I know she truly didn't have one. We were all her favorite in one way or another. She always used to talk about what a wonderful artist our sister Ellie is. Our eldest brother Mark was her dependable child. She said God had "built Mark solid," and she was thankful she could lean upon him if she needed to. She adored our brother Greg's sense of humor since it was so like her own. They shared many a private laugh together about things that went over the rest of our heads. Callie was her "quiet one." Mom said that whenever Callie was especially quiet, that meant she was thinking up a storm on the inside.

As for me, Mom always said I was the keeper of the family chronicles because of my habit of journaling every night before I went to bed. She'd come in to say goodnight, and I'd let her read the day's entry. I think that must have been what inspired her request that I speak to you all today.

As you all know, Mom had a great deal of faith and rarely missed Sunday Mass. One hymn was her particular favorite, and I remember how she used to light up whenever Be Not Afraid was sung at Mass. She truly believed that she could "pass through raging waters in the sea and not drown" because God was with her the entire time. I know that's how she felt about her battle with cancer. She knew that even if cancer won, God would be there with her to carry her safely to Heaven. In honor of Mom's faith and her life, I'd like us all to sing that hymn together now...

Eulogy Speech Example for a Child

The death of a child rocks the very foundation of people's view of the world as a good place. Use the sample below to help you pull together something appropriate yet touching.

Thank you all for joining us here today, although I'm sure many of us wish we were gathering in celebration rather than in mourning. My name is Julie. I am Lisa's aunt, and I'll be speaking on behalf of Lisa's parents, my sister Gwen and her husband Mike.

I remember the day Lisa was born. She was the most beautiful little baby you could ever hope to see, and she was an especially wonderful blessing to Gwen and Mike who had struggled for years to have a family. With this one child, all their prayers had been answered.

Lisa was by all accounts an easy baby to raise. She was sleeping through the night by the time she was three months old, and she had a naturally happy disposition. Anytime someone new would enter the room, baby Lisa would give a great big smile and stretch out her arms to offer a welcoming hug. Of course, this instantly endeared her to everyone who ever came in contact with her. Lisa was definitely meant to bring love into this world for the all-too-short time we would have with her.

In light of how desperately Lisa was wanted and loved by her parents, as well as everyone here today, it's difficult to understand why her life had to end so soon. It's nearly inconceivable that God would allow a young child to become ill and suffer, let alone die. When you look at it that way, it's easy to be angry at God for taking back the gift He gave. I choose to look at it another way.

God saw how dearly Mike and Gwen wanted to know the joy of having a child of their own, and even though it might not have been meant to be, he gave Lisa to their keeping for a short time so they could know that joy. When Lisa became ill and her suffering was too much to bear, he scooped her up to Heaven, and all her suffering was gone. I believe she now waits patiently for the day when her parents will join her, and they will all live happily together once again. I believe that she would want us all to dwell on the happy times we shared with her, and let the sad memories fade.

At this time, I'd like to offer you all the opportunity to share some of your favorite memories of Lisa's brief life.

Tips for How to Write a Eulogy Speech

A eulogy is a final favor to the deceased, revealing the best parts of their life to the people who loved them. Highlight the person's life instead of focusing on how you feel about the loss.

Basic Eulogy Outline

Eulogies need not be long; the average length is between three and five minutes. You don't want to overwhelm those in attendance by speaking any longer than this. The key here is to be honest with your feelings and thoughts.

A eulogy should include:

• Give your personal sentiments
• Discuss happier times with the deceased person; include anecdotes and real-life experiences (avoid anything that might be considered offensive or vulgar)
• Describe the person's character
• Talk about family and friends left behind
• Close with a memorable poem or traditional funeral song

You should always draft a copy of your speech and, if possible, rehearse it in front of someone. Make sure you print a copy of the eulogy and give a second copy to someone who can act as a backup in case you get sick or are overcome with emotion.

Ideas for Funeral Eulogy Content

Don't try to write the eulogy in the order that you'll give it. It's easier to begin by jotting down your thoughts about various aspects of the deceased's life. Think about the following points and see if anything springs to mind. If it does, write that now, and then you can put things in the order you want them later.

• A short introduction about yourself and relationship to the person who died
• A brief biography of the deceased person
• Information about his or her career
• Remarks about his or her family, friends and pets
• List of achievements
• Favorite songs or poems
• Information about hobbies or interests
• Personal stories or anecdotes
• Memories from years gone by

Delivering the Speech at a Funeral

Funerals and memorials are very difficult times. It's okay to cry and share your emotions while delivering your tribute . However, don't try to memorize your speech. It's best to keep your notes in outline form or on note cards for reference to help you stay on track and to ensure that you cover all the key points that you plan to bring up.

How to give a eulogy that truly celebrates the person you’re honoring

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Death is a part of life, and so are the funerals and memorial services held to mark an individual’s passing. But when we’re called upon to speak at these occasions, many of us are at a loss for words. Here are some basic guidelines for writing a eulogy, from palliative specialist BJ Miller and writer Shoshana Berger.

When you leave a memorial or funeral having imagined the fullness of the person being memorialized, you know the speakers got it right. The first rule for eulogists is that this is not about them. It is about paying close attention to the way a person lived and drawing out the most meaningful, memorable bits.

Summing up a life in writing isn’t easy, but it’s an important exercise that serves a dual purpose. It obliges the writer to call up memories — which is a way to honor the person and process one’s loss — and it creates an atmosphere of deep community with other grievers. Do your best to be honest in your eulogy, instead of presenting some idealized portrait that others won’t recognize. Steve Schafer, a pastor who helps people write eulogies, offers the following guidelines.

• Aim for 1,000 words, or about six to seven minutes’ speaking time.

• Always write down what you’re going to say, even if you plan to abandon your notes. It’s a good way to gather your thoughts and make sure you’re not missing any important details.

• Be personal and conversational. This isn’t a formal speech; it’s an appreciation.

• If you aren’t introduced by the emcee or by another speaker, do so yourself and say what your relationship to the person was.

• Start with a story about the person. People come alive through specific anecdotes.

• Be humorous. The best eulogies are respectful and solemn, but they also give mourners some comic relief. A bit of roasting is fine if it suits who the person was and the family has a sense of humor.

• Close your eulogy by directly addressing the person who died, something like “Joe, thank you for teaching me how to be a good father.”

Here’s an example of a great eulogy, written by a woman for her grandmother. Before each section, we’ve explained what she’s done.

[Start with an introduction that paints a portrait of the person’s character. Beginning with your memories of the person is a great way to go. Try for descriptive details — the Almond Joy moment below — rather than broad, abstract statements such as “She was kind” or “She was a loving caretaker.”]

From my earliest memories, she is right by my side, taking me on walks through the miniature golf course near our house, dutifully preparing my odd lunch requests for cheddar and mayo sandwiches and sneaking me Almond Joy candy bars away from the gaze of my mom.

[Draw out important moments that signify lifelong connection.]

I was so close to my grandma that around the age of 23 I grew increasingly anxious that she might not live to attend my wedding unless I hurried up. Well … she did live to attend that wedding, and also to witness my first divorce, my second marriage, and to know and love my two children. She liked Jeff from the beginning and one day before we were engaged, she boldly told him, “Well, you better put a ring on it!” quoting Beyoncé without knowing the reference.

[Talk about advice passed down — values, sayings and anecdotes that capture the person.]

The most remarkable qualities about my grandma as she aged were her gratitude and her humility. She often told me to live for myself and not worry about her — to work, focus on my family, and come visit when I had time. She loved every minute of our visits but never pushed for more.

I once asked her if I should have a third child and she replied, “Why, honey? You already have the perfect family.” The most important things to my grandma were family and faith; she didn’t care for material possessions. In fact, she was known for giving items away because “there was someone who was more in need.” This selflessness and service for others leave a legacy that I will try to model for my children. Time with her family was the greatest gift and even with that, she was not greedy.

[Thank-yous to other family members who helped with caretaking.]

I am deeply thankful to our family who cared for, loved her, and relished spending time with my grammie as she aged. Knowing she had Adie to take her to church and lunch every Sunday punctuated her week with a joyful event she truly looked forward to. Dave and Aileen always arrived with a box of her favorites See’s Candies, essentially confirming the Pavlovian model as she began to drool as soon as they walked in the door. And to my mom, who cared for my grandma for the last 10 years of her life with compassion and unrivaled duty. I thank her not only for giving back to her mom, but for modeling care and respect for our elders.

[The eulogy goes on a bit longer and then ends with a closing quote, poem, reading, or other good-bye.]

“When my friends began to have babies and I came to comprehend the heroic labor it takes to keep one alive, the constant exhausting tending of a being who can do nothing and demands everything, I realized that my mother had done all of these things for me before I remembered. I was fed; I was washed; I was clothed; I was taught to speak and given a thousand other things, over and over again, hourly, daily, for years. She gave me everything before she gave me nothing.”

— Rebecca Solnit, from her book The Faraway Nearby

Excerpted from the new book A Beginner’s Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death by BJ Miller and Shoshana Berger. Copyright © 2019 by BJ Miller and Shoshana Berger. Reprinted by permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc, NY.

Watch his TED Talk now:

About the authors

BJ Miller, MD , practices and teaches palliative medicine in San Francisco. He has been profiled in The New York Times Magazine, interviewed on Super Soul Sunday, and speaks around the world.

Shoshana Berger is the editorial director of the global design firm IDEO. She was a senior editor at Wired magazine and the cofounder of ReadyMade magazine.

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21+ Short Eulogy Examples for a Funeral

Updated 04/12/2024

Published 11/15/2019

Kate Wight, BA in English

Contributing writer

Cake values integrity and transparency. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more in our affiliate disclosure .

A eulogy is a speech given in honor of a loved one who has passed away. Eulogies are given at funerals and memorial services and are typically delivered by a family member or close friend of the deceased.

Eulogies are one of the most important aspects of a funeral or memorial service . They provide an opportunity to inform or remind guests of who the deceased was as a person. In a eulogy, the person delivering it talks about the deceased’s interests and talents. They’ll also share things the deceased was passionate about. In addition, they may share funny or moving anecdotes about the deceased.

Have you been tapped to deliver a eulogy for a loved one, but aren’t sure what you should say? The tone for your eulogy will depend on a lot of factors. The eulogy a grandson gives for his grandfather will be different than the eulogy a husband gives for his wife or one a sister gives for her brother. It will also depend on the manner of death.

A eulogy for someone who died in a tragic accident will have a different tenor than a eulogy for someone who died after a lengthy illness. Here are some tips to help you prepare, no matter the circumstances.

Tip:  You can also use these eulogy examples as a starting point for your online memorial page. Writing a memorial page tribute is very similar to writing a eulogy. If you haven't created a memorial page yet, consider using Cake's online memorial tool . It's easy to use and completely free.

Jump ahead to these sections:

Short eulogy examples for a friend, short eulogy examples for a father or father-in-law, short eulogy examples for a mother or mother-in-law, short eulogy examples for a brother or sister, short eulogy examples for a cousin, short eulogy examples for a partner or spouse, short eulogy examples for an aunt or uncle, short eulogy examples for a colleague.

Sometimes it’s difficult settling on a family member to deliver a eulogy. Family members may be too emotional, or there may be some degree of family estrangement. Whatever the reason, sometimes a friend is the best option. The honor usually goes to a lifelong friend who grew up with the deceased and can provide perspective on them throughout their life.

Here are some examples of how a eulogy from a friend might read.

“Amanda and I met on the first day of kindergarten. I was crying, because, as many of you know, I don’t do well with change. Amanda marched right up to me and took my hand. ‘Don’t worry,’ she said. ‘I’ll take care of you.’ That’s the kind of person she was. She was always the kind of person who would step up and take care of someone sad or hurt or afraid.

"That’s why none of us were surprised when she became a firefighter . On the worst day of people’s lives, she was there. She was willing to put herself on the line to protect people and their families. In the end, she died saving people, and she wouldn’t have had any regrets about that, so I can’t either. I’m still sad about it though. I still don’t do well with change. And I wish she was here to hold my hand and get me through.”

“John and I have been friends our whole lives. We were actually friends before we were even born—our mothers met in the waiting room at the doctor’s office when they were pregnant with us. We grew up a few streets apart. We went to school together.

"We played football together. We started a terrible garage band together, much to the dismay of our parents and anyone else in a three-block radius. John was always more like a brother to me than a friend, and when he married my sister that made it official. I don’t know what my life will look like without him in it. I’ve never had to live in a world without him.

"But we have sons who are the same age, and they are cousins and best friends all in one. Getting to watch them grow up together will help keep John alive in all of our hearts.”

"Many of you may know that Sarah and I have owned and operated a bakery together for several years. You might not know that we were baking together long before that. Our parents enrolled us in a summer program that taught kids how to cook and bake, and we bonded over our love for creating offbeat flavors.

"While most kids our age had lemonade stands, we were setting up mini bake sales to buy more ingredients to bake more stuff. Sarah wasn’t just a talented baker, though. She was a great person. When you’re working long hours with someone, it’s easy to get frustrated with each other. But Sarah was endlessly patient and kind with everyone, inside the kitchen and out.”

Do you know how you want to be remembered?

Send your end-of-life preferences—including your legacy, cremation, burial, and funeral choices—with your loved ones. Create a free Cake profile to get started.

It can be difficult finding the right words to capture everything special about your father. Some people will source  funeral quotes for a eulogy . They can make it easier for you to find an entry point. Others will instead pick a particular anecdote that sums up their father’s character. Here are a few examples.

Tip:  Writing a eulogy might be just one of the tasks you're facing for the first time after losing a loved one. For help prioritizing the rest, check out our post-loss checklist . 

“The author Frank Clark wrote, ‘A father is a man who expects his son to be as good a man as he meant to be.’ My father was the best man I knew. Even so, he expected us, his sons, to be better. He did this by holding us accountable for our actions.

"If we weren’t living up to his expectations, he was sure to let us know. But was never unkind about it. He showed us that real men needed to be compassionate as well as strong. I’ll never be able to express how grateful I am for the way he raised us. But I will continue to always try to exceed his expectations about who I could be.”

“Charles Kettering once said, ‘Every father should remember one day his son will follow his example, not his advice.' I don’t know if my dad knew that quote, but it was certainly the way he lived his life.

"While some of my friends’ dads had an attitude that seemed to be, ‘Do as I say, not as I do,’ my father would have never asked that of me. If there was anything he couldn’t stand it was hypocrisy. I’m so proud of the kind of dad I had. I hope that as he looks down on me from heaven, he’ll continue to be proud of the kind of son I am.”

“My parents split up when I was quite young, and my mother raised me on her own. She did such a phenomenal job, that I never felt like I was missing out on anything. But when I met my husband, I finally realized how much different a father-daughter dynamic could be.

"Charles was more than a father-in-law to me. He truly was the father I never had. He was always there for me to offer advice or a hug. When I married my husband he told me not to feel that I was adjacent to the family—he let me know that he thought of me as one of his children. I hope he knows that I held him in just as high a regard.”

If you need more help writing a eulogy for your dad, read our guides on how to write a eulogy for a father  and how to write a eulogy for a father-in-law .

There is no love like the love that a mother feels for her child. Delivering a eulogy for the mother or mother figure in your life allows you to express your gratitude for that very unique love.

“When I was young, I remember asking my mom why she wasn’t home waiting for me after school like the moms of so many of my friends. She told me that while being a mother was an incredible calling, she felt that her skills and talents that she needed to share with the world.

"My mother was the first female surgeon to practice at her hospital. She prepared for that as one of the only female medical students in her class. People challenged her ability to be both a mother and a surgeon, but she brought the same passion and commitment to both roles. And she did it without tearing down other women who walked different paths. She has inspired me as both her daughter and as a physician.”

“There are so many rites of passage that people think are exclusive to fathers and sons. But as a boy who was raised by a single mother, I learned so many things from her you wouldn’t expect. She taught me to change my oil and change my tires.

"She taught me how to throw a baseball. But she also taught me how to cook and how to be a good listener. She played the role of two parents, and she did it in a way that never let on how many sacrifices she had to make. I am such a well-rounded person because of the way she raised me.” 

“When we were growing up, we didn’t have much to our names. But honestly, we never realized what we were missing out on. Susan, our mother, was so creative in the way she spent time with us. She could tell epic tales from the top of her head that always captured our attention.

"She created magical worlds for us to play in. Even when we didn’t have much to eat, she’d give our simple dinners exciting names to make us laugh. She taught us so much about resilience, even when we didn’t understand that’s the lesson we were learning.”

Read our guides on how to write a eulogy for a mother if you need more help, tips, or examples.

Siblings have a special and unique bond. While sometimes siblings can drive you crazy, they are also your first best friends. It can be so hard to eulogize siblings, but it is also incredibly rewarding to be able to send off your brother or sister with special, well-chosen words:

“When I used to go to my friends’ houses after school, I could never understand why their older brothers shooed us away when we wanted to play with them. After all, my older brother never treated me like that. Before long, it felt like he wasn’t just my big brother—he was everyone’s big brother.

"All my friends wanted to play at our house because they loved Manuel so much. He didn’t treat us like we were dumb or annoying because we happened to be younger than he was. He was always so generous with his time and attention. The world has lost such a special person.”

“Those of you who didn’t know us growing up might be surprised to hear that Marian and I weren’t always close. Marian was smart and beautiful. She seemed to have everything going for her. It was hard being her younger sister. I struggled academically, and teachers who had taught her would often accuse me of slacking off. In a lot of ways, I resented her because she seemed to have it so easy.

"It wasn’t until she went to college and I really began to miss her that I regretted the gulf between us. We talked more, and I learned she was jealous of how easily I made friends. I also learned she felt sad because it seemed like I didn’t like her. I vowed never to make her feel that way again. I’m proud to say that we were best friends for the last 20 years, and I’ll always be proud to be her sister.” 

“People used to ask me growing up what it was like to have an identical twin. I could never find the words. How do you explain what it’s like to have someone share your exact DNA? It’s the closest you can be to another person without being them.

"Conversely, I can’t begin to put into words what it’s like to be standing here without Emma. It would be easier to stand here without lungs or a heart because she is so essential to who I am. But because of our shared DNA, I can take comfort in the fact that as long as I’m alive, she will also exist in some form.”

Head over to our guide on how to write a eulogy for a sister and how to write a eulogy for a brother for more inspiration. 

Sometimes it can be challenging for parents or a sibling to eulogize someone in their immediate family. A cousin can be close enough to provide perspective on the deceased and retain some emotional distance.

“I was an only child growing up but in truth, it never felt that way. Rachel was more of a sister to me than a cousin. We were the same age, we wore the same size, and we both had the Andrews’ family combination of red hair and green eyes.

"We looked enough alike that no one questioned us when we said we were twins. In recent years, we lived farther away from each other than we ever had before. But we remained close, and I don’t know what I’ll do without our weekly Sunday night phone calls.”

“Growing up the only girl in a family with five brothers was a real challenge sometimes. Luckily I had Norah. While Norah was my cousin, she played the role of a big sister to me. She passed me down awesome clothes and taught me how to style my hair and put on makeup. She also offered me comfort and advice whenever I had boy troubles.

"This was so helpful because I couldn’t confide in my brothers—all they’d do is threaten to beat guys up if they made me cry. Norah left behind two daughters, and I hope I can pay forward her kindness by being there for them the way she was for me.”

“Calvin and I didn’t live near each other growing up, but every summer our families would meet up for two weeks at the family lake house. Those idyllic summers remain some of my favorite family memories. Calvin and I would be up with the sun every day. We played hide and seek. We leaped off the old tire swing into the water.

"We rode our bikes to the ice cream shop and roasted hot dogs and S’mores in the firepit for dinner. Half the nights we wouldn’t even sleep inside, opting instead to camp out under the expansive night sky. Now, whenever I look up at the stars, I’ll know Calvin is right there looking down on us.”   

When you commit to spending your life with someone, you have the intention of being with them until the end of the line. Sadly, sometimes one partner’s journey ends well before their counterpart. Here are some examples of a eulogy you might give in honor of a spouse or partner.

“Many little girls grow up planning their perfect future wedding. Anyone who knows me can tell you that I was not one of them. My family was complex and fractured. Every example I had of a marriage or partnership seemed toxic and terrible. I didn’t understand why people would voluntarily sign up to spend their lives with someone else when it just looked miserable to me. That all changed when I met Jeff.

While I had dated other people before Jeff, I never went into anything thinking it would last long-term. But Jeff was different. He quickly became my best friend as well as my partner. He told me once that he was ready to marry me two weeks after we met. But he knew I was wary about that level of commitment for various reasons. He told me that it was okay if I was never ready to get married. He wasn’t going anywhere, whether we had a piece of paper tying us together or not. And after almost a decade, I was finally ready to take that plunge.

Jeff changed my life in so many ways. He taught me that even if my past scarred me, it didn’t make me unworthy of love. He taught me that love and patience must go hand in hand. Now that he’s gone, I feel half of my heart is missing. But I will never regret loving him and walking this world side by side for the time we shared.”

“Mary Anne and I were only married for six short years, but our relationship spans decades. For so many years, we had to tell people that we were just roommates and best friends. But over time, we were able to share with our close family and friends that we were in love. Even then, we didn’t think that we would ever have the opportunity to get married. 

When same-sex marriage was legalized, there wasn’t a question about whether or not we would get married. The only question was when. We ended up having a quick courthouse wedding because we were so afraid that legislators would say, “Just kidding!” But even the most extravagant fairy tale wedding couldn’t have topped our simple ceremony. Because finally, the whole world could see us celebrate our love and commitment to one another.

A marriage license didn’t suddenly make our relationship valid or even stronger. Mary Anne and I were together for almost forty years before our marriage, and during that time, we were forged in fire. But even a decade ago, I wouldn’t have been able to stand up here and call myself her wife. I miss Mary Anne desperately. But I’m so fortunate that I was able to formalize my relationship with her in a way that earlier generations of gay people would never have dreamed possible.”

Family dynamics can vary quite dramatically across cultures. In some cultures, it’s unusual for people to form a close connection with extended family members. Meanwhile, in other cultures, every older family member is regarded as an aunt or an uncle, no matter how distant the family relationship may be. But no matter where you come from, an aunt or uncle may significantly influence your life. Here are some eulogies that honor that special relationship. 

“When people learn that I grew up without a dad, they often feel sorry for me. But the truth is, I never felt like anything was missing from my life. My mom was an amazing woman who worked hard to support us and was always there for me emotionally, too. But she also knew I needed a strong male role model in my life. That’s where Uncle Jerry came in.

My mom’s brother was a perpetual bachelor who never had much interest in starting a family of his own. But when my mom asked him if he could serve in a fatherly role to me, he stepped up without any hesitation. He played catch with me when I was young and attended all my baseball games when I got older. I could hear him bellow from the stands, “That’s my boy!” whenever I got so much as a base hit. He taught me how to shave and how to tie a tie. He taught me how to be a good man, unlike the guy who fathered me and then took off before I was even born.

When people ask me if it was hard growing up without a father, I tell them I don’t know. Because as far as I’m concerned, Uncle Jerry was and always will be the only dad I needed.”

“Both of my parents were only children, so I didn’t have a lot of family around when I was growing up. I would get jealous hearing my friends talk about their aunts and uncles, so one day when I was three or four, I demanded that my mom create an aunt for me. She told this story to her best friend Nancy, who immediately said, ‘Well, that’s it, I’m her aunt now.’ And from then on, she was Aunt Nancy.

Nancy was probably the most remarkable person I had ever met, so I was thrilled about her new role in my life. I was fascinated by her stylish bob haircut and dangly earrings. She lived in New York City, which felt so cultured compared to small-town Florida. When I would visit her, she’d take me to restaurants that served exotic global cuisine. She took me to plays. She let me sneak a glass of champagne at dinner and then took me to a fortune teller. Thanks to her influence, my world instantly expanded and became more colorful and vibrant.

Recently, my best friend had her first child. I’ve already told her that if her kid needs an honorary aunt, count me in. After all, I learned from the best.”

A eulogy is typically delivered by a family member or close friend of the deceased. But that’s not always the case. If you work a traditional nine to five job, you’ll spend nearly a quarter of your adult life at work. Over time, people often develop close, almost familial relationships with their coworkers, in addition to the people in their personal lives. Alternatively, someone who devotes themselves to their career may not have many close connections outside of the office. A coworker may be the best person to deliver a eulogy in cases like these. 

“Sally Murray was an extraordinary teacher. I could spend the next five minutes discussing her many accolades and professional accomplishments without even scratching the surface. Instead, I’d like to focus on the more personal aspects that made her a great educator. 

Sally didn’t talk about her early life too often, but she let some things slip every now and then. She grew up in the system, bouncing between foster families and group homes. When she aged out of the system, she had very few resources, save for her high school English teacher who took her in when she had nowhere else to go. Sally spent her entire life paying that forward.

Sally could have worked in any number of schools, but she chose the ones that had the fewest resources. She connected with even the most hardened kids because she had once been where they were. She was never condescending. She never painted herself as a savior. She just wanted to reach out a hand to people who were struggling and help pull them up.

One of our coworkers once asked her if she was sad she had never had kids. ‘What are you talking about?’ Sally scoffed. ‘I have hundreds of kids.’ That’s just the kind of person she was.”

“When I took over my dad’s business after he passed away, I felt like I was in way over my head. I spent a lot of nights working late, trying to get a handle on how to run the company without driving it into the ground. Every night at 10 pm, Sam, our nighttime security guard, would poke his head into my office to say hello. At first, I didn’t welcome the interruption. But I soon realized that Sam knew the company better than anyone else. He was the silent eyes and ears of the place, and he was happy to share his knowledge with me so I could have a broader understanding of what I was working with.

Soon, my nightly meetings with Sam became the highlight of my day. I started brewing coffee before he’d come by on his rounds and would cajole him into having a cup with me. He regaled me with stories about how the business had evolved over the past twenty years. It turned out he and my dad had shared the same ritual, which made me feel even closer to him.

When you run a business, you’re very fortunate if you can find people who value it as much as you do. Sam may not have owned the business, but he took ownership of it in a way that I probably never could have. It won’t be the same without his constant, steady presence.`` 

Delivering Your Best Eulogy

There is no hard and fast rule about who should deliver a eulogy. It could be delivered by a family member, a close friend, or even a work colleague or mentor. The only real requirement is that the person delivering the eulogy should have had a strong bond with the deceased. When you speak from your heart, you are sure to honor the person you cared for . 

Post-planning tip: If you are the executor for a deceased loved one, you have more than just the eulogy to think about. Handling their unfinished business can be overwhelming without a way to organize your process. We have a post-loss checklist  that will help you ensure that your loved one's family, estate, and other affairs are taken care of.

Categories:

• Funerals & Memorial Services
• Eulogy For Friend
• Eulogy For Parent
• Eulogy For Sibling

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Prepare, Write & Give a Eulogy

January 3, 2022 - Dom Barnard

• Eulogy overview
• Thinking about your audience and the person
• How to write a eulogy
• Speaking on the day – how to give a eulogy
• Eulogy examples from the famous
• Eulogy quotes to calm, comfort & heal

1. Eulogy Overview

Writing and giving a eulogy is a way of saying farewell to someone who has died that, in a sense, brings the person to life in the minds of the audience. You don’t have to be a great writer or orator to deliver a heartfelt and meaningful eulogy that captures the essence of the deceased.

For some people, the opportunity to speak during the funeral service about the person they knew is a welcome one – but many of us still do not realise this is possible and believe that eulogies are just for the famous. You’re being asked to do something at the very moment when nothing can be done. You get the last word in the attempt to define the outlines of a life.

There is no right or wrong way to write a eulogy: each is as unique as the person giving it and the person it describes. But even if you’re used to speaking in public,  finding words to say  can be difficult because of the special circumstances of a funeral. You may be coping with your own grief. You may feel a heavy burden of responsibility to get it ‘right’, in terms of both content – what to say – and tone – how to say it. You may prefer to ask someone else to write it, or perhaps have them on standby to give it for you.

Whatever your thoughts, you should not feel pressured into giving a eulogy or guilty if you feel unable to do so. If you feel you did not know the person well enough, or are simply not that interested in characterising this person’s life, suggest someone else do it, stating that you’re too overcome with grief. This is a hugely important job.

Eulogy Definition

A speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly, especially a tribute to someone who has just died.

Late Middle English (in the sense ‘high praise’): from medieval Latin eulogium, eulogia (from Greek eulogia ‘praise’), apparently influenced by Latin elogium ‘inscription on a tomb’ (from Greek elegia ‘elegy’). The current sense dates from the late 16th century. ( Oxford Dictionary )

President George W. Bush delivers a eulogy during funeral services for former President Gerald R. Ford at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington.

2. Thinking about your Audience and the Person

Start by thinking of the people you are addressing, as well as the person you are describing: the eulogy is about the person, but for the audience.

Key thoughts about your audience

Who are they – family and close friends only or others too? There may be specific things to say or avoid.

How will they feel? Listening to you will obviously be highly emotional for those closest to the person, and some people will be in tears. But this doesn’t mean the eulogy should be mournful and depressing. People will be grateful if what you say is uplifting and inspiring.

What do they want to hear? Most people want to hear good things about a person who has died, and forget the bad things. But people don’t become saints just because they die. Your audience will want to feel you have captured the essence of the person – what makes them special. So be honest, but selective.

How long should it be? Even in the circumstances of a funeral, many people find it difficult to listen to one person talking for a long time, so a eulogy should really be over in a matter of minutes – just how many is a matter of individual choice.

Think of the person

A good eulogy doesn’t just tell the audience about the person – in a sense it brings the person to life in their imagination and gives them something by which to remember them. You can do this by  telling stories about the person : the happy things, the funny things, the sad things, the unusual things that happened, which sum up their life. Talking about these and the enduring qualities which describe what they were really like as a person, will help you build a picture for the audience with your words.

You may have all the information you need, or you may want to speak to other people close to the person to get precise details and check your facts. You may have arranged the funeral as a friend of the deceased, not knowing too much about them and having no relatives to turn to for information, in which case you can base your eulogy on your impressions of them as a person. Once you have the material and have thought about it in relation to the people you are talking to, you are ready to start putting it together.

Use these points to help build memories and stories.

• You could start by looking around the house and pulling out old photo albums, going through old letters or emails, and any other memorabilia.
• Perhaps go for a walk around your loved one’s house and garden as this may trigger memories and ideas.
• Talking to close relatives, friends, and acquaintances is also an excellent way to remember things.

Here are some prompts to help you get started:

• Who am I speaking to?
• How would the person like to be remembered?
• What made them special? Favourite pastimes and interests, likes and dislikes?
• When were they happiest?
• Who was really close to them?
• What did I really like about them? What did other people really like about them?
• What are the highlights of their life story?
• If I could say only three things about them, what would they be?
• Who can help me check my facts?
• Do I want someone else to give the eulogy on my behalf on the day?
• Is anyone else planning to speak about the person at the funeral? Do we need to avoid saying the same thing twice?

3. How to Write a Eulogy

The hardest task in preparing any talk is often not so much deciding what you’re going to say as deciding how to organise it into a structure with a beginning, middle and end. There are no hard and fast rules – here are some suggestions about preparation and use our  Guide to Public Speaking  for more in depth tips.

Write the eulogy with the deceased’s family and loved ones in mind

Dwell on the positive, but be honest. If the person was difficult or inordinately negative, avoid talking about that or allude to it gently. Make sure you don’t say anything that would offend, shock, or confuse the audience. For example, don’t make any jokes or comments about the deceased that would be a mystery to the majority of the crowd.

Decide on the tone

How serious or light-hearted do you want the eulogy to be? A good eulogy need not be uniformly sombre, just appropriate. Some eulogy-writers take a serious approach, others are bold enough to add humour. Used cautiously, humour can help convey the personality of the deceased and illustrate some of his or her endearing qualities.

The tone can also be partially determined by the way the deceased passed away. If you’re giving a eulogy about a teenager who met an untimely death, then your tone would be more serious than it would if you were giving a eulogy about a grandparent who happily lived to see his ninetieth birthday.

Do I write it word for word?

Yes, if it helps. But if you do, speak it out to yourself as you’re writing, otherwise your words may sound stilted when you actually come to deliver it. When we speak normally, we don’t speak in perfect sentences. What’s important isn’t the grammar, but the points you are making and the stories you are telling. So if you can, don’t write word for word, but put key points on a card to have with you. An exception to this is where you are using a piece of poetry or song, in which case you may want the exact words to hand.

Briefly introduce yourself

Even if most people in the audience know you, just state your name and give a few words that describe your relationship to the deceased. If it’s a really small crowd, you can start with, “For anybody who doesn’t know me…” If you’re related to the deceased, describe how; if not, say a few words about how and when you met.

Avoid clichés like “We are gathered here today…” and begin as you mean to go on, with something special to that person. After introducing yourself, it may be best to get straight to your point as everyone knows why there are there. For example: “There are many things for which she will be remembered, but what we will never forget is her sense of humour…

State the basic information about the deceased

Though your eulogy doesn’t have to read like an obituary or give all of the basic information about the life of the deceased, you should touch on a few key points, such as what his family life was like, what his career achievements were, and what hobbies and interests mattered the most to him. You can find a way of mentioning this information while praising or remembering the deceased.

Include Family

Write down the names of the family members especially closed to the deceased. You may forget their names on the big day because you’re overwhelmed by sadness, so it’s advisable to have them on hand.

Make sure you say something specific about the family life of the deceased — this would be very important to his family.

These points are discussed in more detail in the  Funeralcare Well Chosen Words  guide.

Illustrate parts of their life with a story and give specific examples of great or kind things they have done.

Use specific examples to describe the deceased

Mention a quality and then illustrate it with a story. It is the stories that bring the person–and that quality–to life. Talk to as many people as you can to get their impressions, memories, and thoughts about the deceased, and then write down as many memories of your own as you can. Look for a common theme that unites your ideas, and try to illustrate this theme through specific examples.

• If the deceased is remembered for being kind, talk about the time he helped a homeless man get back on his feet.
• If the deceased is known for being a prankster, mention his famous April Fool’s prank.
• Pretend that a stranger is listening to your eulogy. Would he get a good sense of the person you’re describing without ever meeting him just from your words?

Organise & Structure your Speech

Give the eulogy a  beginning, middle, and end . Avoid rambling or, conversely, speaking down to people. You may have a sterling vocabulary, but dumb it down for the masses just this once. The average eulogy is about 3-5 minutes long. That should be enough for you to give a meaningful speech about the deceased. Remember that less is more; you don’t want to try the patience of the audience during such a sad occasion.

Decide the best order for what you’re going to say:

• Chronological? This would suit the life-story approach, beginning with their childhood and working through the highlights of their life.
• Reverse chronological? Beginning with the present or recent past, then working backwards.
• Three-point plan? Decide three key things to say and the order for saying them.
• Theme? Choose one big thing and give examples, anecdotes, stories to explain and illustrate it.

Get feedback

Once you’re written the eulogy and feel fairly confident in what you’ve written, have some close friends or family members who know the deceased well read it to make sure that it’s not only accurate, but that it does well with capturing the essence of the deceased. They’ll also be able to see if you’ve said anything inappropriate, forgotten something important, stated incorrect facts or wrote anything that was confusing or difficult to understand.

How will I end?

If you intend to play a piece of music or give a reading after your eulogy, you can end by explaining why you’ve chosen it. If not, then a good way could be to end with a short sentence of farewell, maybe the very last thing you said to them – or wanted to say to them – before they died.

4. How to Give a Eulogy – Speaking on the Day

As with thinking and writing about the person, there is no right way to speak about them. However people sometimes do things, usually when they’re feeling nervous or self-conscious, which can interfere with the audience’s ability to follow and reflect on their words.

Practice your eulogy and get feedback on your performance with  VirtualSpeech .

Rehearse the eulogy before the big day

Read the draft of your eulogy aloud. If you have time, read it to someone as practice. Words sound differently when read aloud than on paper. If you have inserted humour, get feedback from someone about its appropriateness and effectiveness. Consider using a virtual reality app to help immerse you in a realistic environment while practising.

This could help you polish the text as well as giving you greater control over your emotions on the day itself.

Have a standby

Though you should hope that you’re emotionally prepared to give the speech on the big day, you should have a close friend or family member who has read the eulogy be prepared to read it for you in case you’re too choked up to read it. Though you probably won’t need one, you’ll feel more relaxed just knowing that you have a backup if you need one.

Use a conversational tone

Talk or read your eulogy to the audience as if you are talking to friends. Make eye contact. Pause. Go slowly if you want. Connect with your audience and share the moment with them; after all, you’re not an entertainer, you’re one of them. There’s no need to be formal when you’re surrounded by loved ones who share your grief.

Wear suitable Clothes

Wear clothes  appropriate to the occasion , the audience and the person who has died. If you look out of place, you will only distract people from your words.

Stand up to give the eulogy

Even though you may at first feel a little exposed, it helps people see and hear you better. While standing, try not to fidget or make nervous gestures, it will only distract people.

Speak slowly

When we are nervous, we tend to speak too quickly. By speaking slowly, you give yourself time to think and choose your words. You also give people time to take in and think about what you’re saying. And if you’re in a large room, speaking slowly helps you project your voice.

Don’t worry if Overcome with Emotion

Don’t worry if you find yourself losing your words or overcome with emotion. Pause, take a few deep breaths and carry on. There’s no requirement on you to give a slick and polished talk and people will be supportive.

Memorise as much as you can

Memorise as much of the speech as you can. On the day, try not to read word for word. Or if you do, make sure you have written it to be spoken, not read. Your words will sound more heartfelt if you’re not reading every sentence right off the page.

5. Examples – Eulogies for the Famous

Earl spencer’s funeral oration for princess diana.

“We are all united not only in our desire to pay our respects to Diana but rather in our need to do so. For such was her extraordinary appeal that the tens of millions of people taking part in this service all over the world via television and radio who never actually met her, feel that they too lost someone close to them in the early hours of Sunday morning. It is a more remarkable tribute to Diana than I can ever hope to offer her today.

Diana was the very essence of compassion, of duty, of style, of beauty. All over the world she was a symbol of selfless humanity. All over the world, a standard bearer for the rights of the truly downtrodden, a very British girl who transcended nationality. Someone with a natural nobility who was classless and who proved in the last year that she needed no royal title to continue to generate her particular brand of magic.

Today is our chance to say thank you for the way you brightened our lives, even though God granted you but half a life. We will all feel cheated always that you were taken from us so young and yet we must learn to be grateful that you came along at all. Only now that you are gone do we truly appreciate what we are now without and we want you to know that life without you is very, very difficult.

We have all despaired at our loss over the past week and only the strength of the message you gave us through your years of giving has afforded us the strength to move forward.”

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“Diana was the very essence of compassion, of duty, of style, of beauty. All over the world she was a symbol of selfless humanity. All over the world, a standard bearer for the rights of the truly downtrodden, a very British girl who transcended nationality.”

Mona Simpson’s Eulogy for Steve Jobs

When I met Steve, he was a guy my age in jeans, Arab- or Jewish-looking and handsomer than Omar Sharif. We took a long walk – something, it happened, that we both liked to do. I don’t remember much of what we said that first day, only that he felt like someone I’d pick to be a friend. He explained that he worked in computers.

I didn’t know much about computers. I still worked on a manual Olivetti typewriter. I told Steve I’d recently considered my first purchase of a computer: something called the Cromemco. Steve told me it was a good thing I’d waited. He said he was making something that was going to be insanely beautiful.

I want to tell you a few things I learned from Steve, during three distinct periods, over the 27 years I knew him. They’re not periods of years, but of states of being. His full life. His illness. His dying.

Steve worked at what he loved. He worked really hard. Every day. That’s incredibly simple, but true. He was the opposite of absent-minded. He was never embarrassed about working hard, even if the results were failures. If someone as smart as Steve wasn’t ashamed to admit trying, maybe I didn’t have to be.

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“Steve worked at what he loved. He worked really hard. Every day. That’s incredibly simple, but true. He was the opposite of absent-minded. He was never embarrassed about working hard, even if the results were failures. If someone as smart as Steve wasn’t ashamed to admit trying, maybe I didn’t have to be.”

Jawaharlal Nehru’s Eulogy for Mahatma Gandhi

He has gone, and all over India there is a feeling of having been left desolate and forlorn. All of us sense that feeling, and I do not know when we shall be able to get rid of it. And yet together with that feeling there is also a feeling of proud thankfulness that it has been given to us of this generation to be associated with this mighty person.

In ages to come, centuries and maybe millennia after us, people will think of this generation when this man of God trod on earth, and will think of us who, however small, could also follow his path and tread the holy ground where his feet had been.

“In ages to come, centuries and maybe millennia after us, people will think of this generation when this man of God trod on earth, and will think of us who, however small, could also follow his path and tread the holy ground where his feet had been.”

Martin Luther King’s Eulogy by Robert F. Kennedy

Martin Luther King, the American civil rights leader and winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace, was born in Montgomery, Alabama. He rose to prominence in the civil rights movement of the 1950s, led the famous March on Washington in 1963, and the March from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965. A brilliant orator and writer, whose insistence upon nonviolence in the Gandhian tradition accounted for the success of the movement, Dr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, by a white man.

What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence or lawlessness, but love and wisdom and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of injustice towards those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or they be black.

“What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence or lawlessness, but love and wisdom and compassion toward one another”

Barack Obama’s Eulogy for Sen. Ted Kennedy

Mrs. Kennedy, Kara, Edward, Patrick, Curran, Caroline, members of the Kennedy family, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens:

Today we say goodbye to the youngest child of Rose and Joseph Kennedy. The world will long remember their son Edward as the heir to a weighty legacy; a champion for those who had none; the soul of the Democratic Party; and the lion of the U.S. Senate – a man whose name graces nearly one thousand laws, and who penned more than three hundred himself.

But those of us who loved him, and ache with his passing, know Ted Kennedy by the other titles he held: Father. Brother. Husband. Uncle Teddy, or as he was often known to his younger nieces and nephews, “The Grand Fromage,” or “The Big Cheese.” I, like so many others in the city where he worked for nearly half a century, knew him as a colleague, a mentor, and above all, a friend.

Ted Kennedy has gone home now, guided by his faith and by the light of those he has loved and lost. At last he is with them once more, leaving those of us who grieve his passing with the memories he gave, the good he did, the dream he kept alive, and a single, enduring image – the image of a man on a boat; white mane tousled; smiling broadly as he sails into the wind, ready for what storms may come, carrying on toward some new and wondrous place just beyond the horizon. May God Bless Ted Kennedy, and may he rest in eternal peace.

“But those of us who loved him, and ache with his passing, know Ted Kennedy by the other titles he held: Father. Brother. Husband. Uncle Teddy, or as he was often known to his younger nieces and nephews, “The Grand Fromage,” or “The Big Cheese.” I, like so many others in the city where he worked for nearly half a century, knew him as a colleague, a mentor, and above all, a friend.”

Further Eulogy Examples

• Free sample eulogies with many examples to choose from.
• Eulogy examples which have all been used at funerals.
• 10 Eulogy Examples for various situations.

6. Eulogy quotes & funeral readings to calm, comfort & heal

Attitude toward death.

Live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about his religion. Respect others in their views and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and of service to your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide. Always give a word or sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, or even a stranger, if in a lonely place. Show respect to all people, but grovel to none. When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself. Touch not the poisonous firewater that makes wise ones turn to fools and robs the spirit of its vision. When your time comes to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home.

The Teaching of Tecumseh

All Return Again

It is the secret of the world that all things subsist and do not die, but only retire a little from sight and afterwards return again. Nothing is dead; men feign themselves dead, and endure mock funerals and mournful obituaries, and there they stand looking out of the window, sound and well, in some new strange disguise. Jesus is not dead; he is very well alive; nor John, nor Paul, nor Mahomet, nor Aristotle; at times we believe we have seen them all, and could easily tell the names under which they go.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

For additional quotes, funeral poems and readings, visit the  write-out-loud website.

Find Inspiration for Your Eulogy Speech with These Examples

By Farewelling Editors

Writing a eulogy speech can be a daunting task, especially during such a difficult time. But with the right inspiration and guidance, you can create a heartfelt and memorable tribute to honor your loved one. In this article, we will explore various aspects of writing a eulogy speech and provide you with examples to help you find inspiration. Whether you are a family member or a close friend, these examples and tips will guide you in crafting a eulogy that truly reflects the life and legacy of the person you are honoring.

First of, learn how to write your eulogy here. 

Understanding the Purpose of a Eulogy

Before we explore the different components of a eulogy speech, it is important to understand its purpose. A eulogy serves as a tribute to the deceased, celebrating their life, accomplishments, and impact on others. It provides an opportunity for family and friends to come together to remember and honor their loved one. A well-written eulogy can help bring comfort, healing, and closure to those who are grieving.

The Role of a Eulogy in the Grieving Process

One of the primary roles of a eulogy is to support the grieving process. It allows family and friends to share their memories and emotions openly, creating a sense of catharsis and connection. By reflecting on the life of the deceased, a eulogy can help mourners find comfort and solace during a time of loss.

When delivering a eulogy, it is important to consider the impact it can have on the grieving process. The words spoken during this tribute can help individuals navigate through the stages of grief, providing them with a sense of understanding and acceptance. By sharing stories and memories, the eulogy can help mourners find solace in the fact that their loved one's life was meaningful and impactful.

Furthermore, a eulogy can serve as a reminder of the deceased's legacy. It can highlight their achievements, passions, and contributions to society. By acknowledging and celebrating their accomplishments, the eulogy can inspire others to carry on their memory and continue their work.

The Importance of Personal Touch in a Eulogy

A eulogy is a deeply personal and intimate tribute. It is an opportunity to showcase the unique qualities and experiences of the person who has passed away. By incorporating personal stories, anecdotes, and memories, you can create a eulogy that is not only authentic but also deeply meaningful to those attending the service.

When crafting a eulogy, it is important to consider the impact of personal touch. Sharing specific memories and experiences can help paint a vivid picture of the deceased's life, allowing mourners to connect with their essence. By including personal anecdotes, you can bring a sense of warmth and familiarity to the eulogy, making it a heartfelt tribute that resonates with everyone present.

Moreover, incorporating personal touch in a eulogy can help celebrate the individuality of the deceased. It can highlight their unique qualities, passions, and accomplishments, allowing others to appreciate the depth and richness of their life. By sharing personal stories, you can showcase the impact the deceased had on the lives of those around them, creating a lasting memory that honors their legacy.

Components of a Memorable Eulogy

Now that we have discussed the purpose of a eulogy, let's delve into the different components that make up a memorable speech.

A eulogy is not just a speech; it is a heartfelt tribute to a person who has left an indelible mark on our lives. It is an opportunity to honor their memory, celebrate their life, and provide comfort to those who are grieving. A well-crafted eulogy can create a lasting impact and leave a lasting impression on the hearts of those in attendance.

Balancing Emotion and Humour

A eulogy is an emotional experience for both the speaker and the audience. While it is natural to express sadness and grief, it is also important to balance these emotions with moments of humor and lightness. Sharing light-hearted anecdotes or funny stories about your loved one can provide moments of levity amidst the sorrow.

Humor can be a powerful tool in a eulogy, as it allows us to remember the joy and laughter that the deceased brought into our lives. It can help ease the pain and create a more uplifting atmosphere. However, it is crucial to strike the right balance and ensure that the humor is respectful and appropriate for the occasion.

Incorporating Personal Stories and Memories

One of the most powerful ways to connect with the audience is by sharing personal stories and memories about the deceased. These stories bring the person to life in the minds of those listening and allow them to feel a deeper connection with the individual being honored. Consider anecdotes that highlight their character, values, or memorable moments shared together.

Personal stories have the ability to evoke emotions and create a sense of intimacy in the room. They can paint a vivid picture of the person's life, their passions, and their impact on others. Whether it's recounting a funny incident, a touching moment, or a life lesson learned from the deceased, these personal stories add depth and authenticity to the eulogy.

When incorporating personal stories, it is important to choose ones that resonate with the audience and capture the essence of the person being remembered. These stories should be shared with sincerity and genuine emotion, allowing the listeners to feel the love and admiration you have for the departed.

Structuring Your Eulogy Speech

Structure is important when delivering a eulogy speech. Let's explore the key elements of structuring your speech.

When it comes to delivering a eulogy, structure plays a crucial role in ensuring that your speech is impactful and memorable. By organizing your thoughts and ideas in a coherent manner, you can effectively convey the essence of the person's life and leave a lasting impression on the audience.

Beginning with a Strong Introduction

Start your eulogy with a strong and engaging introduction that captures the attention of the audience. This can be a memorable quote, a personal reflection, or a brief anecdote that sets the tone for the rest of your speech. By starting on a powerful note, you will draw the listeners in and establish a connection with them.

Imagine standing in front of a room filled with people who have gathered to pay their respects and honor the life of a loved one. The weight of the moment hangs in the air, and all eyes are on you. It is at this pivotal moment that your introduction becomes the gateway to the heartfelt stories and cherished memories that will follow.

Consider sharing a quote that resonates with the person's character or a personal reflection that highlights a special bond you shared. This will not only grab the attention of the audience but also set the emotional tone for the rest of your eulogy.

Crafting the Body of Your Speech

The body of your eulogy is where you will share the important stories, memories, and lessons learned from the life of the deceased. Organize your speech in a way that flows naturally, moving from one theme or topic to another. Consider using chronological order, themes, or specific qualities to structure your speech and create a seamless narrative.

As you delve into the body of your eulogy, take the audience on a journey through the person's life. Share anecdotes that highlight their accomplishments, moments of joy, and the impact they had on others. Paint a vivid picture of their personality, passions, and the values they held dear.

Consider organizing your speech around themes that were important to the person, such as their love for family, their dedication to their career, or their passion for helping others. By structuring your eulogy in this way, you can create a cohesive narrative that celebrates the different facets of their life.

Concluding Your Eulogy on a Positive Note

As you come to the end of your eulogy, it is important to summarize the key points and leave the audience with a positive and uplifting message. Reflect on the impact the person had on your life and the lives of others, and offer words of encouragement and hope for those who are grieving.

Concluding your eulogy is an opportunity to honor the person's legacy and provide comfort to those who are mourning. Take a moment to reflect on the profound impact they had on your life and the lives of others. Share how their kindness, wisdom, or zest for life continues to inspire and guide you.

Offer words of encouragement and hope to those who are grieving, reminding them that although the person may no longer be physically present, their spirit lives on in the memories and lessons they left behind. By ending your eulogy on a positive note, you can leave the audience with a sense of comfort and reassurance as they navigate their grief.

Tips for Delivering a Eulogy

Delivering a eulogy can be emotionally challenging, but with preparation and practice, you can deliver a heartfelt speech that honors the memory of your loved one.

When it comes to delivering a eulogy, it's important to remember that you are not alone in your grief. Surround yourself with loved ones who can provide support and understanding during this difficult time. Sharing your thoughts and memories with others can help alleviate some of the emotional burden.

Practicing Your Speech

Practice your eulogy multiple times before the actual delivery. This will help you become familiar with the content, improve your delivery, and manage your emotions. Rehearsing in front of a mirror or with a trusted friend or family member can also provide valuable feedback and support.

As you practice, take note of any areas where you stumble or become overwhelmed with emotion. These moments can be particularly challenging during the actual delivery, so it's important to address them during your practice sessions. Consider revising those sections or finding ways to cope with the emotions they evoke.

Managing Emotions While Speaking

It is natural to experience a range of emotions while delivering a eulogy. Take a moment to compose yourself before starting and remember to breathe deeply and speak slowly. If you find yourself becoming overwhelmed with emotion, pause, take a deep breath, and continue when you are ready.

One technique that can help you manage your emotions is to focus on the positive memories and moments you shared with your loved one. By highlighting their accomplishments, quirks, and the impact they had on others, you can celebrate their life and find strength in their memory.

Additionally, consider incorporating moments of silence into your speech. These pauses can allow you and the audience to reflect on the words spoken and the life being honored. It can also provide you with a moment to collect yourself and regain composure if needed.

Remember, delivering a eulogy is not about perfection. It's about sharing your love, grief, and memories with others. Allow yourself to be vulnerable and authentic, as this will resonate with those in attendance.

Lastly, don't hesitate to seek professional help if you are struggling with the emotional toll of delivering a eulogy. Grief counseling or therapy can provide you with the support and guidance needed to navigate this challenging process.

Overcoming Common Challenges in Writing a Eulogy

Writing a eulogy may present various challenges along the way. Let's explore some common challenges and how to overcome them.

Dealing with Writer's Block

Writer's block is common when it comes to writing a eulogy. If you find yourself struggling to put your thoughts into words, take a break and engage in activities that inspire you. Reflect on shared memories, look at old photographs, or seek inspiration from other eulogy speeches. Remember, there is no right or wrong way to write a eulogy, as long as it comes from the heart.

When faced with writer's block, it can be helpful to create a quiet and peaceful environment. Find a comfortable space where you can reflect and gather your thoughts. Take deep breaths and allow yourself to feel the emotions that arise. Sometimes, a change of scenery can also provide a fresh perspective. Consider taking a walk in nature or visiting a place that holds special meaning to the person you are eulogizing.

Another strategy to overcome writer's block is to brainstorm and jot down key points or memories that come to mind. Don't worry about organizing them at this stage; just let your thoughts flow freely. Once you have a collection of ideas, you can start arranging them into a cohesive narrative.

Addressing Difficult or Complex Relationships in a Eulogy

When writing a eulogy, you may encounter complex relationships or challenging situations. It is important to approach these situations with sensitivity and empathy. Focus on the positive aspects and highlight the impact the person had on others' lives. Acknowledge the complexities, but also offer words of forgiveness, understanding, and love.

When addressing difficult or complex relationships in a eulogy, it can be helpful to seek guidance from others who knew the person well. Reach out to family members, close friends, or mentors who can provide insights and share their own experiences. By gathering different perspectives, you can gain a deeper understanding of the person's impact and navigate the complexities with grace.

Remember that a eulogy is an opportunity to celebrate the life of the person who has passed away. While it is important to acknowledge any challenges or difficulties in their relationships, focus on the lessons learned and the growth that occurred. Share stories that highlight their resilience, compassion, and ability to overcome obstacles. By doing so, you can honor their memory and inspire others to find strength in the face of adversity.

Final Thoughts on Eulogy Speech Writing

As you embark on the journey of writing a eulogy, remember the value of authenticity. Your eulogy should be a genuine reflection of your relationship with the person you are honoring. While finding inspiration from examples can be helpful, make sure to infuse your own unique voice and experiences into your speech. Remember the purpose of your speech: to celebrate the life and legacy of your loved one and provide healing and comfort to those who are grieving.

When writing a eulogy, it is important to take the time to reflect on the memories and experiences you shared with the person who has passed away. Think about the impact they had on your life and the lives of others. Consider the qualities that made them special and the lessons they taught you. By incorporating these personal details into your speech, you can create a heartfelt tribute that truly captures the essence of the person you are honoring.

As you write your eulogy, remember that it is not just a speech, but a gift to those who are mourning. Your words have the power to provide solace and comfort to those who are grieving, and to help them remember and celebrate the life of their loved one. Consider sharing anecdotes and stories that highlight the person's character, achievements, and the impact they had on others. These personal touches can help create a meaningful and memorable eulogy.

Remembering the Purpose of Your Speech

Lastly, always keep in mind the purpose of your eulogy—the opportunity to honor and pay tribute to a cherished individual. Let the love and memories you carry for them guide you as you craft and deliver a eulogy that celebrates their life and brings comfort to all who are present.

When delivering your eulogy, it is important to speak from the heart. Allow yourself to be vulnerable and express your emotions. Share your personal experiences and memories, and let the audience feel the love and admiration you have for the person you are honoring. Remember, a eulogy is not just a speech, but a way to connect with others and create a sense of unity in the midst of grief.

In addition to honoring the person who has passed away, a eulogy can also serve as a source of inspiration and comfort for those in attendance. By sharing stories of resilience, love, and strength, you can provide hope and encouragement to those who are grieving. Use your words to remind everyone of the impact that one life can have, and to encourage them to carry on the legacy of the person they have lost.

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Eulogy Examples

Being asked to eulogize a deceased friend or family member is an important responsibility. Knowing what to write is only the first step - you also must be comfortable standing up in front of other people at a funeral or memorial service and reciting what you've written.

Since there's so much that goes into a good eulogy, we've collected a few eulogy examples and additional guidance that can help you honor your lost loved one.

How to Write a Eulogy

No two eulogy examples will be the same, just as no two people are alike. Yet there are some commonalities for most eulogies, as they will often include the following things:

A short biography:  briefly recount the life of the deceased. Be sure to include key milestones, such as any marriages, the birth of any children or grandchildren, or other major occurrences.

Personal memories:  you were chosen because of your relationship with the deceased. Share some personal memories that showcase what made them such a special person to you. Don't worry if this feels too niche — the details of your specific story will resonate with everyone.

Other relationships : say a few words about the relationships the deceased had with other close friends and family members. What made these relationships so special? Be sure to make others feel included and loved.

Other accomplishments:  what did the deceased accomplish in their life and/or career? What were they good at? What types of interests or hobbies did they particularly enjoy?

Favorite works of art:  did the deceased have a favorite song, movie, or book? Did they gravitate toward the works of a specific artist, writer, or musician? Consider including a noteworthy quote from a work of art that symbolizes who they were in life.

A Eulogy Speech Example

The following eulogy speech example is an excerpt, as a full eulogy would be much longer. However, even this small sample eulogy showcases many of the different elements discussed above when it comes to talking about important aspects of the life of the deceased. This example was created to honor the passing of a grandparent but can easily be used as a basis for your own eulogy by adapting it to your own needs.

Sample Eulogy

My grandmother was a lot of things. She raised three kids as a divorced single mother at a time when it was nearly unheard of. She worked hard to provide for her family, making sure they were warm and fed and got to school on time every day, no matter what. Most of all, she made sure that anyone who stepped into her house felt loved and safe, no matter where they came from or where they were going.

It was her empathy that always astounded me. "You never know what someone's going through," she said to me once, as she sat in her favorite easy chair with a book in hand. "Everyone has a secret life, hidden away from others. Even the most miserable person in the world has a reason for being that way."

That's how I remember her the most vividly - with a book in her hand. If you knew my grandmother at all, you also knew that she loved to read. Walking into her home showcased that clearly - everywhere you looked, there were books. Floor-to-ceiling shelves stuffed with hardbacks, paperbacks on her nightstand in her bedroom, you name it. Her favorite was mystery novels. "The trashier the better," she would say, her eyes twinkling.

One of my favorite memories was when I gave her a signed copy of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for her birthday one year. I was a little nervous that she wouldn't like it, but it turned out that she absolutely loved it. She devoured it in just a few days, asking me if Stieg Larsson had written any more. The next week, there were two more Larsson books on her dining room table. From that moment on, she would read the trilogy every year around her birthday.

Today, whenever I open a book, I think of my grandmother. Every time she came across a favorite line in one of her own books, she would underline it. Without fail. In Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, it was the line "her only remaining action was to do what she had always done - take matters into her own hands and solve her problems on her own." Today, whenever I run my fingers over those very lines, I remember my strong, fierce, book-loving grandmother with love, keeping her memory alive. I hope someday to tell my own grandchildren about her.

Writing and Reading a Eulogy

Honoring the memory of a lost loved one is likely to be an emotional moment, and not just for yourself. Those listening to your eulogy written may also be moved by your words. Don't be afraid to let your emotions show, both in what you've written and how you present it. The task may be difficult, but it's often the first step in processing with the collective grief you're feeling together.

We hope this sample eulogy helps in your writing process. And we're very sorry for your loss.

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Funeral Speech Examples for a Heartfelt Eulogy

We hope our funeral speech examples will inspire you to write a heartfelt eulogy to honour your loved one.

Delivering a funeral speech can be a daunting task.  Quite apart from the challenge of speaking in front of people while in a highly charged emotional state, the task of actually writing the funeral speech can be overwhelming. 

We are here to help you tackle this important job especially if you are in a state of shock from the grief of losing your loved one.

Further down the page there are links to example eulogies for all loved ones, friends or colleagues to give you inspiration.

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Guidelines for Writing Funeral Speeches:

First of all, we have put together the following simple guidelines to help you to think of things to say: 

• Speak from the heart and say how you feel about the person
• Describe the person's qualities
• Talk about their career, jobs, hobbies and passions
• Talk about their relationships with family, friends and colleagues
• Mention things that you inherited or learned from them
• Perhaps mention some people who will be at the funeral
• Mention a couple of funny stories if appropriate
• Keep it real and don't be afraid of mentioning their less good points - you don't have to put them on a pedestal
• Thank people for coming to the funeral and for their support

Next, read the following two pages to give you step by step instructions on writing the eulogy and giving the speech:  

'How to write a eulogy'  

'How to give a eulogy' 

Eulogy Sample Speeches

All the following links are sample eulogies written about real people.  The ones for a father were written by myself and my brother when my Dad died.  The one for a mother was written by my mother (founder of this website) about her own Mum.  

Many of the others have been written for us by guest writers about their own lost loved ones.  

We hope they will give you some ideas for writing your own moving tribute.  

Eulogy Examples for a Father

Eulogy for a Father-in-Law

Eulogy for a Mother

Eulogy for a Mother by a Daughter

Eulogy for a Mother in Law

Eulogy for a Husband

Eulogy for a Wife

Eulogy for a Grandmother

Eulogy for a Grandfather

Eulogy for an Aunt

Eulogies for an Uncle

Two Eulogies for a Brother

One More Eulogy for a Brother

Eulogy for a Sister

Eulogy for a Best Friend

A Humorous Eulogy for a Friend

Eulogy for a Mentor

Eulogy for a Friend

Printable Eulogy Templates

Finally, to help you with your task of writing your funeral speech, we have some printable templates as a guide to write eulogies for adults and for children. 

Print them out and then fill in the information and stories for your own departed loved one.  

Free Eulogy Templates

Related Pages: 

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Funeral Music

How to Deal with Grief

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Sample eulogy 

 - 2 funeral speeches to help you write.

By:  Susan Dugdale  | Last updated: 12-15-2021

Reading a sample eulogy can really help when you're facing the task of preparing a funeral speech for someone you love.

I understand.

The tyranny of a blank sheet paper and a numbed mind yoked together by the desire to 'get it right' is the perfect recipe for confusion. You start - you stop. You write - then you cross out what you've written.  I've been there too.

It's my hope that the eulogy samples here will step you over the threshold of 'shall I say this, or shall I say that' and let you begin.

You'll see that there are no definitive right or wrong ways to honor a life. Yes, there are guidelines or suggestions about  how to write a eulogy * ,  what to put in and what to leave out, but ultimately, the choice is yours.

* If you want to see the suggestions I put together after getting through the anxiety of indecision, click the link. I've also added a free printable eulogy planning template to that page because I know how time consuming and ghastly struggling to write can be!  

These funeral speeches were written for an elderly neighbor and my sister. You are most welcome to use them as spring-boards for the speech you need to write.

Although they are very different in style, both are personal tributes marking characteristics I valued and loved.

Sample Eulogy One: Eulogy for Malcolm

Background notes:.

Malcolm and his wife, Margaret 'retired' into our neighborhood. Both were extremely quiet people who spent most of their time making their house and garden beautiful.

Malcolm was a little man physically but large in generosity. He had been a hard working builder, the ultimate 'do-it-yourself'  guy. Over the years he transformed their little patch and we spent many happy times swapping gardening hints and plant cuttings.

Malcolm's service respected his wishes. It was simple and non-religious.

The text of the eulogy I wrote for Malcolm

We heard Malcolm before we met him. And that was an irony as we later found out.

He and Margaret had scarcely moved into our street before the concrete mixer started growling. It rumbled and roared for weeks on end as Malcolm transformed his back yard into what would become a showcase for his flowers and vegetables.

Our cat EVEREADY engineered the introduction bringing us together. She was small, black, full of energy, had at least nine lives, we thought, and was ever-ready for a feed or a cuddle.

During that time there was no-one at home through the day and EVEREADY roamed. She inevitably found Malcolm and Margaret. It was true love. She had a second home and was utterly spoiled. There were special treats of milk and more. They called her ‘our little girl’ and I got regular updates of her daily adventures.

When she became ill, and it was apparent she'd run out of lives, it was Malcolm and Margaret who accompanied me to the vet for her final visit.

Aside from loving our cat, I also discovered we had something else in common.

Malcolm loved plants and in particular flowers. He spent his day light hours fussing over them outside and then his nights, embroidering them inside.

His hands, so capable with a concrete mixer or a shovel, could also turn out fine needlework. I have several of his cross stitched treasures.

To me they represent his patience, perseverance and quiet endurance. Toward the end, even in severe pain, he worked on creating these little beauties.

Malcolm called me the Flower–Fairy, a name given because when I went past their letterbox for my evening walk I often dropped in a flower from what ever was blooming in my garden.

In return I now call him the Flower–Elf. I know I won’t sit down to embroider as he did so instead I offer up a thought posy.

Here’s rosemary sweet and aromatic for remembrance. A snip of pale pink rosebuds for friendship A collection of pansies for loving thoughts Some larkspur signifying a beautiful spirit

And lastly because, I know you’ll remember the alstroemeria (Peruvian lily) I gave you: how it invaded your garden and how hard you worked to get rid of it, some of that too. It stands for ‘aspiring’ and I know it will make you smile.

Thank-you Malcolm for your gentle love, friendship and kindness. We will remember you.

Sample Eulogy Two: For my sister  Elizabeth

Background notes to this eulogy:.

Rather than write a formal 'sentence by sentence' eulogy, I chose to take 'snapshots' of our childhood featuring the two of us.

Despite the eulogy being segmented it does have a three-part structure. It opens with her birth and the qualities she brought with her. The middle section is devoted to she and me. The ending returns to the start with a summary of her qualities. The repetition of her name throughout was to reinforce her being made up of many individual parts even though all of them were called 'Elizabeth'.

I've asterisked parts of this sample eulogy that you may need further explanation for in order to understand them.

Eulogy for Elizabeth

E lizabeth: an enormous capacity and will to live. Our mother spent many of the months carrying her in bed in order that she stayed put and grew. Even so she was impatient and arrived early.

Elizabeth: 'Mrs Me Too'. I did the talking. She simply said ‘Me too.’

Elizabeth: a whirl of arms and legs, turning cartwheels on the lawn with her skirt tucked into her knickers.

Elizabeth:  determined to be a marching girl and practicing up and down the path to the clothesline.

Elizabeth and I having been to see the movie * South Pacific singing to the garden under the kitchen window. We snapped our fingers in time and danced: ‘Walky, Walky Talky Hollyhocks, Talk about things you like to do…’

Elizabeth and I having elaborate doll’s tea parties under the buddlia trees. Their perfume still reminds me. We gave the dolls pink nail polish fingers and toes. A moment of inspiration later they had splendid sets of nipples too.

Elizabeth and I wearing hand knitted pale blue fluffy boleros and the other kids picking at the fluff.

Elizabeth and I in our * ‘show’ dresses. Hers was white with red spots. When it rained the dye ran red down her bare legs. She cried but later won a kewpie doll on a stick which brought back a smile.

Elizabeth and I playing music. She on the piano and me on the violin. Bach's Minuet in G getting faster and faster until the notes slid into each other and our Mother shouted for peace.

Elizabeth trying to teach me to do a handstand and I kept falling over.

Elizabeth: a tumult of passions, sensitivities, hopes, fears and abilities. The qualities I know to be true, despite the numbing rumble of daily life, were her deep desire to understand, her striving for peace, love and to honor and use her abilities creatively.

Elizabeth was and is a highly intelligent, articulate, courageous and adventurous woman. I loved her.

References:

* South Pacific : The song was actually Happy Talk . The original lyric was ' Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk, Talk about things you'd like to do '.

At eight and ten years old, Elizabeth and I heard it differently and there were hollyhocks flowering in our garden under the kitchen window. Naturally we sang our song to them. I remember hearing our mother and father laughing, and then seeing them both peep, smiling, through the window at the pair of us. Our duet became part of family history.

* 'show' dresses.  We lived in a rural area. Each spring there was a huge agricultural show and everybody went. In those days, (1960's) girls got new dresses for the occasion usually sewn by their mothers.

And lastly -

Remember - there are no 'right' ways to write a funeral speech except that you are honest, respectful, and sincere.

If you would like further assistance, more than is available here: how to write a eulogy, with a free printable eulogy planning template , please feel free to contact me directly via the form on my About Me page.

Go well. Write with courage and love.

Read more eulogy samples

If you not quite ready to write yet, try reading a eulogy example from the those contributed by visitors to write-out-loud.com.

The idea behind this sample eulogy collection is to provide a library of diverse funeral speeches to help readers like yourself through the often difficult and lonely writing process. 

You'll find many inspiring examples. There are eulogies for mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends, grandmothers, grandfathers, sons, daughters ..., in short, everybody.

Or perhaps you've already written a funeral speech and would like to share it to benefit others. Please do. The more we have, the better. If you wanted to, you could enter your tribute speech now.

Grieving? You'll find comfort and support in this free series of inspirational messages . They're my gift to you.

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30+ Best Eulogy Examples

If you are reading this post, chances are that you have been asked to give a eulogy and you find it to be a daunting task.

Our first piece of advice is to consider  consider hiring a professional eulogy writer .  For $245, you will have a beautiful, custom-written eulogy delivered to your e-mail inbox within 24 hours.

But if you do want to tackle writing a eulogy on your own, we have reviewed hundreds of eulogies in order to bring you the Ultimate List of Eulogy Examples.

The eulogies in our Ultimate List were written for people from different walks of life.  However, these eulogies have 2 things in common.

One, these eulogies have managed to capture the character, spirit and legacy of the person that passed away.  Two, they inspire us all to live life to the fullest and to love without reserve.

If you are faced with  writing a eulogy  for a loved one, we hope you find inspiration in our Ultimate List of Eulogy Examples:

Eulogy Examples: Dad

Eulogy examples: mom, eulogy examples: husband, eulogy examples: wife.

• Eulogy Examples:  Son
• Eulogy Examples:  Daughter

Eulogy Examples: Baby and Young Child

Eulogy examples: brother, eulogy examples: sister, eulogy examples: grandfather, eulogy examples: grandmother, eulogy examples: friend, eulogy examples: funny, eulogy examples: religious, hiring a professional eulogy writer (it’s more affordable than you think).

The reality is that writing a beautiful eulogy is a daunting and time-consuming task since most of us aren’t professional writers.

It can also be difficult to focus on this enormous undertaking because we are consumed with grief.  Additionally, we may be pressed for time because we have a million other funeral planning details to attend to, or are busy hosting family coming into town.

Perhaps you have been asking to give a eulogy by the deceased’s family because of your relationship with the person that passed away.  While you feel honoured to have been asked and feel comfortable with public speaking, you nevertheless feel apprehensive since writing is not your strength.

If any of this applies to you, our advice is to be kind to yourself and hire a professional eulogy writer .

He or she will take on the responsibility of crafting a meaningful eulogy that truly reflects the life and legacy of your loved one.  You’ll feel an enormous load being lifted from your shoulders.

If you don’t personally know a professional eulogy writer, we recommend that you contact Steven Schafer, founder of The Eulogy Writers .

Not only does he have 30+ years of eulogy writing experience , he truly cares about helping people during this most difficult time.

Prior to launching The Eulogy Writers , Steven was a pastor who led many funeral services.  Afterwards, his congregants would tell him how deeply moved they were by the eulogies that he had written and delivered.

When he retired from church ministry, he launched The Eulogy Writers because it gives him a way to continue looking after people who need his help.

Steve is able to write both religious and secular eulogies.  He will take your stories and special memories of your loved one and craft a eulogy that is more beautiful than you could have imagined.

Here is what a few clients who have used his services have said about his fine work:

I would highly recommend The Eulogy Writers.  Steve captured the essence of my relationship with my very best friend.  It was as if he knew us all our lives.  I will be so proud to deliver this beautifully written eulogy for my dear friend. Truly a masterpiece. By the way, my friend who passed away was a professional writer and she would be proud!!!  ~ Bridget D.

  Steve, this is so beautiful!  We could have never expressed our feelings this way.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!  ~ Susan S.

I could not reply to you earlier…I was overwhelmed and too emotional.  I have never read a more beautiful eulogy than this. I truly appreciate you. You captured my feelings effortlessly and eloquently. Thank you so much. I don’t know your thoughts on religion, but honestly, I can only ask God to bless you abundantly and reward you for being expressive and compassionate. Thank you. It is perfect and beautiful. ~ Aisha I. (Aisha is a TED talk presenter).

Now, we bet you’re wondering how much an experienced eulogy writer like Steve charges for his services.

Too little, as far as we’re concerned!  (It’s half the price of other eulogy writing companies you’ll find on the web.)

It’s ONLY $278. No extra fees.  No hidden charges.

And, as an added bonus, Steven doesn’t charge an extra fee for clients needing a fast turn-around time.  In fact, he guarantees that you’ll have a beautiful eulogy delivered to your inbox within 24 hours .

Nor does he charge for revisions and edits.   (Like we said, we think he charges far too little!)

To quote Carl H., another satisfied client: “Amazing! An awesome eulogy — and done by the next day!  I’d have gladly paid twice what you charge.”

No matter where you live in the world, Steven is ready to work with you.

Simply e-mail him at  [email protected] to get started.

Alternatively, you can phone him on (734) 846-3072.  (Don’t forget to add the country code for the USA to the beginning of the phone number if you are calling from another country.)

Another way you can get in touch with Steven is via the contact form on his website .

Steven is now accepting new clients in the USA and from abroad, so contact him today!  You’ll be so glad that you did.

Example 1: Son’s Eulogy for His Father

Eulogy for George H.W. Bush by his son George W. Bush

Distinguished Guests, including our Presidents and First Ladies, government officials, foreign dignitaries, and friends: Jeb, Neil, Marvin, Doro, and I, and our families, thank you all for being here.

I once heard it said of man that “The idea is to die young as late as possible.”

At age 85, a favorite pastime of George H. W. Bush was firing up his boat, the Fidelity, and opening up the three-300 horsepower engines to fly – joyfully fly – across the Atlantic, with Secret Service boats straining to keep up.

At 90, George H. W. Bush parachuted out of an aircraft and landed on the grounds of St. Ann’s by the Sea in Kennebunkport, Maine – the church where his mom was married and where he’d worshipped often. Mother liked to say he chose the location just in case the chute didn’t open.

In his 90’s, he took great delight when his closest pal, James A. Baker, smuggled a bottle of Grey Goose vodka into his hospital room. Apparently, it paired well with the steak Baker had delivered from Morton’s.

To his very last days, Dad’s life was instructive. As he aged, he taught us how to grow old with dignity, humor, and kindness – and, when the Good Lord finally called, how to meet Him with courage and with joy in the promise of what lies ahead.

One reason Dad knew how to die young is that he almost did it – twice. When he was a teenager, a staph infection nearly took his life. A few years later he was alone in the Pacific on a life raft, praying that his rescuers would find him before the enemy did.

God answered those prayers. It turned out He had other plans for George H.W. Bush. For Dad’s part, I think those brushes with death made him cherish the gift of life. And he vowed to live every day to the fullest.

Dad was always busy – a man in constant motion – but never too busy to share his love of life with those around him. He taught us to love the outdoors. He loved watching dogs flush a covey. He loved landing the elusive striper. And once confined to a wheelchair, he seemed happiest sitting in his favorite perch on the back porch at Walker’s Point contemplating the majesty of the Atlantic. The horizons he saw were bright and hopeful. He was a genuinely optimistic man. And that optimism guided his children and made each of us believe that anything was possible.

He continually broadened his horizons with daring decisions. He was a patriot. After high school, he put college on hold and became a Navy fighter pilot as World War II broke out. Like many of his generation, he never talked about his service until his time as a public figure forced his hand. We learned of the attack on Chichi Jima, the mission completed, the shoot-down. We learned of the death of his crewmates, whom he thought about throughout his entire life. And we learned of his rescue.

And then, another audacious decision; he moved his young family from the comforts of the East Coast to Odessa, Texas. He and mom adjusted to their arid surroundings quickly. He was a tolerant man. After all, he was kind and neighborly to the women with whom he, mom and I shared a bathroom in our small duplex – even after he learned their profession – ladies of the night

Dad could relate to people from all walks of life. He was an empathetic man. He valued character over pedigree. And he was no cynic. He looked for the good in each person – and usually found it.

Dad taught us that public service is noble and necessary; that one can serve with integrity and hold true to the important values, like faith and family. He strongly believed that it was important to give back to the community and country in which one lived. He recognized that serving others enriched the giver’s soul. To us, his was the brightest of a thousand points of light.

In victory, he shared credit. When he lost, he shouldered the blame. He accepted that failure is part of living a full life, but taught us never to be defined by failure. He showed us how setbacks can strengthen.

None of his disappointments could compare with one of life’s greatest tragedies, the loss of a young child. Jeb and I were too young to remember the pain and agony he and mom felt when our three-year-old sister died. We only learned later that Dad, a man of quiet faith, prayed for her daily. He was sustained by the love of the Almighty and the real and enduring love of our mom. Dad always believed that one day he would hug his precious Robin again.

He loved to laugh, especially at himself. He could tease and needle, but never out of malice. He placed great value on a good joke. That’s why he chose Simpson to speak. On email, he had a circle of friends with whom he shared or received the latest jokes. His grading system for the quality of the joke was classic George Bush. The rare 7s and 8s were considered huge winners – most of them off-color.

George Bush knew how to be a true and loyal friend. He honored and nurtured his many friendships with his generous and giving soul. There exist thousands of handwritten notes encouraging, or sympathizing, or thanking his friends and acquaintances.

He had an enormous capacity to give of himself. Many a person would tell you that dad became a mentor and a father figure in their life. He listened and he consoled. He was their friend. I think of Don Rhodes, Taylor Blanton, Jim Nantz, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and perhaps the unlikeliest of all, the man who defeated him, Bill Clinton. My siblings and I refer to the guys in this group as “brothers from other mothers.”

He taught us that a day was not meant to be wasted. He played golf at a legendary pace. I always wondered why he insisted on speed golf. He was a good golfer.

Well, here’s my conclusion: he played fast so that he could move on to the next event, to enjoy the rest of the day, to expend his enormous energy, to live it all. He was born with just two settings: full throttle, then sleep.

He taught us what it means to be a wonderful father, grandfather, and great grand-father. He was firm in his principles and supportive as we began to seek our own ways. He encouraged and comforted, but never steered. We tested his patience – I know I did – but he always responded with the great gift of unconditional love.

Last Friday, when I was told he had minutes to live, I called him. The guy who answered the phone said, “I think he can hear you, but hasn’t said anything most of the day. I said, “Dad, I love you, and you’ve been a wonderful father.” And the last words he would ever say on earth were, “I love you, too.”

To us, he was close to perfect. But, not totally perfect. His short game was lousy. He wasn’t exactly Fred Astaire on the dance floor. The man couldn’t stomach vegetables, especially broccoli. And by the way, he passed these genetic defects along to us.

Finally, every day of his 73 years of marriage, Dad taught us all what it means to be a great husband. He married his sweetheart. He adored her. He laughed and cried with her. He was dedicated to her totally.

In his old age, dad enjoyed watching police show reruns, volume on high, all the while holding mom’s hand. After mom died, Dad was strong, but all he really wanted to do was to hold mom’s hand, again.

Of course, Dad taught me another special lesson. He showed me what it means to be a President who serves with integrity, leads with courage, and acts with love in his heart for the citizens of our country. When the history books are written, they will say that George H.W. Bush was a great President of the United States – a diplomat of unmatched skill, a Commander in Chief of formidable accomplishment, and a gentleman who executed the duties of his office with dignity and honor.

In his Inaugural Address, the 41st President of the United States said this: “We cannot hope only to leave our children a bigger car, a bigger bank account. We must hope to give them a sense of what it means to be a loyal friend, a loving parent, a citizen who leaves his home, his neighborhood and town better than he found it. What do we want the men and women who work with us to say when we are no longer there? That we were more driven to succeed than anyone around us? Or that we stopped to ask if a sick child had gotten better, and stayed a moment there to trade a word of friendship?”

Well, Dad – we’re going remember you for exactly that and so much more.

And we’re going to miss you. Your decency, sincerity, and kind soul will stay with us forever. So, through our tears, let us see the blessings of knowing and loving you – a great and noble man, and the best father a son or daughter could have.

And in our grief, let us smile knowing that Dad is hugging Robin and holding mom’s hand again.

Example 2:  Son’s Eulogy For His Father

Duty, decency, reliability, honour, dignity, respect: these are all qualities that my father not only held in high esteem, but practised every day during his time on this earth. 

He was a serious and disciplined man, but he could never resist the opportunity to have a laugh with friends and loved ones, given half the chance.

He saw a lot during his lifetime: a world ravaged by war, (he was himself served in the armed forces in Vietnam), and an uncertain world with the Cold War, the Oil Crisis, and Iraq all understandably influencing his views on the post-war world in which he himself grew up and, later, raised his own family. 

Let alone the social and cultural revolution exploding around him with the onset of the 1960s.

Dad was an only child, who lived in and around Sydney up until his retirement from the motor industry, where he moved with Mum to the Central Coast. 

They married young—at age 20—and remained happily together for over half a century. 

When free of their parental responsibilities, Dad would whisk Mum off for some mad adventure, often without her knowing where they were going.

As a father of three though, he was often happiest when left to his own devices—whether it was building a shed, tending to the garden, or fixing one of his cars. 

He was a self-professed petrol head, and loved nothing more than jumping in the car and driving—sometimes for hours—for some much-needed relief and relaxation from a family of five. 

More often than not, he wouldn’t be gone for that long, but admitted that he loved driving so much, he looked for any excuse to have a spin. His precious Austin Healey was his most prized possession—a car that he drove till the day he died.

When Susan, Claire and myself moved out of home and started families of our own, I began to understand my father in new way. 

We were able to find time to sit and discuss what it means to be a parent, particularly in a modern world that’s fast-changing and very different to the one in which either of us were born. 

Dad gave sage advice on everything from teaching my kids manners and responsibility, to the other important area of family life: keeping one’s partner happy and the marriage healthy and alive.

Dad was a straightforward man who demanded little from those around him, and who expected only the best for his three children. 

Provided he heard regularly from us all—and saw us whenever possible—he was content. 

And although in his final years, we’d all moved on to different parts of the world, that bond was never broken.

To me, Dad’s finest quality was his patience: an inherent ability to listen, to absorb and to offer a point of view based on quiet, measured wisdom. 

I’ll never forget the time when I asked him what I should do about having to move overseas for my career: “Do what you feel, what you believe is right. Follow your gut, your heart, and you can’t go wrong.”

It’s difficult to imagine him not being around and I’m not sure how we will all cope. 

The grandchildren, Billy and Leo will miss him dearly. 

It’s strange to think that I can’t just give him a call or pop around to have one of our good old yarns. 

Dad lived a long and happy life, and only succumbed to ill health right at the very end. 

He was an imposing figure of a man, a tall, dark, handsome character whose reassuring presence we all felt during difficult times.

As we gather here today to remember and commemorate his life, let bid him farewell as we mourn the loss of a lively, dignified soul. 

A soul that brought joy and fulfilment to many, and whose legacy will live on forever.

Example 3:  Daughter’s Eulogy For Her Dad

Dad was the light of my life. 

Even as a little girl, I remember him making me laugh so much I would nearly cry.  He had a wicked sense of humour that rubbed off on anyone that was near him. 

No one was upset around Dad for too long—although he did have his serious side, too, of course.

Dad grew up in the country, on a dairy farm a few hours from Melbourne called Toora and was surrounded by sheep, farm animals and beautiful landscape. 

But his love for the written word drew him to the ‘big smoke’ to study literature at Trinity College in Melbourne. 

He said his passion came from his grandfather who used read endlessly to him. 

Stories that even as an adult he loved dearly and would read to us when we were kids.  His favourites were Moby Dick and Tom Sawyer. 

My parents met at Trinity College and after graduating, decided to get married. 

Two years later I was born, followed by my brother Charlie a year after that.

Dad was always so caring and giving to us children.  Even when we ran in and out of his office a million times interrupting his writing, Dad never got too angry. 

He would usher us away with suggestions of how we could occupy ourselves—always with creative and new ideas.

Dad was also inspirational to us, with his passion for music.  He loved most types, but his favourite was Neil Diamond. 

On Sunday afternoons, we would gather in the lounge room and Dad would put on his ‘album of the week’. 

He would pull Mum in his arms and dance around the room while we clapped hands and giggled—and then it was our turn. 

Dad would grab us both and swing us up and around until we were sick with laughter and dizziness.  The fun we had on those Sundays, I will never forget.

Dad was a very clever man and could be introspective at times when there were serious decisions to be made. 

He never made rash decisions, but thought long and hard before giving us advice—sound advice that has helped to shape my life profoundly. 

He was always walking around saying that “life is too short to be hunched over a desk all your life, you must go out into the world and experience its beauty and learn its mysteries”.

Even as adults Dad inspired us, although we never really told him. 

Every couple of months the family would receive invitations to one of his infamous week-ends away.  He would find a mystery location—always near a river or the ocean, and send us directions at the last minute. 

We were prepared, as we had learnt years ago what the week-end would involve.  

We would pack everything needed to go swimming, fishing, snorkelling, or if in the winter months bush walks and sightseeing—it was always a week-end of fun and activity.  

Times that we all and especially the grandchildren will never forget.

Dad: Your love, your patience, your understanding, your wisdom and your amazing sense of humour will live on inside us forever. 

You have given us gifts that are more precious than anything in this world. 

Goodbye, Dad.  You will always live on in my heart.

Example 4:  Meghan McCain’s Eulogy For Her Dad, Senator John McCain

“The world is a fine place and worth the fighting for and I hate very much to leave it.”

When Ernest Hemingway’s Robert Jordan, at the close For Whom the Bell Tolls, lies wounded and waiting for his last fight, these are among his final thoughts.

My father had every reason to think the world was an awful place. My father had every reason to think the world was not worth fighting for. My father had every reason to think the world was worth leaving. He did not think any of those things. Like the hero of his favorite book, John McCain took the opposite view. You had to have a lot of luck to have had such a good life.

I am here before you today saying the words I have never wanted to say, giving the speech I have never wanted to give, feeling the loss I have never wanted to feel.

My father is gone.

John Sidney McCain III was many things. He was a sailor. He was an aviator, he was a husband, he was a warrior, he was a prisoner, he was a hero, he was a congressman, he was a senator. He was a nominee for the president of the United States.

These are all the titles and the roles of a life that has been well lived. But they are not the greatest of his titles nor the most important of his roles.

He was a great man. We gather here to mourn the passing of America greatness. The real thing, not cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly. Nor the opportunistic appropriation of those who live lives of comfort and privilege while he suffered and served.

He was a great fire who burned bright. In a past few days my family and I have heard from so many of those Americans who stood in the warmth and light of his fire and found it illuminated what is best about them. We are grateful to them because they are grateful to him. A few have resented that fire, for the light it cast upon them, for the truth it revealed about their character.

But my father never cared what they thought and even that small number still have the opportunity, as long as they draw breath, to live up to the example of John McCain. My father was a great man. He was a great warrior. He was a great American.

I admired him for all of these things, but I love him because he was a great father. My father knew what it was like to grow up in the shadow of greatness. He did just as his father had done before him.

He was the son of a great admiral who was also the son of a great admiral. And when it came time for the third John Sidney McCain to become a man, he had no choice, but in his own eyes to walk in those exact same paths. He had to become a sailor. He had to go to war. He had to have his shot at becoming a great admiral as they also had done.

The paths of his father and grandfather led my father directly to the harrowing hell of the Hanoi Hilton. This is the public legend that is John McCain. This is where all the biographies, the campaign literature and public remembrances say he showed his character, his patriotism, his faith and his endurance in the worst of possible circumstances. This is where we learned who John McCain truly was.

All of that is very true, except for the last part. Today, I want to share with you where I found out who John McCain truly was. It wasn’t in the Hanoi Hilton. It wasn’t in the cockpit of a fast and legal fighter jet. It wasn’t on the high seas or the campaign trail. John McCain was in all of those places, but the best of him was somewhere else. The best of John McCain, the greatest of his titles and most important of his roles was as a father.

Imagine the warrior the night of the skies gently carrying his little girl to bed. Imagine the dashing aviator who took his aircraft hurdling off pitching decks in the South China seas kissing the hurt when I fell and skinned my knee. Imagine the distinguished statesman who counselled presidents and the powerful singing with his little girl in Oak Creek during a rainstorm to singing in the rain. Imagine the senator, fierce conscious of the nation’s best self, taking his 14-year-old daughter out of school because he believed that I would learn more about America at the town halls he held across the country. Imagine the elderly veteran of war in government whose wisdom and courage were sought by the most distinguished men of our time with his eyes shining with happiness as he gave blessing for his grown daughter’s marriage.

You all have to imagine that. I don’t have to because I lived it all. I know who he was. I know what defined him. I got to see it every single day of my blessed life.

John McCain was not defined by prison, by the Navy, by the senate, by the Republican Party or by any single one of the deeds in his absolutely extraordinary life.

John McCain was defined by love.

Several of you out there in the pews who cross swords with him, or found yourselves on the receiving end of his famous temper, or were at a cross purposes to him on nearly anything, are right at this moment doing you’re best to stay stone faced.

Don’t.

You know full well that if John McCain were in your shoes here today, he would be using some salty word he used in the Navy while my mother jabbed him in the arm in embarrassment. He would look back at her and grumble and maybe stop talking. But he would keep grinning. She was the only one who could do that.

On their first date, when he still did not know what sort of woman she was, he recited a Robert Service poem to her called The Cremation of Sam McGee about an Alaskan prospector who welcomes his cremation as the only way to get warm in the icy north.

“There are strange things done in the midnight son by the men who moil for gold. The Arctic trails have their secret tales that would make your blood run cold.”

He had learned it in Hanoi. A prisoner in the next cell had wrapped it out in code over and over again during the long years of captivity.

My father figured if Cindy Lou Hensley would sit through that and appreciate the dark humor that had seen him through so many years of cruel imprisonment, she just might sit through a lifetime with him as well. And she did.

John McCain was defined by love. This love of my father for my mother was the most fierce and lasting of them all, mom. Let me tell you what love meant to John McCain and me. His love was the love of a father who mentors as much as he comforts. He was endlessly present for us and though we did not always understand it, he was always teaching. He didn’t expect us to be like him. His ambitions for us, unmoored from any worldly achievement, was to be better than him. Armed with his wisdom and informed by his experiences, long before we were even old enough to have assembled our own.

As a girl I did not fully appreciate what I most fully appreciate now: how he suffered and how he bore it with a stoic silence that was once the mark of an American man. I came to appreciate it first when he demanded it of me.

I was a small girl thrown from a horse and crying from a busted collarbone. My dad picked me up, he took me to the doctor and got me all fixed up. Then he immediately took me back home and made me get back on that very same horse. I was furious at him as a child, but how I love him for it now.

My father knew pain and suffering with an intimacy and immediacy that most of us are blessed never to have endured. He was shot down, he was crippled, he was beaten, he was starved, he was tortured and he was humiliated. That pain never left him. The cruelty of his communist captors ensured that he would never raise his arms above his head for the rest of his life. Yet he survived, yet he endured, yet he triumphed. And there was this man who had been through all that with a little girl who simply didn’t want to get back on her horse. He could have sat me down and told me all of that and made me feel small because my complaint and my fear was nothing next to his pain and memory. Instead, he made me feel loved.

“Meghan,” he said, his quiet voice that spoke with authority and meant you had best obey, “get back on the horse.” I did and because I was a little girl, I resented it. Now that I am a woman, I look back across that time and see the expression on his face when I climbed back up and rode again, and I see the pride and love in his eyes as he said, “Nothing is going to break you.”

For the rest of my life, whenever I fall down, I get back up. Whenever I am hurt, I drive on. Whenever I am brought low, I rise. That is not because I am uniquely virtuous or strong or resilient. It is simply because my father, John McCain, was. When my father got sick, when I asked him what he wanted me to do with this eulogy, he said, “Show them how tough you are.”

That is what love meant to John McCain. Love for my father also meant caring for the nation entrusted to him.

My father, the true son of his father and grandfather, was born into an enduring sense of the hard-won character of American greatness and was convinced of the need to defend it with ferocity and faith. John McCain was born in a distant and now vanquished outpost of American power and he understood America as a sacred trust.

He understood our republic demands responsibilities even before it defends its rights. He knew navigating the line between good and evil was often difficult, but always simple. He grasped that our purpose and our meaning was rooted in a missionary’s responsibility stretching back centuries.

Just as the first Americans looked upon a new world full of potential for a grand experiment in freedom and self-government, so their descendants have a responsibility to defend the old world from its worst self.

The America of John McCain is the America of the revolution. Fighters with no stomach for the summer soldier and sunshine patriot, making the world anew with the bells of liberty.

The America of John McCain is the America of Abraham Lincoln. Fulfilling the promise of the Declaration of Independence that all men are created equal and suffering greatly to see it through.

The America of John McCain is the America of the boys who rushed the colors in every war across three centuries, knowing in them is the life of the republic and particularly those — by their daring — as Ronald Reagan said, “gave up their chance at being husbands and fathers and grandfathers and gave up their chance to be revered old men.”

The America of John McCain is, yes, the America of Vietnam. Fighting the fight even in the most forlorn cause, even in the most grim circumstances, even in the most distant and hostile corner of the world. Standing in defeat for the life and liberty of other peoples in other lands.

The America of John McCain is generous and welcoming and bold. She is resourceful and confident and secure. She meets her responsibilities, she speaks quietly because she is strong. America does not boast because she has no need to.

The America of John McCain has no need to be made great again because America was always great.

That fervent faith. That proven devotion. That abiding love. That is what drove my father from the fiery skies above the red river delta to the brink of the presidency itself. Love defined my father.

As a young man, he wondered if he would measure up to his distinguished lineage. I miss him so badly. I want to tell him he did. But I take small comfort in this: somewhere in the great beyond, where the warriors go, there are two admirals of the United States meeting their much loved son. They’re telling him he’s the greatest among them.

Dad, I love you. I always have. All that I am, all that I hope, all that I dream is grounded in what you taught me. You loved me and you showed me what love must be.

An Ancient Greek historian wrote that the image of great men is woven into the stuff of other men’s lives. Dad, your greatness is woven into my life. It’s woven into my mother’s life. It’s woven into my sister’s life and it is woven into my brother’s lives. It is woven into the life and liberty of the country you sacrificed so much to defend.

Dad, I know you were not perfect. We live in an era where we knock down old American heroes for all of their imperfections. When no leader wants to admit to fault or failure, you were an exception and you gave us an ideal to strive for. Look, I know you can see this gathering here in this cathedral. The nation is here to remember you.

Like so many other heroes, you leave us draped in the flag you loved. You defended it. You sacrificed it. You have always honored it. It is good to remember that we are Americans. We don’t put our heroes on pedestals just to remember them.

We raise them up because we want to emulate their virtues. This is how we honor them and this is how we will honor you.

My father is gone. My father is gone. And my sorrow is immense. But I know his life and I know it was great because it was good. And as much as I hate to see him go, I do know how it ended. I know that on the afternoon of August 25, in front of Oak Creek in Cornville, Arizona, surrounded by the family he loved so much, an old man shook off the scars of battle one last time and arose new man to pilot one last flight up and up and up, busting clouds left and right, straight on through to the kingdom of heaven. And he slipped the earthly bonds, put out his hand, and touched the face of God.

I love you, Dad.

Example 1:  Daughter’s Eulogy For Her Mother

She was a vibrant soul, one who literally lit up the room whenever she entered. And right up until she became less able to get around, Mum was full of joy and always eager to help out, no matter what the problem was.

Being a mother of four boisterous boys—me Nick, Al and Johnny, Mum had a hard time juggling the demands of us all, but she never complained at her unenviable task, nor did she ever turn anyone away—be it family, friends or local faces, wanting to stop by the house for a quick chat.

Mum had an inherent love of music—in particular, the music of Elvis Presley—and she’d always find time to put one of the King’s hits on the stereo whenever she could. Much to Dad’s never-ending frustration, I might add!

Her favourite tune was “Blue Hawaii”—a song that became synonymous with the King’s movies, and one which she first heard when she was flying, as an air hostess, in the early 1960s. 

In fact, it was while flying via India that she bumped into her future husband, who was cooling in an airport departure lounge, waiting to return home from army service.

Mum would always talk about those days as if they only happened yesterday, when the pair of them would take off in Dad’s car for some wild adventure, without the burden of four boys fighting on the back seat!

They shared a love of travel, and would often explore different parts of the country, investigating little country towns and farms off the beaten track. City slickers, they were not. And they were proud of the fact, too.

After I moved out of home, I’d often make time to go visit them both. The five-hour drive meant nothing, of course—particularly after Dad passed away, and Mum was on her own. 

She thrived, though, in her own way—always keeping busy, never feeling sorry for herself, and always excited to see her boys, her nieces Susan and Jenny and nephews Josh, Mel and Chris, as well as friends from the town. 

Mum was a popular lady and despite enjoying time alone, would welcome company as if it a natural extension of her new, quieter life.

Mum was raised in a small town in NSW, called Charlottes Pass. 

She had one younger brother Harold, who grew up without his older sister, she had moved out of home at a young age to explore the world and create her own stamp on life. 

She was never an outstanding student at school, but she maintained long-term friendships and interests from her school days, and always emphasised the importance of a good education to us all (and for our own children!).

After Mum and Dad moved to Adelaide, Mum continued her passion of art, painting to her heart’s content while Elvis merrily played on the record player (Mum never did accept the changing of technology—you’d never see a CD anywhere in her house!). 

And though it irked Dad to have so much noise after he retired from his office job, he’d simply tend the garden, leaving Mum to enjoy her hobbies uninterrupted.

The last vacation they took together was to visit me two years ago in Sydney, a place I’d made my new home some 20 years back. Although they were both struggling with ill health by then, they put on a brave face and enjoyed two weeks of uninterrupted sunshine and warm weather. 

Coming from the snow country, Mum, in particular, couldn’t stop raving about how stunning the climate was—and how beautiful the harbour was in Sydney.

My lasting memories of Mum are simple: a hard-working, passionate figure of strength who never waned in her support or love of her family, and who soldiered on, even when times were tough.

It is a great privilege to write this eulogy to express the sadness that all of us boys share over her loss. 

Mum, thank you for everything you’ve given us—and the warmth we shared during your precious time on earth. 

God bless you.  Always.

Example 2:  Daughter’s Eulogy For Her Mother

My mother, Helen, was a warm, compassionate and vibrant woman who always went out of her way to help others—no matter what. 

She was a proud and dignified woman who had a passion for life. 

She had a wonderful sense of humour which endeared her to everyone she came in contact with and it is a great testament to her nature that she formed so many long lasting friendships over the years. 

So many of you here today.

Mum was born in 1939 at a time when Robert Menzies was Prime Minister, songs like ‘Over the Rainbow’ by Judy Garland were being played over the wireless, and WWII had just been declared.

She grew up in a small house in Sans Souci with her mother, Mary—having lost her father in the war when she was only an infant. 

It was a difficult time, but they were both strong individuals and managed wonderfully.

Mum was brought up with traditional values and learnt the skills that a woman of her era should—cooking, sewing, knitting and embroidery, as well as a love of history. 

She became a secondary school teacher and was a favourite at the school she taught—particularly a favourite with my father as this was where they first met.

Our mother taught us many things as young kids that hold us in good stead today—good manners, respect and sound moral values. These values have made me who I am and I thank her so very, very much.

Our family grew up with little money, but we were always well fed and well dressed.  My mother spent hours in her sewing room making beautiful outfits for us to wear, or knitting jumpers in preparation for winter.

I will always remember our Christmases together—going to the church, all the chaos in the kitchen as Mum prepared for Christmas dinner, and the wonderful feeling of us all being together. 

Mum also carried on Grandma’s tradition of putting ‘threepence’ in the pudding.  It was with much delight that we would scoop into the pudding and eat feverishly, until one of us bit the hidden coin and proudly announced that we were the winner. 

It was only years later that Mum found out we didn’t really like the pudding and only ate it to find the threepence – which, of course, was worthless by then.

As an adult she became my best friend, advisor and confidante.   Her greatest quality was to encourage me to make the best of everything and to face problems head on. 

She was a proud woman who believed that there was no obstacle that couldn’t be overcome.

Mum had many friends of all ages.  

Even in retirement, she would have an endless stream of friends dropping in—kids in the neighbourhood would come over to ask Mum questions about their pet, school or to eat one of her home-baked cookies. 

Mum has always been my support, strength and comfort when times have been tough. 

I don’t know how I will cope without her—it leaves a massive hole in my life.  

But I will draw strength from the things she taught me and live by the words from Desdemona that my mother always quoted, as if her own: “Accept the things you cannot change and change the things you can”.

It is an honour to stand before you and share my precious memories of my mother.  She will be missed by all, but her memory will live on in us all forever.

I love you so much, Mum, and will miss you more than words can say.

Example 3: Step-Daughter’s Eulogy For Her Step-Mother

Irene was easy to talk to, a good listener and a wonderful communicator. 

Right from the start she was more of an ‘adult friend’ mother to me because I was seventeen when she came into my life. 

Our first of many one-on-one conversations was about dating and she quickly told me some of her own dating stories to break the ice.

In my senior year she encouraged me to apply to college and later steered me towards jobs. She always encouraged me to pursue my passions. 

Irene was ahead of her time in many ways, having studied Transcendental Meditation in the 70s and she had astrology themed wallpaper! But at the same time she was an avid gardener, even unknowingly growing pot plants for a friend of mine in her garden.

She was good with numbers and investing. She loved to read, decorate her home, work on the condominium board, go to the beach, take nature hikes with her walking stick, work tirelessly at the inn recycling old hardware and cleaning up after our work weekends, she made attempts to please our father’s picky pallet (no one could feed him), she played cards (again attempting to please Dad by playing the right card (nope, we’re talking Dad here) and she had a deep love for animals.

Related: Learn How to Write a Eulogy & Speak Like a Pro With Our Ultimate Guide

She sang beautifully filling in forgotten words with looo-looo. She was incredibly beautiful. For some of our weddings she had her make-up professionally done but it only took away from her natural beauty.

Her presence would light up a room; it was her glow, her smile, her gentle touch. She made friends easily and people didn’t forget her.

She was funny. Even in her final years, with sheer will and stubbornness keeping her going, she never lost her sense of humor. If I spent the night I would check on her in the morning announcing, “You made it!” and she would laugh. Kind of dark humor I know but she got use to it. 

Oh to have read her mind when she married Dad and moved in with us; seven kids ages 7 to 19. How many brain cells did she burn trying to figure out how to manage, where to start, what to do to encourage us to feel inspired about life…. and yet she did, connecting with each one of us, finding a common thread, planting a seed and loving us to grow. And she did the same thing with her grandchildren.

Like other men who have had their hearts broken and their lives shattered by the loss of their wives, my father set out to find a loving partner and a mother for his children. He could never have dreamed or imagined the impact this charming lady would have on so many, and what a legacy she would leave behind.

I don’t think she would have imagined it either. When asked, “What were you thinking marrying a man with 10 kids?” Her answer was? “I wasn’t. I just went along with it.” (and she laughed with a quizzical look on her face) like she was thinking that a magical power, unannounced to her, must have swept her up and gently transported her into a new life overnight.)

Which is basically what happened. Their courtship was only 6 wks long! Teenagers do not try this at home. They got lucky!

No, it wasn’t luck. Because… on one special night forty three years ago the stars lined up, the heavens opened, angels did their work…. and a miracle happened… for all of us.

By Allison Matthei

Example 4: Son’s Eulogy For His Mother

For those hear who do not know me, my name is Harry and I am Mary’s only son. Writing this eulogy to my mom was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but it was very important to me say some words to honor my mom.

My mom was a very patient and kindhearted woman. She cared greatly for every soul on earth – her friends, family, students and pets. It was so important to her that everyone around her was happy and loved.

My mom was a high school teacher and impacted the life of thousands of kids. She taught at the same school for more than 30 years and loved every minute of it. Her passion for education and teaching was the same from her first day teaching until her last. She was one of the favorite teachers at her high school and many of her former students kept in touch with her over the years.

My mom chose to be a teacher, not only for her passion for education, but also because of her love for her family. Being a teacher gave her the summer and other holidays off to spend with her husband and children. It meant a lot to us that she was around to take us to swimming lessons, watch our softball games, or help us with our homework. We also took family holidays tice per year, which made my brother and I closer with each other and our parents.

My mom also loved animals and was always rescuing cats and dogs from the animal shelter. There were always 3 or 4 pets at our house at one time. My mom also volunteered at the shelter and helped care for the pets that were brought in and helped find them loving homes.

There was a lot of love in my mom’s life. Even though she is gone now I know that her legacy will live on in all of us. She was an incredible teacher and mother who inspired everyone who knew her. Mom, your memory will live on in all of our hearts forever.

Example 5: Son’s Eulogy For His Mother

I’m a momma’s boy.

There, I said it.

It seems like I spent much of my early years trying to avoid that label, but my mom died a week ago, and the least I can do is to publicly acknowledge that she was the person most responsible for shaping who I am.

Barbara A. Hawkins, 80, died in her bed in her Peoria home surrounded by her family — as she would have wanted. Her death came less than a month after she was diagnosed with lung cancer.

No matter what you think of me, I believe you would have liked my mom. Most people did. She had a warm smile and made an effort to connect with everyone she met.

Everybody thinks they have a great mom, but as kids, we KNEW we had a great mom because everybody else told us so. She mothered all our friends who came into the house, even those with perfectly good mothers of their own.

I was her first born, the oldest of five children. A mother pours a lot into her first born, starting with expectations, and mom would have expected me to write about her now — as I did with my dad when he died almost 13 years ago.

Mom kept score on such things. My parents were divorced. She always taught us to love and honor our father, but I always thought she would have preferred for us to love her a little more.

Mom held the family together and raised us under difficult circumstances — and understandably wanted her children to recognize that. But no kid wants to choose between his parents, and I resisted letting her hear what she wanted.

From such a dynamic come complicated relationships.

I always wanted to be more like my dad, as most boys would, and thanks to the gene pool, everybody always said I looked just like him. My mind works a lot like his, too.

But everything that comes from the heart, the real essence of me, and pretty much everything important that I learned as a youngster, that’s my mom.

She’s the one who made sure I never went through a day of my life doubting that somebody loved me or doubting that somebody was proud of me.

Her values form the basis for mine, most of them drilled into me with time-worn sayings such as “Honesty is the best policy” and “Can’t never did anything.”

It was mom who taught me to read from the headlines in the newspaper, and look what that started.

I don’t know that I ever expressed any of that to her just that way, maybe because it hadn’t clarified itself in my mind.

Oh, I thanked her plenty and always told her I loved her, but I was hesitant to write about her. I once wrote a column about her corny sayings for Mother’s Day, and even though I’d say it still holds up today as a heartfelt tribute, I don’t think she liked it. She thought it oversimplified who she was.

Mom could be hard to please like that, or easy to please — with just one good story to share about her grandchildren.

As proud as mom was of us, she always liked to leave room for us to make her a little more proud, which was her way of pushing us to achieve.

A week ago Thursday I moved up my plans to head down to Peoria to take my turn looking after her. My idea was to get into town and write a column about her dying, making the points about her influence of me, then read it to her.

But she suddenly took a turn for the worse, and the weather turned a three-hour drive into a six-hour drive. It was all I could do to get there before she took her last breath.

I always called my mom on Sundays to exchange family news. That’s no longer possible. I could never have told her I was a momma’s boy, which is why I’m telling you.

By Mark Brown

Example 6: Son’s Eulogy For His Mother

Welcome to all of you. I am Kevin Kaiser and I’ve been offered the opportunity to speak for a few minutes about my mother, whose life we are celebrating here today together. I realized as I set about this task, that a son sees his mother in a different context than those of you who are lifelong friends or professional colleagues. It is even difficult to speak on behalf of my siblings but I will try to represent the shared feelings of love, devotion and admiration we all felt towards our mother.

My mother would be very pleased and honored to see that you all could make it here this morning to share in this with us, as it was her family and friends who were the most important focus of her life. It was also your continued support, well wishes and prayers which were so valuable to her in her final weeks.

In addition to your presence here, we have received many, many expressions of condolence from among the thousands of people my mother touched over the years. Their and your words match those that echo in my head with examples of her tireless and determined support of her friends and family throughout her life., The words that come to mind include: independence, courage, generosity, sensitivity, integrity, dignity, whimsy, and indeed the word ‘life’ itself – for few people I have ever known, lived life as fully or as well as my mother did.

I could talk for hours and provide numerous examples demonstrating her remarkable independence, including, of course, her desire to live alone in the woods for so many years. Her decisions to run for MPP, to restart her life in her mid-30s and get into and complete law school as a single mother of four high-maintenance children were further evidence not only of her independence and determination, but also of her courage and willingness to tackle any challenge.

Her generosity with her time, her energy, her advice, and in so many other ways provided invaluable support to a remarkable number of people. Over the years, and over the past few days, I’ve heard many stories of the friends, relatives, neighbors, clients and even strangers to whom my mother provided help and support in their times of need. One recent example, earlier this Spring a young woman came to my mother’s attention as she is working on a Masters degree and whose thesis includes studying the turtles in the area. “Would you like to borrow a canoe for the summer?” my mother offered, “There are two of them down by my shore”. The woman accepted the offer gladly. Such acts of spontaneous generosity were typical of my mother. Unfortunately, in an act equally typical of my mother, the canoe she lent was actually my brother Ted’s, a fact which escaped her at the time.

Among the other words which come to mind to describe her character, her uncompromising integrity and honesty have proven to be among the most important guides for myself in my professional and personal life. Whenever I face a situation in which I am unsure about which direction to take, I have always had a tool to guide me in the form of a simple question: – “Would I be willing to tell my mother what I have done if I choose this path?” (In truth of course, her adventurous nature wouldn’t necessarily result in the most prudent or sensible path being chosen.) Life forces us all into positions of compromise and presents challenges to our honesty and our integrity, and I observed my mother rise and meet those challenges one after the other throughout my life with courage and a toughness and a sense of right and wrong which was awe inspiring. It was her values and her commitment to community and people which led her into politics and then law and which kept her involved in local politics and community service in all respects to the very last months of her life.

Her sense of dignity was never so tested nor so well demonstrated as in the final weeks and days of her life. Even with a body riddled with cancer she still was not asking for the normal allotment of painkillers as she wished to maintain full control of her faculties and to preserve her lucidity and maximize her ability to interact with the family and friends showing up to visit. I struggle to imagine myself being able to meet death with even 1/10th the dignity that I observed in my mother over the past weeks and which swelled me with pride each minute that I spent with her.

Finally, and perhaps the key to her happiness, was her whimsical approach to life. She was always in pursuit of another experience, a little more fun or a new adventure. It must be said that her appreciation for red wine didn’t exactly hurt her whimsical nature. Her belief in fairies, her decisions at nearly 60 years old to take up roller blading or try skiing again after a 20 year absence, and her delight in her new bright red kitchen, reflected the child who still lived and breathed within my mother. To her last day, she was always able to crack a joke and even more able to laugh at herself in ways which had so many of us laughing in stitches so much of the time we were around her.

Her final months were focused on designing, building and moving into her new house. She moved in a week ago today and was so happy to be in her dream home in her final days. We are so grateful to all of those who helped make it possible: building, cleaning, packing and moving. Thank you so much for your efforts. Those of you who provided support throughout her life and in her final days are too numerous to mention but I would like to especially thank Karen O’Connor who was a rock of support from mother’s diagnosis through the preparations of the funeral today and to mother’s dear friend Loretta MacKenzie who came to spend time with her friend and wound up as her 24-7 homecare support in Mother’s final weeks.

My mother pursued a lifelong effort to build family connections and explore our genealogical roots. She came to know so many people and has given us all an extraordinary collection of family knowledge. We are all the product of our parents, grandparents and ancestors and while I cannot speak of the more distant past, nor of my mother’s mother who died the year I was born, I can say that, like her father before her, my mother had a character of the highest caliber who represented sensitivity and consideration towards all people, near and far, as well as extraordinary generosity and an unparalleled level of community and family involvement and dedication. It is with extreme sadness that within the past year we have had to say good-bye to, among others, John Laughland, my mother’s brother Paul and now my mother, each of whose lives, professionally and personally, reflected an embodiment of these values worthy of our deepest admiration and respect.

As a parent and friend, my mother had an extraordinary ability to make each of us feel stronger and more confident in our own identity, giving us our own sense of independence and mental toughness which, speaking for myself, has been such an asset in so many ways in my life. She will live in our memories and our hearts forever and I am will always be extremely proud to call myself the son of Mary Francis O’Connor Kaiser.

By Kevin Kaiser

Example 1:  Wife’s Eulogy For Her Husband

My husband was such a wonderful man. I’m not sure I can really express just how much I will miss him. Not only was he a wonderful husband, but a wonderful father, grandfather, best friend, colleague … and so much more.

Paul’s ability to make everyone feel comfortable, secure and loved were his greatest strengths.

It has been nearly 40 years since we were first married and I look back over those years with so much happiness.

I remember the first time I saw him—I looked over the room at the dance hall on a Saturday night and saw this handsome young man. 

I was too shy initially to even hold his eye contact, but I did look out for him every Saturday night.  Eventually he introduced himself to me; we danced, we laughed and we fell in love.

Paul was always such a gentleman—well mannered and polite, but always quick with a witty remark. 

His joviality and good nature attracted people the moment he walked in the room, and no one could forget his raucous and contagious laugh.

Born and bred in Brisbane, Paul always had a passion for the ocean.  

In our early life together, we would jump in the caravan and spend weekends on the coast together.  

I remember the first fish he caught.  Paul had been out all day after promising that he would bring home dinner that night.  

It was getting late and I started to worry, but the look on his face when he marched back and presented the catch of the day was priceless. 

His face was glowing and he was grinning from ear to ear, despite the fact that it was dark and he was shivering with cold.

When we had each of our children—Jesse, Markus and James—he was delighted. 

Paul was a wonderful father to them and I would watch him take them to Sunday school and show them off to all the other parents. 

As they became teenagers, I saw how they always went to him for advice—even if they did run off and do the opposite, as teenagers do. 

He was always there to pick up the pieces and sort things out.  They respected and loved him deeply.

Paul was a hard working and giving man.  Not only was he committed to his job—working long hours that would drive me insane—he was also committed to giving back to the community. 

When Paul wasn’t at work—or being taxi driver for the kids—he would be attending Lions Club or Rotary meetings or fundraising activities. 

He always encouraged us be involved in life—he bought out the best in us all. 

He would always say, ‘You can’t rest on your laurels, Margaret.  You must keep forging ahead and make the best of everything”.

He was my soul mate and my inspiration—my steadfast rock that helped me through thick and thin. 

Paul supported and loved us all, and was always there to help navigate through life’s challenges.

Paul may be in heaven now, but I know he is looking down at us with a big smile on his face saying, “Forge ahead—make the best of life—and I’ll see you soon. We have work to do up here, too.”

Goodbye, my dear, sweet husband, and God bless.

Example 2:  Matthew’s Eulogy For His Husband, Garth

In the smash hit movie, “Four Weddings and a Funeral”, a beloved and larger-than-life character—Garth—unexpectedly passes away from a heart attack.

Garth’s life partner and best friend—Matthew—reads a beautiful and touching eulogy and poem at his funeral:

Eulogy’s Full Text

Gareth used to prefer funerals to weddings.

He said it was easier to get enthusiastic about a ceremony one had an outside chance of eventually being involved in.

In order to prepare this speech, I rang a few people to get a general picture of how Gareth was regarded by those who met him.

‘Fat’ seems to have been a word people most connected with him. ‘Terribly rude’ also rang a lot of bells.

So ‘very fat’ and ‘very rude’ seems to have been the stranger’s viewpoint.

But some of you have rung me and let me know that you loved him, which I know he would have been thrilled to hear.

You remember his fabulous hospitality, his strange experimental cooking. The recipe for duck á la banana fortunately goes with him to his grave.

Most of all, you tell me of his enormous capacity for joy. And, when joyful, for highly vocal drunkenness.

I hope joyful is how you will remember him.

Not stuck in a box in a church.

Pick your favourite of his waistcoats and remember him that way.

The most splendid, replete, big-hearted—weak-hearted, as it turned out—and jolly bugger most of us ever met.

As for me, you may ask how I will remember him.

What I thought of him.

Unfortunately, there I run out of words.

Forgive me if I turn from my own feelings to the words of another splendid bugger, WH Auden.

This is actually what I want to say:

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,

Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,

Silence the pianos and with muffled drum

Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let the aeroplanes circle moaning overhead

Scribbling on the sky the message He ls Dead.

Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,

Let traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West.

My working week and my Sunday rest,

My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;

I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: Put out every one;

Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;

Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood;

For nothing now can ever come to any good.

Example 1:  Husband’s Eulogy For His Wife

Susan was a remarkable woman who always held her head high and gave endlessly to those around her.

Born in Cowra NSW in 1949, Susan’s father George was an army officer, and her mother Marie, a nurse.

Susan had an interesting upbringing—born into a family with a long history of military service. 

Much of her early childhood was spent moving around with her family from one posting to another, and she saw much of Australia as a young girl.

It was only by chance that first I met Susan a couple of weeks before they were due to be posted to Canberra. 

The moment I set eyes on her, I knew she was the one for me.  She was the loveliest woman I had ever seen and reminded me of Greta Garbo from one of the old movies—her poise, her grace and her beauty.

Our courtship was difficult as we had to overcome distance, but I was determined to make her my wife. 

Susan and I came from different backgrounds: I was brought up in the city and had never ventured out into the country, while Susan had grown up with a military background, and had travelled to many places by the time she was 18. 

But that didn’t worry us—we complimented each other perfectly and got on like a house on fire.

After getting permission from her father, I proposed, she said yes (eventually)—and I was the happiest man alive. 

I remember how beautiful she looked walking down the isle at our Catholic church. 

Her big brown eyes and her cheeks flushed with excitement, her father beside her looking as proud as punch.

It was only later that I found Susan shared my love of the old black and whites and when we were first married, spent many evenings watching and reciting lines from movies such as Casablanca and Camille, much to my delight.

Susan followed in her mother’s footsteps and became a nurse. 

It was a calling that she said she always had as a little girl, influenced by both her mother’s vocation, and her father’s and grandfather’s stories of war time and the Great Depression. 

Her want to help and care for others was the very essence of the Susan I knew.

When we had Jenny, Susan was thrilled—we felt blessed.   She had longed to have a child of her own, but it had taken longer that we had hoped. 

Jenny was the apple of her eye, and the two formed a strong bond.

Susan was tough but fair and when Susan got older, the two of them formed a special friendship that never faltered over the years. 

In her last years, her pride was her four-year-old grandson, Roger.

When Susan fell ill, we were all devastated.  She was always fit and strong, and on the ball. 

She had so much to live for and so much love to give.  She never liked any fuss being made of her, and would chastise us if we—as she would like to say—“flapped”—around her too much. 

She was so used to caring for others that she couldn’t be doing with any fuss for her.

Susan, my beautiful, sweet, darling wife, may you be at peace, and God bless you.

Example 2:  Husband’s Eulogy For His Wife

I want to start off by thanking everyone for being here today. 

I feel my wife would tell me I was being rude if I didn’t.  She was very hospitable that way and wanted to make sure I minded my manners. 

That was my Gracie, always keeping me in line with her no nonsense ways and her unconditional love. 

I want to start by saying a few things that speak to my wife’s character.   She was kind, smart, loving, and compassionate; pretty much all the good words I can think of apply to my wife. 

She was everything to me, and I miss her terribly.   She knows that I loved her, but I want to express to all of you how much I loved her.

Grace was a good hearted person who truly loved helping others. That is why she put in decades as a nurse taking care of people who couldn’t take care of themselves. 

Somehow in all that work and daily chaos she found time to be an amazing mother to our three children and the best wife a man could ask for. 

She rarely did things for herself wanting to make sure her family was happy and healthy.  She never complained about working to help me support us, she was happiest when she was working.

I am a broken man, and my better half is gone, but I can see her in the faces of my children and grandchildren, and that gives me a little comfort. 

They were all so important to her, and her face would light up whenever she would see them or talk to them on the phone. 

She was beautiful both inside and out, and when she smiled at me I felt alive. 

I was truly blessed to have a wife who loved me and that I loved so much it hurt. 

I don’t know how I am going to make it without her, but I know she is up there telling me to suck it up. 

I am trying to honey, but it is hard without you here to keep me on track. 

I know that everyone here loved her and is going to miss her sweet face as much as I do. 

My wife was very talented. I have never met someone who could play the piano and sing as beautiful as she could, I will miss her singing and hearing her say, “Good morning dear.”

I think that she is still here with all of us. 

Her family, children, and grandchildren were her life.  She would do anything for her family.   We all loved her dearly and there is a great deal of loss felt within those of us gathered today. 

My Grace was strong until the end never losing her faith even on some of the most painful days. 

I have lost the mother to my children, my wife and support system, and most of all my best friend. 

I’ll see you soon sweetheart.

Eulogy Examples: Son

Example 1:  elizabeth gini’s eulogy for her son, sawyer sweeten.

Sawyer Sweeten was an American child actor.  He was best known for playing Geoffrey Barone on the sitcom  Everybody Loves Raymond .

On April 23, 2015, Sawyer tragically committed suicide after a battle with depression.  On May 3, just over a week after his death, Sawyer’s family and friends gathered to say their final goodbye to the 19 year-old they endearingly called Bubs.

According to  People  magazine’s report, the funeral in Riverside, California was a real celebration of Sawyer’s life.  His twin brother, Sullivan, and his stepfather, Jerry Gini, served as pallbearers, along with other family members.

The casket was placed into a hearse that was driven by a motorcycle because, to quote his stepfather, “He loved his Harley-Davidson.”

This family all wore blues and greens, Sawyer’s favourite colours.  His twin brother even dyed his hair blue in honour of him.

Because Sawyer really loved cats, his aunt,  Ashley Antonissen, wore a shirt with a cat on it.  She told the congregation, “Sawyer really loved cats, like,  a lot .”

His 16 year old sister, Maysa, called him “my brother, my friend, and more often than not, my father … [and now] my guardian angel.”

But it was Sawyer’s mother, Elizabeth Gini, who gave the moving final eulogy which she addressed directly to her son:

From the moment I knew you were to be born, I was overjoyed, which was only made more joyful when six months later I found you were to be a twin. 

My heart was filled with anticipation and love, but in the back of my being there was also fear.

I was fearful of losing you, but I pushed those feelings deep down and found delight in carrying you… I’m grateful for all my memories and every moment we shared. You confided your hope and dreams in me and I encouraged you along the way.

I will miss sending and receiving funny cat videos, your hugs, our talks. But most of all, I’ll miss your little hands holding mine. They were forever printed in my heart.

My physical time with you is over now. So, son, you put those hands that I held for 20 years, one on your baby sister and one in God’s hand, and guide her along this journey until I can hold you both again.

And tell God, ‘Thank you’ for me. And tell him how grateful, lucky and privileged I feel that he chose me to be your mom and I hope I made him proud. And I will help guide those who you left behind until we are called up to be with you.

I hold you with my whole entire heart.

Example 2:  Father’s Eulogy For His Son

Standing before you today to farewell our son William is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Words cannot describe the sorrow and loss that I am feeling, but I will try.

William was a wonderful, sweet boy.  Even as a baby, he had a calm temperament and as he grew into a little boy, always took things in his stride. 

I remember his first day at school—I think I was more nervous than he was.  

I held his little hand and walked to the gate thinking that he was about to cry, but William calmly turned to me and said, “This is going to be fun, Daddy… Will there be lots of kids here for me to play with?”  I laughed and assured him there would be.

Being the youngest of three, William was always special to his sisters, Michelle and Andrea. 

They would dress him up and take him out for walks in the pram—they were just so excited to have a little brother and when he started school, they became fiercely protective of him.

As William grew from a boy into a teenager, I could see the man that he would become—strong, steadfast and assured. 

He loved school and loved his sports.  Every afternoon after school, he would race down to the oval to kick the ball around with his mates. 

When he became captain of the soccer team, we were so proud.  He was always competitive, but humble.  It was such an endearing quality.

William and I had some wonderful times together. 

After the girls had left home to go to university, the two of us would go camping together at the weekends.  William loved camping—he loved the adventure and simplicity of it. 

After a day of fishing and swimming, we would set up camp and spend hours talking about life. 

It was those conversations that I will never forget.  I was watching a teenager grow into a young man—a young man with so much enthusiasm and with so many plans for the future.

Recently, all he talked about was the overseas trip he had planned with his mates after they finished their [schooling].

He couldn’t wait to go over to Asia to have what he called “his amazing Asian adventure”. 

But he also looked forward to studying to become a teacher—a vocation that was a perfect choice for William as he was a gentle soul, unwavering in his patience, and with a real desire to help others.

William was adored by his friends and family and it is testament to him how many of you are here today to farewell our boy. 

Not only was he a loving son and brother, he was a kind and giving friend.  Someone who was always a pleasure to be around. 

To have lost William is heartbreaking—it has come as such a shock to us all.  His life was far too brief.

My family wishes to express our heartfelt thanks to all those who have given their support, compassion and love throughout this very difficult time. 

I know in my heart that he would not want us to grieving for too long.  Rather, William would want us all to remember the good times we all shared with him.

Goodbye, my son.   You will live in our hearts forever.

Eulogy Examples: Daughter

Example 1: mother’s eulogy for her daughter.

Our dear daughter has slipped the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of God.  She leaves a huge emptiness in the hearts of all of us who loved her, many who were her friends, and even more who just had a glimmer of her through our family.

It’s cliché, but Brianna was truly beautiful inside and out.  You could feel her energy when she was near.  

She was 17, bubbly, outgoing, vivacious, funny, silly at times and just simply like no other.  She wanted to try all things new and was not afraid. Brianna enjoyed life and was eager to taste all that it offered. 

We planned to go to Paris, as part of her Make a Wish.  She wanted to see Alaska and she would have loved to experience Japan.  She liked almost anything that had an Asian flair, and loved sushi. 

While she was in the hospital, we made plans for the family to go back and visit Memphis to enjoy her favorite sushi restaurant. 

Also, she wanted to bask in the sun while sitting in the lovely backyard of our dear friends and neighbors Alissa and Steve.

I’m telling you these things because some of you only knew Brianna through me and didn’t get a chance to be impressed by her, like so many were upon first introduction. 

Those of you who did know her, realize that we will miss her laugh, her funny little squeals, and the sparkle in her big blue eyes.

She had a wide taste in music from Johnny Cash to Green Day.  She loved to dance and to to concerts.  Brianna’s love of art varied from large scale stencils and street art to abstract and the masters. 

Her room is a collection of Hello Kitty, quirky signs, doodles from friends and her own hand and different little things she found interesting. 

She had a knack with her camera and would take candid pictures of friends and even herself.  She made so many, many friends in her short life.

Brianna really had it all.  She was beautiful and smart and warm and caring.  

She would have been deciding this summer if she were going to attend an art school in New York and follow her passion of creating hand crafts, sewn bags, stenciled clothes, journaling or painting. 

Or, if she would take the more practical approach and head to MIT and follow her love of math and chemistry. 

She and John shared a close father/daughter relationship. 

They had similar personalities looking for adventure and a willingness to move to new cities and see the world. 

Brianna would turn to him for advice about school, college choices and career. He was the champion of her dreams. When she was worried, she’d go to him and he’d calm her fears, ending their conversation with a hug and “I love you baby.” 

Brianna loved her brother Trevor immensely.  She shared a special bond with him that only comes from being close siblings and close friends. 

You would hear them talking together in one of their rooms, or exchanging knowing glances and laughing about something, and relying on one another when alone. 

Every night they told each other I love you before going to bed.

Brianna and I shared a closeness that only a mother and daughter can.  We laughed together and cried.  She loved to create almost anything and I indulged her. 

We’d go shopping and she’d find yet another purse to bring home and add to her growing collection. 

She began to take more of an interest in vintage clothing and antique items, and we’d go to the antique market or thrift shops together looking for unique treasures. 

I would often turn to her for an opinion on a piece of art I was creating. 

Brianna and her friends Chelsea and Nina would come over and hang out in my studio and make jewelry, painted shirts, altered tees and whatever their hearts desired. 

Or, they’d be in the kitchen cooking up a new recipe Brianna found and wanted to try. 

You’d hear them all giggling and sharing stories. Brianna would always make more to share with the rest of the family. She was so considerate.

Most importantly, Brianna was brave, courageous and strong. 

In the hospital, she made plans to start a garden and begin a regular exercise program when she was well. 

She crocheted a frosted cupcake and donut with beaded sprinkles, and she met the winner of last year’s Suvivior series. 

The doctors, nurses and other care professionals were touched by her sweetness and fortitude.  And they saw her willingness to do what had to be done to get well, often called her a “trooper.” Really, she was a warrior. 

She lived only a short 8 months after her diagnosis of MDS, and of those four were in the hospital. 

She fought with all her might after undergoing a bone marrow transplant and getting a lung infection in February.  

I stayed with her sleeping in the room until two months ago, when Brianna was admitted to the intensive care unit with pneumonia.  She was unconscious for almost the entire time. 

I held her hand often in the hospital and stroked her brow, massaged her feet, encouraged her, talked to her and told her I loved her. 

The cruel part is that she was so close. 

Just a week and a half ago, she was communicating with me and the nurses picking music to play and pointing. 

Then, last Tuesday her heart temporarily stopped from bleeding in the lung.  By Thursday, it was evident she would not recover and on Friday I held her hand, pressed it to my face and kissed her for the last time.

I want her near me, to feel her cheek pressed against mine and her arms wrapped around me squeezing me like she did, and say “Mom, I love you. I’m so glad you’re my mom.” 

Or when she hugged John and I and said “I’m so glad you’re my parents.” We strove to give Brianna roots and wings, we just never thought she’d fly so high, she would soar beyond our reach. 

My dearest darling, we will miss you forever and can’t wait for the day when we can be together again to laugh, share, hold each other and say I love you.

Brianna has gone into the light and is now free.

By Iva Wilcox at  A Family’s Journey to Health .

Example 2: Mother’s Eulogy For Her Daughter

Thanks for coming!  How Chloe would have adored this!  All this love and all these people gathered together just for her.  Chloe loved the stage; and here she is right at the centre of it.

She’ll be looking down on us and saying… “Oh, no, Hannah it’s Mum!  She’s so attention seeking.  She’s so embarrassing.  Mum will use that awful posh telephone voice, and she’s bound to cry and say something totally lame about me.  Hannah, please stop her!

Yes, Chloe sure liked to keep us oldies in check and delighted in telling me and Simon exactly where it was that we were going wrong.   How we miss that.

So,  firstly,  I apologize to both of my daughters that my eulogy will probably do all all of the above.  

It will also  be woefully inadequate in capturing the spirit of my beautiful, feisty and amazing young daughter.  

But I promise that, despite  the most savage and intense grief, I will focus upon Chloe’s life.   A short life that, thank God, was exceptionally well lived.

Born 25th January 1995, she shot into the world determined to make her presence felt.  She was a noisy baby, a tantrum-filled toddler and sometimes a nightmare little girl.  

In short, she was bursting with life, vitality and  passion.  She was argumentative, exasperating and totally adorable. 

C hloe, Hannah and I were joined in vice-like bond from the very beginning.  We absolutely adored each other and, of course,  still do.

Chloe’s beauty, charm and independent spirit meant that I was wrapped around her little finger from the very beginning—as were so many others—and she exploited it dreadfully.  

She just had a way about her.  

I’m sorry Mr Hordley—I know that I ought to have helped you to mould Chloe into a diligent student.  She was undeniably bright and full of potential; but  I wasn’t much of a disciplinarian. 

I indulged both of my daughters  from the start, but I hope it was that blanket of love and certainty that helped give Chloe the spirit, the resilience and the courage to  carry on living—and really living in a quite spectacular way—for the three years of her illness.  

Deep down she probably knew that her lifespan was limited, but in her words: “Why go there?”

By 15, Chloe had blossomed into a beautiful young woman—leggy, with dark tumbling curls and huge green eyes.   The world was at her feet; but  little did we know that all hell  was breaking loose inside her body.  

In February 2010 Chloe was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer that tends to affect tall adolescent boys and slim willowy girls. 

The horrible irony is that her sought-after body shape, made her susceptible to Ewing’s Sarcoma.  

We were brought down by a chance in a million; a lottery win in reverse.  There is no reason for this illness, no genetic links—just pure bad luck.  

So how did she respond?  Typically, she told me to “man up” as she set about identifying all the “hot boys” on the cancer ward.  

And there were many beautiful boys—two of them I’m so happy to say are here today.  

Strangely, we had some good times on that ward and bonded as part of an exclusive club—yet a club that no sane person would willingly apply to join.

There were some very dark times to come; and I’d be lying if I said we didn’t at times drift into despair.  

But Chloe would always bounce back and quickly came to deal with her treatments in the same breazy, cheerful manner—planning it carefully around drama lessons, parties and the commandeering of Hannah’s ID card to facilitate Chloe’s illegal entry into SHOOSH nightclub in Croydon.  

Sterile surgical gloves that the NHS funded to assist Chloe’s cancer treatments, were instead used for fake tan applications.  

In full make-up and looking totally wonderful, Chloe would stick her arm out as the nurses pumped blood out or more medicines in.   

She didn’t do pain, she wasn’t squeamish and the nurses would have barely removed the last needle from her arm and she’d be up and off out with her friends into Croydon until 3 or 4 in the morning.  

Literally nothing would stop her.   I am so proud  of that spirit.

I can barely hold back my tears when I think of how her dearest friends surrounded her with a cloak of love, fun and comfort.  

When Chloe was too ill to go out they’d all stay in with her; when Chloe was better: off out they all went.  Quite a big deal for girls of 15 and 16 when the world is so irresistibly exciting.   

Chloe packed a lifetime of fun into those three years, because she had such good friends.  

You were so young, you are so young, but you dealt with a very poorly friend with a maturity way beyond your years. 

I  suspect you all saw me as a “soft touch” as my eyes would light up as much as yours as I saw the beauty of you all heading off somewhere great and exciting.  

I think I got as much out of watching this as you did going. 

Lifts, the odd drink, opening the front door at 6am in the morning.  No problem.  They were some of my happiest times watching my daughter have such fun, with such wonderful young people, and knowing that it all probably wouldn’t last.  

There was a real intensity for me in those moments—I really can’t thank  all her friends enough.

On Mother’s Day just gone, that fell just a few days after Chloe’s death,  Sarah, Olivia, Rosie and Sophia sent  me a card from my “adopted daughters”.  

I broke down in tears upon opening this card.  I’ve done a lot of crying over the past few years but that card really got to me.

I so miss the way you filled out house with the vitality of your young lives. 

I have no worries that you’ll be back to tell us about your fantastic careers, boyfriends and, of course, you know how much I love babies.  

Chloe was just too important to us all and we all shared some really intense memories.  I hope that in time these memories hurt less and inspire more.

Chloe didn’t see her dearest friends in the last few weeks of her life; that was only because she wanted you to remember her with a big smile, high heels and a far too short a skirt.  

The Chloe you and we all loved.  She spent her final days with me, Hannah, Roman, Simon and Ralph.  

She gave us many gifts in those last few precious days—including telling me that I looked 10 years younger—very unlike Chloe and so I suspect that ‘the morphine was speaking’ when she said that.  

Chloe didn’t do cancer and didn’t do depression either.  

As we neared the end we snuggled up in her room and watched those dreadful Orange County Housewives programmes and wonderful Mike Leigh films.  

She was poorly at times, but not that often, we ate fish and chips, still applied makeup and fake tan , laughed lots and little Roman would be bouncing around in the middle of it all.

Zoe we knew you were there with us in Germany and there was a huge comfort in knowing that you we could have called anytime and you would be there.  

Rosemary and Chloe Ridgeway you were there with us every step of the way and Chloe knew that you loved her so much—you were like an extra Mum and an extra sister.   

Jacob your sister loved you very much and she knew how much you wanted to see her.  She just couldn’t—but she did know.

Chloe’s spirit in the face of such adversity was startling and amazing.  

My daughter taught me to seize and live every minute don’t sweat the small stuff and accept when you can’t change things.  She really is my inspiration.  

She took herself off Facebook when she couldn’t join in anymore and then buried herself right in the love of her family.  And how we loved that.  

It was a privilege to care for her, and she showed such skill in protecting herself from emotional harm.   Amazingly, most days she was happy; despite everything.

Some of Chloe’s treatment was horrific and involved long painful stays in hospital.  But she still managed to put cancer “in a small box in the corner of her mind”.  

She’d be horrified if I ever suggested that she go on a trip with other children with cancer; but would occassionally “play the cancer card” when the benefits were too obvious to resist:

• like emotionally blackmailing us into buying her a puppy – we lost that fight pretty quickly
• getting to meet Prince William and to advise Catherine on false eyelash application methods
• persuading Paul Clark, the CEO of Penta Consulting to employ her at £10 an hour – effectively Penta transferring cash to Zara and Topshop, but via Chloe Drury’s bank account
• and persuading me to let her go out clubbing the night before her Science GCSE exam!    Oops!    I forgot to tell Simon about that one!!   Never mind!

Chloe died as she lived—complaining little and trying to see the positive in the reduced landscape of her life.

I’ve lost my best friend and half of my hopes and dreams (Hannah you have the other half).  

My family and I will never get over this—we don’t want to get over it.  Our challenge is to accept her death into the narrative of our lives without destroying anything else with our grief.

But at the same time, our story has been so life-affirming and we have been surrounded by the most wonderful love and support from a huge range of friends and family. 

You have held me up when I had no defences left  and I know that you will continue to do so.  There are far too many to thank here and now; but you know who you are.

My husband Simon and my daughter Hannah have been absolute rocks.  And baby Roman a ray of sunshine to us all.

Hannah, we are so proud the way you’ve looked after your sister and we are most especially sad that we couldn’t save her for you.  We did try very very hard.

There is one person I do want to mention—David Thomas—who lost his son Daniel, a Classics scholar at Oxford, not long before Chloe died and to the same illness, Ewing’s Sarcoma.  

Despite this you have been a constant source of comfort to me—and sometimes a partner in crime as we fought the various ludicrous systems that prevented our children getting the right treatments at the right time.  

One doctor once remarked that our consultant had the worst of luck when he had a lawyer and a journalist joining forces against him.  Oh well.

Chloe’s care at the end of her life was amazingly well managed.  The palliative care team at the Marsden and our wonderful community nurses settled into our eccentric little world and we all seemed to have a jolly good time most of the times.  

Their support was so fantastic that even my emotionally stunted husband Simon finds it impossible to speak of them, even now, without starting to cry

I read the other day that there are worse emotions to have to live with than sadness, however vast and deep that sadness might be, it can be uplifting, invigorating, strengthening and above all a powerful reminder of how much Chloe matters; and always will.  

My family and I will work hard to ensure we turn our current debilitating grief over her loss into something positive and worthwhile.  

Outside our home, the care offered for teenagers with a cancer like Chloe isn’t good enough.  Access to new treatments is sporadic and filled with many unnecessary obstacles.  

Chloe was treated on a seriously outdated protocol and this needs to change.  

Donations today are to the wonderful Teenage Cancer Trust.  

We’re pleased that Simon Davis, Chief Executive of the Teenage Cancer Trust is with us today.  You’ll notice that he has his suits tailored with extra deep pockets: so however many of you wish to force donation cheques upon him today, he will still have room to carry them all away.  

Chloe was my inspiration and I’m determined to do something good in her name.

Chloe once said to me, with a smile and with her usual searing honesty: “Mum I’ve caused you so much trouble, I bet you wish I’d never been born.”  

Nothing could be further from the truth.

If, before you were born, Chloe, I could have gone to Heaven, and seen all the beautiful souls, I still would have chosen you.

If somebody would have warned me  “this soul will one day need extra care” I still would have chosen you.

If they had said, ‘this soul would make me question the depth of my faith” I still would have chosen you.

If they would have told me “his soul would make tears flow from my eyes, that would overflow a river”, I still would have chosen you.

If they would have told me “Chloe’s time here on earth would be short” I still would have chosen you.

So, to answer you …  

“Yes, Chloe, you’ve certainly caused us lots of trouble.  But just give me the chance and I’d do it all over again like a shot.  I am absolutely honoured to be your Mother and I love you with all my heart.”

By Deborah Binner at  A Child of Mine .

Example 1:  Mother’s Eulogy For Her Still Born Baby

Sybella was born on the 24th of April, after a very long and anxious eight months.   She was greatly longed for by our entire family. 

Everyone here knows that conceiving Sybella was difficult, and when we finally learned we were expecting her, Kelvin and I were ecstatic. 

Jack was excited about his new sister that was “spending time growing bigger so that she could come and play with him.”  Our family was complete.

The pregnancy was difficult.  I was very sick for 5 months.  I was enormous. 

Sybella had some mild kidney problems that we were assured were of small consequence, but we worried for her all the same. 

Despite all these difficulties, I wouldn’t have changed anything.  I would go through those 34 weeks again and again for my little girl. 

I hope that while she was living and growing in me that she felt safe and warm and loved. 

I am sure she heard Jack speak to her, and her daddy too. 

She never kicked very hard, and I tell myself it was she was such a gentle soul, relaxed and calm. 

I hope she knows I looked after her as best as I could while I was growing her.  Well, I tried to.  I just wanted her to be happy and healthy and loved and cherished.

Sybella’s birth was the most beautiful event of my life.  Despite knowing she would be stillborn, I felt I needed to honour her with a natural birth … although the thought terrified me. 

Labour began at 12pm.  I was told that it could take days.  But I knew she would be born before the sun went down.  I knew that together, Sybella and I would embrace the challenge of birth and death on the same day, and in this respect, my body did not fail us. 

Our daughter was born asleep at 4.01pm.  I held her immediately.  She was perfect.  Perfect and beautiful and peaceful.  She should not have died.  This was an incredibly bittersweet time. 

Being acutely aware that my daughter was not alive, the peace and serenity in the room was palpable.  It was incredibly organic to be lying there with my newborn daughter. 

I am sure her spirit was still there and she didn’t leave until we had been given the chance to meet face to face.  

Until she got to have a cuddle and a talk with her mummy.  Until her mummy got to give her her first and last bath. Until we had finished marveling at our beautiful creation.

Sybella will always be my second child.  As of the 24th of April at 4.01pm, I have two children. Jack and Sybella. 

If we add to our family, another child will be our third child.  Our other children will be told about Sybella.  Her birthday will be celebrated every year.  We will honour her at Christmas.  

I speak to her like she is here and Jack and I say goodnight to her every night and we tell her we love her. 

I open the curtains in her room because she needs fresh air and sunlight. 

I kiss her blanket that she was wrapped in after birth every night.  I worry that she is warm and safe and protected, because that’s what mothers worry about.

Despite the pain and heartache that we feel, I feel lucky. Sybella chose to come to us. 

She will always be part of our family. I am privileged to be Sybella’s mother. 

I am honoured to have carried her, felt her move, birthed her and held her.  

She was born to ME.  For someone who never took a breath, the number of lives that she has touched is remarkable.  Sybella, at zero days old, has taught me more than I have learned in 29 years. 

She has shown me more about life and love, serenity and peace than I ever knew.  She had a purpose, I am sure. 

And she will be preserved as a perfect, innocent heart forever. 

Sybella won’t grow up like other children will grow up.  She won’t face the hardships of this world.  She won’t experience disappointment or sadness nor will she ever cause us disappointment or sadness. 

Sybella is a special soul.  Her little life will be a memory of nothing but love, innocence and purity.

Stillborn, but STILL born.  We see her with the butterflies.

Simply, we love her. We always did. We always will.

By Steph at  Born Still .

Example 2:  Mother’s Eulogy For Her Young Daughter

My darling little girl Louise! I cannot believe that she has been taken away from us after only six years on this earth. 

It is much too short a time, but they have been the most precious.

When you were born, you were so tiny—I couldn’t believe my eyes. 

You had a shock of black hair and a cheeky face. You quickly gained weight, though, and after a couple of days in the hospital I was allowed to take you home. 

We had been told that you had a congenital heart condition, but we were positive that you would still live a long and happy life. 

We always focused on our time together and treasured every moment.

From the time she was a little girl, Louise brought joy and laughter into our lives and the lives of others. 

When she was little, I called her my ‘cheeky monkey’. As soon as our backs were turned, she was up to something. 

But you couldn’t get angry with her for too long as she would always give you one of those cheeky grins and say, “Oh Mummy, I’m sorry”.

Louise grew into a charming little girl who was outgoing and affectionate. 

She absolutely adored school and made lots of friends. She loved her teachers and would race home from school every afternoon with stories about what Mrs McNamara or Mr Jones had taught her in class.

One of Louise’s greatest pleasures was dancing.  The moment she heard music she would be up, clapping her hands with glee. 

I remember taking her to the mall one day to do some shopping. I turned around and she was gone. Naturally, I was panic stricken and raced around everywhere looking for her.

I found her a few minutes later in the music section of the store, performing a dance routine she had learnt at school—much to the amusement of the staff.

Make a Personalized Social Media Obituary for a Loved One to Share With Friends & Family

We enrolled her in dance school and she flourished. I will never forget the look on her face after her first dance class—a look of enthusiasm and pure excitement that only a child can give.  I was so excited for her.

When Louise was five, she had to undergo surgery.

It seemed successful and after months of rest, Louise appeared to be on the road to recovery.  She found it hard staying at home and desperately wanted to go back to school and dancing.

When she was feeling well enough, we brought home school work for her to do, which she devoured with such enthusiasm.

Louise’s last year on this earth was difficult.  It is such a terrible thing to see your child struggle with illness and not be able to do anything to make her well and whole again.

It is with so much sadness that I am here today to farewell our only child, Louise. 

She was a lovely and vibrant daughter who has been taken away from us much too early.  But the memory of Louise will live on in us forever. We were so proud of her and know that she is in peace.

Goodbye, my precious girl—I know you are up in heaven now, waving down to us with cheeky grin on your beautiful face.

Example 3:  Mother’s Eulogy For Her Young Son

First, on behalf of Ed, Brian and myself – thank you.  Not just for taking the time out of your lives to come today to honor our sweet son and older brother… but thank you for loving Gavin.  It was hard not to love him.  And it was hard not to be inspired by him.

Going to a funeral is sad.  Going to a child’s funeral is just wrong on every level.  Will we leave here sad and grieving and maybe even a little bit pissed at God?  Probably.  But Ed and I feel strongly that we want people to leave here feeling mostly inspired.  Not inspired by us — or inspired by how “strong” we seem.  We want you to leave this church inspired by Gavin and his life’s journey.  If we’ve ever been sure of anything, it is this:  Gavin was sent here to this Earth to work through us to inspire others.  To change people.  To open people’s hearts to endless possibilities.  To inspire hope and healing in even the hopeless.

I feel very grateful that I have written about Gavin since he was an infant… and then Brian… and even our sweet Darcy Claire.  My online journals are, essentially, beautiful eulogies to honor all of my children.  Because of that, I don’t feel the need to share specific memories or accomplishments about Gavin’s short life.  

I also know that I don’t have to tell you how utterly devastated we are.  How, as Gavin’s main advocate, I feel incredibly empty and useless at the moment.  My identity was wrapped up in all of Gavin’s many needs — and my wants for his life.  It will be a long and hard adjustment for me, I know.  We are both just heartbroken to have lost our son — and we ask for your prayers for wisdom and grace that we’ll handle this in a way that will be best for his little brother.

The reason I am standing up here today is to deliver what I feel will be the most important message of my life.  I hope it will be important to you, too.

We called Gavin our “Buddha Baby” – and it certainly wasn’t because he was chubby in any way.  He barely made it onto the growth chart.  We called him “Buddha Baby” because he just came with this quiet wisdom and inner peace that belied his years. Despite his many needs, Gavin was really a very easy child.  He went along with anything… smiled often… and loved everyone he met.   

I personally believe that we all come from this magical, unknown place full of wisdom and knowing. We arrive here with everything we need to know and a clear purpose set out for our lives.  I like to believe that ALL of our souls sat with God before we arrived here on Earth and together with Him created our life’s blueprint.  We chose what lessons we needed to learn, what message we wanted to deliver and what our mission should be.  Because I believe that, I have a different way of looking at my children.  I am able to see them as my greatest teachers.  

Ed and I often say – to each other and others – that Gavin saved our life.  We were two single people who met late in life, set in our ways and you could say we were rather self absorbed.  Enter this child – with all kinds of mysterious problems – that coincidentally required ALL of his Mommy and ALL of his Daddy.  It was impossible to stay self absorbed because Gavin needed us.  We were the perfect parents.  Not because we were good parents, don’t misunderstand.  We were the perfect parents because we were the two people in the whole world who were needing the lessons that Gavin would teach us the most.

Nothing happens by chance.  Gavin chose a Mommy who overshared in a very public way.  This little boy who never uttered a word had a very loud voice in me.  I wrote nearly every single day of his life — and shared some incredible moments.  It’s not every day you hear of a child with permanent hearing loss and itty bitty hearing aids have his hearing restored.  It’s not every day that three leading hospitals tell you your beautiful child will lose his eye or have a very noticeable and permanent scar after a severe corneal abrasion.  Gavin proved them wrong on both counts.  It’s not every day that a child with “the lowest tone I’ve ever seen,” said one of his doctors and who wasn’t expected to be able to sit up on his own would go on to take his first independent steps just before Christmas. Along the way, I wrote it all down.  And in doing so, parents and doctors and therapists and people all over the world were changed.  Not because of my writing — but because they found hope and inspiration in this little boy and his incredible journey.  And we, as his parents, we were changing too.  I truly believe that the multitude of people that were helped along the way were all part of the blueprint for Gavin’s life.  Because truly, we are all connected.

I have not had the chance to grasp what’s going on in Gavin’s name online — I have heard that people all over the world have been inspired by his story and doing wonderful acts to honor him.  People have been looking at me with wide eyes and saying, “You don’t realize, do you?”  But in a way – I think I do.  Because I can tell you this — if people all over the world are feeling even a fraction of what we have felt over these 5 1/2 years as Gavin’s Mommy and Daddy — inspired, lucky, blessed, hopeful – then my heart is full.  Gavin is continuing to change people.  Help people.  Heal people’s hearts… including ours. Choosing to donate his organs was the easiest and most difficult decision we have ever made.  Gavin was a helper and a healer his whole life.  To selfishly keep him from continuing to help and heal would not have honored him in any way.  It brought us great comfort to know that he died a hero — and that we were spreading around parts of his spirit to a very lucky recipient. His kidneys were successfully transplanted into a young 40 year old man who recovered nicely, I was told.

As many of you know, Gavin died on my birthday.  April 14th.  Although it seems like a tragic and cruel irony from the outside looking in — I was able to see it differently.  I was lucky enough to birth this beautiful soul into this world on his birthday… And it was a beautiful gift to me to help usher him into Heaven on mine.  I knew there that his body would experience a freedom that it couldn’t attain on earth.  There are always unexpected miracles along the way — even in the worst moments of your life.  If you take the time to look for them, you’ll find them in your life, too.  Gavin taught me that.  I’m just the messenger today.

The message here is not “go home and hug your kids because you don’t know how much time you have” — because we all do that. The true message here is don’t lose hope.  And never let anyone tell you that you can’t chase rainbows.  As I look out at this sea of faces, I know that each of you have been inspired by Gavin’s story.  Gavin, really, was everyone’s child and I was happy to share him with all of you.  But you can find hope and inspiration and important life lessons in your own lives.  In your children’s lives – young or old.  In your journeys — even when the path seems impossible to walk… like this one for us.  Everything is an opportunity to learn… to help others… to grow.  Gavin taught me that.  I’m just the messenger today.  And I will continue to be his voice until the last day of my life.

Gavin Leong — the Superhero — is off to save lives.  Even still.  But the first lives he saved were ours.

By Kate Long at Chasing Rainbows .

Example 1:  Sister’s Eulogy For Her Brother

Published romantic fiction author—Kathryn Barrett—was asked to write the eulogy for her brother Walter.

As she explains in her personal  blog , it was natural for her to write the eulogy given her prowess with a pen.

She says:  “It was a no-brainer that I would write a eulogy for my brother.  I am the writer in the family, and these last two weeks my writer’s mind has been organizing my thoughts into what passes for a eulogy as if by second nature.  It’s how I deal.

“I hesitated to post such a personal and lengthy post here, but then I realized my brother would have gotten a huge kick out of having his sister write about him.

“I was touched by how many people told me how he’d bragged about his sister the writer … I just wish I’d given him more to be proud of sooner.

“And that is perhaps the lesson of his life.  Don’t hesitate to take a risk, because one day it may be too late.  Regrets suck.”

Barrett adds that she has initialized the names of loved one mentioned in the eulogy in order to protect their privacy.

Here is her moving eulogy to her brother, Walter.

When asked about my brother Walter, I used to describe him by saying, “Children and dogs love him.”

And I think that’s about the finest thing that can be said about anyone.  Because dogs know—they have a sixth sense about who can be trusted.  And children feel—they feel in their heart who loves them, and recognize a kindred spirit.

I have a vivid memory of Walter, about 13 or 14, swinging some of the younger neighborhood kids around in his arms until they squealed with laughter.  He was a gentle giant, his stature unusual even for a well-fed suburban adolescent, his willingness to play with those many years younger even more unique.  

As his little sister, I basked in his popularity—when I wasn’t furious with him over some sibling spat.  We had a lot of those, but I only remember him hitting me once.  That was because I hid his Led Zeppelin albums.  I think everyone would agree I probably deserved it. 

I learned early on that my larger-than-life brother was invincible.  He could do anything, perform any daredevil trick, and survive.

One of my earliest memories is on the front porch at our house on Poplar Street.  I was about four, he was five or six and had just gotten his green banana seat bike.  I remember him telling me to watch while he showed me his latest trick—riding with no hands and no feet.  It was only a few seconds after his feet had left the pedals and his hands lifted from the steering wheel that the bike crashed to the ground.

My impressionable four-year-old eyes saw blood pouring from him in several places, his body rapidly turning black and blue. He became the monster of my nightmares, as he rose from the wreckage and walked across the yard.  I screamed and ran inside for my mother.  Of course I cried louder than he did, as was always the case.  My big brother wasn’t afraid of much.

Except shots.  The kind the doctor gives you.  When they took Walter in for his six-year-old vaccinations it took two nurses to hold him down.  As I watched him kicking and screaming, I knew there was No. Way I was getting any of that.  If my big, strong brother was afraid of that needle, then so was I. 

So when it came my turn I informed my mother that I wouldn’t be participating in this school-age ritual.  She didn’t press the issue, because frankly, after what she’d been through with Walter, a case of smallpox didn’t sound so bad. 

Walter was always testing boundaries, exploring the limits—which was excellent, because then I knew exactly where they were and I made sure I didn’t break the rules. 

The only time I was even allowed to enter my big brother’s realm was when [our young aunt] P. came to visit.  Then we were the irrepressible Three Musketeers, led by fearless Walter, while P. had all the great ideas.  I was happy to tag along, knowing any mischief we got into would be blamed on one of them.

We ran away from home, always coming back in time for supper; made daring midnight escapes over the backyard fence; and played a game we invented called “Guess the Shakespeare quote”.  I kid you not; Walter was an expert on Shakespeare before he even got to ninth grade.  I told you he had guts: believe me, it takes a lot of courage for a twelve-year-old boy to quote the Bard instead of Jimmy Page.

Walter also played the piano, his skill part inherited talent and part due to the incredible reach of those long hands.  He played beautifully, our grandmother MeeMaw, who doubled as our piano teacher, always said.  And she wouldn’t have lied, even though, I’m pretty sure, Walter was always her favorite. 

But his real talent was baseball. Little League baseball. 

Walter was the tallest in the blue uniform of Monroe Brick.  He played first base and pitcher, a southpaw who pitched many winning games.  And when the chips were down, bases loaded, we could count on Walter to hit the grand slams and bring them all home. 

After that incident on the bike, when he turned into a black and blue, blood spurting monster before my very eyes and then miraculously survived with nothing more than a few scrapes and some coveted BandAids, I decided my brother was indestructible. 

He could do anything, and with Evel Knievel as his hero, he tried lots of stunts that would have killed any other kid on a banana seat bike.  And the bike eventually turned into a mini bike, and then a bigger motorcycle, and then a Trans Am, which he wrecked one day when he fell asleep while driving home after a night shift.   He survived that, as well as any number of minor work-related accidents. 

He even survived a bad marriage, to his first wife whose name escapes me. 

But after that he married a wonderful woman named B., and then he got even luckier: His lovely daughter C. was born.  I don’t think there was ever a prouder father.  Finally, he had his OWN kid to play with!  To roughhouse on the floor with, to carry on his tall, tall shoulders, to view the world with the childlike wonder he never lost. 

I think life, then, was just about perfect for Walter. 

I still remember the night he called me, to tell me the doctors had found a lump in his chest.  They thought it was cancer.  But as he described to me this baseball-sized mass, I figured it really must be a baseball.  I could not comprehend the idea of life-threatening cancer and my big strong brother in the same sentence.  Nope.  They’d open him up and find an actual Rawlings baseball.  

It was lymphoma instead.  A large mass, pressing against his heart.  But it didn’t kill him.  And he left the hospital with something even more precious: a baby boy. B. had given birth to T. the day after Walter’s surgery.  How lucky can one man be?  Go into the hospital to have a lump cut out of your chest, and bring home another baby who fills your heart with joy. 

It was much later on that his third wife M. called to tell me that Walter had had a heart attack, at just 42.  Again, I greeted the news with some skepticism.  He’d survived terrible bike accidents, a car accident or two, and cancer.  And he survived a heart attack, going back to work eventually on the high rise buildings in Minneapolis he was so proud to have a part in constructing. 

Walter was a wonderful stepfather to two children, E. and L. And a great friend to his children’s friends, his friends’ children, anyone who shared his Peter Pan-like love of childish things. 

When they say people like to live on the edge, they were describing Walter.  Except Walter took that to mean he must live on the edge of a lake. He always lived near a body of water, from the time he was born on Poplar Street, next to the Ouachita River. 

Even when we were growing up in a neat suburban neighborhood, we lived near enough to Bayou DeSiard that when he was old enough, Walter would grab his fishing pole and ride his bike to the bayou and spend an afternoon fishing for bream.

When he was about 15, he was fishing in the bayou when he saw a man fall out of his boat.  Walter quickly reached over with his pole and helped pull the man to safety.   Walter was always lending a hand, to a stranger, to a friend, to his last love, P., who needed him as much as he needed her.

When Walter moved to Minnesota, there were plenty of lakes to choose from, and he lived on several.  In the winter, he literally lived ON the frozen lake, ice fishing in his ice house.

Eventually he moved back to Jones, where he was always happiest, next to the lake that eventually took his life.

Walter tempted death, from the time he was a kid on a bike, inventing stunts to impress his little sister, to the many times he drove all night after working a week on a boat on the Intracoastal canal, to the times he hung sheetrock high above the streets of Minneapolis in a fifty story building.

They say those who constantly cheat death are living life to the fullest.  Perhaps it’s the lack of fear that opens up one’s world, allows one to take risks that constrain lesser mortals.  Walter did live a full life, despite his too soon death.  He loved and embraced those around him, with those long arms and with his fearless heart.

Those of us who knew him, who loved him, who got angry with him, who worshiped him when he hit those grand slam home runs—we’ll miss the boy, and the man he turned out to be.  We’ll miss the gentle father, who cradled his babies against his hard chest while they slept, who taught his son to throw a baseball, who taught his daughter to ride a bike.

We’ll miss the friend, who was always quick with a funny line, who was always eager to go off on another adventure, who fought with us and loved us with equal passion.

We’ll miss the brother, the son, the boy who tested his limits, who brought home the trophies, who befriended and defended the neighborhood dogs and children.

We’ll mourn the man who’s gone, whom we lost so tragically, but we’ll remember him, and remember that above all, he would want us to remember him as he lived, on the edge of a lake and on the fearless edge of what was possible.

I’d like to read a poem, by Joyce Grenfell: 

If I should die before the rest of you

Break not a flower nor inscribe a stone

Nor, when I’m gone, speak in a Sunday voice,

But be the usual selves that I have known.

Weep if you must

Parting is hell.

But life goes on.

So sing as well.

Example 2:  Ted Kennedy’s Eulogy For His Brother, Robert F. Kennedy

After Robert F. Kennedy was tragically assassinated on June 6, 1968, a public memorial service was held so that the nation could collectively mourn this great loss.

Below is the moving eulogy penned and given by his brother, Ted Kennedy, as he was the closest to Robert among those in the Kennedy family.

Some of the moving lines that Ted wrote about his brother included:

• “He gave us strength in time of trouble, wisdom in time of uncertainty, and sharing in time of happiness.  He will always be by our side.”
• “Love is not an easy feeling to put into words.  Nor is loyalty, or trust, or joy.  But he was all of these. He loved life completely and he lived it intensely.”

Your Eminences, Your Excellencies, Mr. President:

On behalf of Mrs. Kennedy, her children, the parents and sisters of Robert Kennedy, I want to express what we feel to those who mourn with us today in this Cathedral and around the world.

We loved him as a brother, and as a father, and as a son.  From his parents, and from his older brothers and sisters—Joe and Kathleen and Jack—he received an inspiration which he passed on to all of us.  

He gave us strength in time of trouble, wisdom in time of uncertainty, and sharing in time of happiness.  He will always be by our side.

Love is not an easy feeling to put into words.  Nor is loyalty, or trust, or joy.  But he was all of these.  He loved life completely and he lived it intensely.

A few years back, Robert Kennedy wrote some words about his own father which expresses the way we in his family felt about him.  He said of what his father meant to him, and I quote:

‘What it really all adds up to is love—not love as it is described with such facility in popular magazines, but the kind of love that is affection and respect, order and encouragement, and support.  

Our awareness of this was an incalculable source of strength, and because real love is something unselfish and involves sacrifice and giving, we could not help but profit from it.’

And he continued,

‘Beneath it all, he has tried to engender a social conscience. There were wrongs which needed attention.  There were people who were poor and needed help.  And we have a responsibility to them and to this country.

Through no virtues and accomplishments of our own, we have been fortunate enough to be born in the United States under the most comfortable conditions.  We, therefore, have a responsibility to others who are less well off.’

That is what Robert Kennedy was given.  What he leaves to us is what he said, what he did, and what he stood for.  A speech he made to the young people of South Africa on their Day of Affirmation in 1966 sums it up the best, and I would like to read it now:

‘There is discrimination in this world and slavery and slaughter and starvation.  Governments repress their people; millions are trapped in poverty while the nation grows rich and wealth is lavished on armaments everywhere.

These are differing evils, but they are the common works of man.  They reflect the imperfection of human justice, the inadequacy of human compassion, our lack of sensibility towards the suffering of our fellows. 

But we can perhaps remember — even if only for a time — that those who live with us are our brothers; that they share with us the same short moment of life; that they seek — as we do — nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose and happiness, winning what satisfaction and fulfillment they can.

Surely, this bond of common faith, this bond of common goal, can begin to teach us something.  Surely, we can learn, at least, to look at those around us as fellow men.  

And surely we can begin to work a little harder to bind up the wounds among us and to become in our own hearts brothers and countrymen once again.  

The answer is to rely on youth — not a time of life but a state of mind, a temper of the will, a quality of imagination, a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the love of ease.  

The cruelties and obstacles of this swiftly changing planet will not yield to the obsolete dogmas and outworn slogans.  

They cannot be moved by those who cling to a present that is already dying, who prefer the illusion of security to the excitement and danger that come with even the most peaceful progress.

It is a revolutionary world we live in, and this generation at home and around the world has had thrust upon it a greater burden of responsibility than any generation that has ever lived.  

Some believe there is nothing one man or one woman can do against the enormous array of the world’s ills.  Yet many of the world’s great movements, of thought and action, have flowed from the work of a single man.  

A young monk began the Protestant reformation; a young general extended an empire from Macedonia to the boarders of the earth; a young woman reclaimed the territory of France; and it was a young Italian explorer who discovered the New World, and the 32 year-old Thomas Jefferson who [pro]claimed that  “all men are created equal.”

These men moved the world, and so can we all.  Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.  

It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped.  

Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.

Few are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society.  Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence.  

Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change.  And I believe that in this generation those with the courage to enter the moral conflict will find themselves with companions in every corner of the globe.

For the fortunate among us, there is the temptation to follow the easy and familiar paths of personal ambition and financial success so grandly spread before those who enjoy the privilege of education.  

But that is not the road history has marked out for us.  Like it or not, we live in times of danger and uncertainty.  But they are also more open to the creative energy of men than any other time in history.  

All of us will ultimately be judged, and as the years pass we will surely judge ourselves on the effort we have contributed to building a new world society and the extent to which our ideals and goals have shaped that event.

The future does not belong to those who are content with today, apathetic toward common problems and their fellow man alike, timid and fearful in the face of new ideas and bold projects.  

Rather it will belong to those who can blend vision, reason and courage in a personal commitment to the ideals and great enterprises of American Society.    Our future may lie beyond our vision, but it is not completely beyond our control.  

It is the shaping impulse of America that neither fate nor nature nor the irresistible tides of history, but the work of our own hands, matched to reason and principle, that will determine our destiny.  

There is pride in that, even arrogance, but there is also experience and truth.  In any event, it is the only way we can live.’

That is the way he lived.  That is what he leaves us.

My brother need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life; to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it.

Those of us who loved him and who take him to his rest today, pray that what he was to us and what he wished for others will some day come to pass for all the world.

As he said many times, in many parts of this nation, to those he touched and who sought to touch him:

‘Some men see things as they are and say why.  I dream things that never were and say why not.’”

Example 1:  Charles Earl Spencer’s Eulogy For His Sister, Princess Diana

Princess Diana was loved around the world, and known for her style, beauty, and extensive charitable work.  She tragically died in a car accident in Paris at the age of 36, after her vehicle was chased by paparazzi.

Her funeral was held at  Westminster Abbey.  In his eulogy, her brother beautifully captured everything about Diana that made her special and unique:

• “She was a symbol of selfless humanity”;
• She “brightened our lives”;
• She had a  “wonderfully mischievous sense of humor with a laugh that bent you double”; and
• Our particular favourite line:  “Your joy for life transmitted where ever you took your smile and the sparkle in those unforgettable eyes.”

We provide below the full text of Earl Spencer’s eulogy in hopes that it serves as a great example of how to write a tribute to a beloved sister who has passed away.

I stand before you today, the representative of a family in grief in a country in mourning before a world in shock.

We are all united not only in our desire to pay our respects to Diana but rather in our need to do so.

For such was her extraordinary appeal that the tens of millions of people taking part in this service all over the world via television and radio who never actually met her, feel that they too lost someone close to them in the early hours of Sunday morning.  

It is a more remarkable tribute to Diana than I can ever hope to offer her today.

Diana was the very essence of compassion, of duty, of style, of beauty.  

All over the world she was a symbol of selfless humanity.  All over the world, a standard bearer for the rights of the truly downtrodden, a very British girl who transcended nationality.  

Someone with a natural nobility who was classless and who proved in the last year that she needed no royal title to continue to generate her particular brand of magic.

Today is our chance to say thank you for the way you brightened our lives, even though God granted you but half a life.  

We will all feel cheated always that you were taken from us so young and yet we must learn to be grateful that you came along at all.  

Only now that you are gone do we truly appreciate what we are now without and we want you to know that life without you is very, very difficult.

We have all despaired at our loss over the past week and only the strength of the message you gave us through your years of giving has afforded us the strength to move forward.

There is a temptation to rush to canonize your memory, there is no need to do so.  You stand tall enough as a human being of unique qualities not to need to be seen as a saint. 

Indeed to sanctify your memory would be to miss out on the very core of your being, your wonderfully mischievous sense of humor with a laugh that bent you double.

Your joy for life transmitted where ever you took your smile and the sparkle in those unforgettable eyes. Your boundless energy which you could barely contain.

But your greatest gift was your intuition and it was a gift you used wisely.  

This is what underpinned all your other wonderful attributes and if we look to analyze what it was about you that had such a wide appeal we find it in your instinctive feel for what was really important in all our lives.

Without your God-given sensitivity we would be immersed in greater ignorance at the anguish of AIDS and H.I.V. sufferers, the plight of the homeless, the isolation of lepers, the random destruction of land mines.

Diana explained to me once that it was her innermost feelings of suffering that made it possible for her to connect with her constituency of the rejected.  

And here we come to another truth about her.  For all the status, the glamour, the applause, Diana remained throughout a very insecure person at heart, almost childlike in her desire to do good for others so she could release herself from deep feelings of unworthiness of which her eating disorders were merely a symptom.

The world sensed this part of her character and cherished her for her vulnerability whilst admiring her for her honesty.

The last time I saw Diana was on July 1, her birthday in London, when typically she was not taking time to celebrate her special day with friends but was guest of honor at a special charity fund-raising evening. 

She sparkled of course, but I would rather cherish the days I spent with her in March when she came to visit me and my children in our home in South Africa.  

I am proud of the fact apart from when she was on display meeting President Mandela we managed to contrive to stop the ever-present paparazzi from getting a single picture of her—that meant a lot to her.

These were days I will always treasure.  It was as if we had been transported back to our childhood when we spent such an enormous amount of time together—the two youngest in the family.

Fundamentally she had not changed at all from the big sister who mothered me as a baby, fought with me at school and endured those long train journeys between our parents’ homes with me at weekends.

It is a tribute to her level-headedness and strength that despite the most bizarre-like life imaginable after her childhood, she remained intact, true to herself.

There is no doubt that she was looking for a new direction in her life at this time.  She talked endlessly of getting away from England, mainly because of the treatment that she received at the hands of the newspapers.  

I don’t think she ever understood why her genuinely good intentions were sneered at by the media, why there appeared to be a permanent quest on their behalf to bring her down.  It is baffling. 

My own and only explanation is that genuine goodness is threatening to those at the opposite end of the moral spectrum. 

It is a point to remember that of all the ironies about Diana, perhaps the greatest was this—a girl given the name of the ancient goddess of hunting was, in the end, the most hunted person of the modern age.

She would want us today to pledge ourselves to protecting her beloved boys William and Harry from a similar fate and I do this here Diana on your behalf.  We will not allow them to suffer the anguish that used regularly to drive you to tearful despair.

And beyond that, on behalf of your mother and sisters, I pledge that we, your blood family, will do all we can to continue the imaginative and loving way in which you were steering these two exceptional young men so that their souls are not simply immersed by duty and tradition, but can sing openly as you planned.

We fully respect the heritage into which they have both been born and will always respect and encourage them in their royal role.  

But we, like you, recognize the need for them to experience as many different aspects of life as possible to arm them spiritually and emotionally for the years ahead.  I know you would have expected nothing less from us.

William and Harry, we all cared desperately for you today.  We are all chewed up with the sadness at the loss of a woman who was not even our mother.  How great your suffering is, we cannot even imagine.

I would like to end by thanking God for the small mercies he has shown us at this dreadful time.  For taking Diana at her most beautiful and radiant and when she had joy in her private life.  

Above all we give thanks for the life of a woman I am so proud to be able to call my sister, the unique, the complex, the extraordinary and irreplaceable Diana whose beauty, both internal and external, will never be extinguished from our minds.

Example 2:  Ted Kennedy’s Eulogy For His Sister-In-Law, Jacqueline Kennedy Onnassis

To us, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was one of the most famous women in our century.  But to the Kennedy clan, she was simply a beloved family member and friend.

Jackie died at the age of 64 after a brave battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of cancer.  She died at home surrounded by her family and friends.

Her funeral was held a few blocks away from her Manhattan apartment on May 23, 1994, at St. Ignatius Loyola.  She had been baptized in that very same parish in 1929, and was confirmed there as a teenager.

At her funeral, Ted Kennedy gave a glowing eulogy about his former sister-in-law.  Some of the beautiful lines he wrote about her included:

• “She was always there for our family in her special way.”
• “No one else looked like her, spoke like her, wrote like her, or was so original in the way she did things.  No one we knew ever had a better sense of self.”
• “[Her husband] took such delight in her brilliance and her spirit.”
• “Her love for [her daughter and son] was deep and unqualified. She revelled in their accomplishments; she hurt with their sorrows; she felt sheer joy and delight in spending time with them. At the mere mention of one of their names, Jackie’s eyes would shine brighter and her smile would grow bigger. She once said that if you “bungle raising your children nothing else much matters in life.” She didn’t bungle. Once again, she showed how to do the most important thing of all, and do it right.”
• “She had a wonderful sense of humor — a way of focusing on someone with total attention—and a little girl delight in who they were and what they were saying.  It was a gift of herself that she gave to others.”

If you are writing a eulogy for a beloved sister-in-law who has passed away, we hope you find Mr. Kennedy’s eulogy to be an inspirational example.

John and Caroline, Ed [Schlossberg] and Maurice [Tempelsman], members of the family, Mrs. Clinton, members of the clergy, and friends:

Last summer, when we were on the upper deck on the boat at the Vineyard, waiting for President and Mrs. Clinton to arrive, Jackie turned to me and said:

‘Teddy, you go down and greet the President.’

But I said: ‘Maurice is already there.’

And Jackie answered with a smile: ‘Teddy, you do it. Maurice isn’t running for re-election.’

She was always there for our family in her special way. She was a blessing to us and to the nation—and a lesson to the world on how to do things right, how to be a mother, how to appreciate history, how to be courageous.  

No one else looked like her, spoke like her, wrote like her, or was so original in the way she did things.  No one we knew ever had a better sense of self.

Eight months before she married Jack, they went together to President Eisenhower’s Inaugural Ball.  Jackie said later that that’s where they decided they liked inaugurations.

No one ever gave more meaning to the title of ‘First Lady.’  The nation’s capital city looks as it does because of her.  She saved Lafayette Square and Pennsylvania Avenue.  The ‘National Cultural Center’ was her cause before it was ‘The Kennedy Center’.  Jackie brought the greatest artists to the White House, and brought the arts to the center of national attention.  

Today, in large part because of her inspiration and vision, the arts are an abiding part of national policy.

President Kennedy took such delight in her brilliance and her spirit.  At a White House dinner, he once leaned over and told the wife of the French Ambassador, “Jackie speaks fluent French.  But I only understand one out of every five words she says—and that word is ‘DeGaulle.’

And then, during those four endless days in 1963, she held us together as a family and a country. 

In large part because of her, we could grieve and then go on.  She lifted us up, and in the doubt and darkness, she gave her fellow citizens back their pride as Americans.  She was then 34 years old.

Afterward, as the eternal flame she lit flickered in the autumn of Arlington Cemetery, Jackie went on to do what she most wanted—to raise Caroline and John, and warm her family’s life and that of all the Kennedys.

Robert Kennedy sustained her, and she helped make it possible for Bobby to continue.  She kept Jack’s memory alive and he carried Jack’s mission on.

Her two children turned out to be extraordinary: honest, unspoiled, and with a character equal to hers.  And she did it in the most trying circumstances.  They are her two miracles.

Her love for Caroline and John was deep and unqualified.  She revelled in their accomplishments; she hurt with their sorrows; she felt sheer joy and delight in spending time with them.  

At the mere mention of one of their names, Jackie’s eyes would shine brighter and her smile would grow bigger.  

She once said that if you “bungle raising your children nothing else much matters in life.”  She didn’t bungle.  Once again, she showed how to do the most important thing of all, and do it right.

When she went to work, Jackie became a respected professional in the world of publishing.   And because of her, remarkable books came to life.  And she searched out new authors and ideas.  

She was interested in everything.  Her love of history became a devotion to historic preservation.  You knew, when Jackie joined the cause to save a building in Manhattan, the bulldozers might as well turn around and go home.

She had a wonderful sense of humor—a way of focusing on someone with total attention—and a little girl delight in who they were and what they were saying.  It was a gift of herself that she gave to others.  And in spite of all of her heartache and loss, she never faltered.

I often think of what she said about Jack in December after he died:  ‘They made him a legend, when he would have preferred to be a man.’  

Jackie would have preferred to be just herself, but the world insisted that she be a legend too.  

She never wanted public notice—in part I think, because it brought back painful memories of unbearable sorrow endured in the glare of a million lights.  

In all the years since then, her genuineness and depth of character continued to shine through the privacy, and reach people everywhere.

Jackie was too young to be a widow in 1963, and too young to die now.  

Her grandchildren were bringing new joy to her life, a joy that illuminated her face whenever you saw them together.  

Whether it was taking Rose and Tatiana for an ice cream cone, or taking a walk in Central Park with little Jack as she did last Sunday, she relished being “Grandjackie” and showering her grandchildren with love.

At the end, she worried more about us than herself.  She let her family and friends know she was thinking of them.  How cherished were those wonderful notes in her distinctive hand on her powder blue stationary.

In truth, she did everything she could—and more—for each of us.   She made a rare and noble contribution to the American spirit.  

But for us, most of all she was a magnificent wife, a mother, a grandmother, a sister, aunt, and friend.

She graced our history.  And for those of us who knew and loved her—she graced our lives.

Example 1:  A Grandson’s Eulogy For His Grandpa

Today, I have the honor of reintroducing you to Francis Alois Buechel—better known to many as “Pa”. 

Born December 3, 1928. Son of Edwin and Helen, brother of Viola, Husband to Alice, Father of six children, 17 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, friend and storyteller to all else who meet him.

We are here today to remember the life and legacy he leaves on the earth.  It was a long and simple life: never complex and always with good, honest intentions.

I would like to reflect on the person Grandpa was.  

I could stand here for the better part of the day and reminisce about all the stories grandpa was either part of or he told, and for those who knew Grandpa, you understand how long those stories could be. 

We will cover some of those, but overall I would like to remember the person grandpa was and what he has done for everyone he met.

Grandpa was above all else a family man, followed very closely by storyteller.  

He had the ability to have a witty comeback for almost any conversation, something that he definitely passed on to everyone in the family.  

You never knew what little pun he had just waiting for the conversation, but you knew there would be one, followed by that smile and laugh you just knew he loved to show off.

Family man is a term not appreciated nearly enough these days.  Today, there is more emphasis put on who we are and what we accomplish.  Grandpa though, was the epitome of how great and unselfish it is to put those in your family first. 

Grandma and Grandpa never asked for much.  They drove plain, simple vehicles, lived in a modest home, and never took anything in life for granted. 

Grandma and Grandpa put everyone in their family first.  

I have heard the story a hundred times about grandpa selling the business to the boys.  It was always presented as him seeing the boys wanting to grow the business and move it at a pace he wasn’t really interested in. 

He was happy with how things were, so he sold it to them so they could expand and grow the business the way they felt best…

Now I was barely even alive at this point, so I am going to take the following assumption from what I knew about Grandpa and what made him tick.

I personally believe the sale of the business had more to do with Grandpa wanting to keep everyone happy and keep peace in the family. 

Knowing Grandpa, I don’t think it was in his nature to just give something like that over when he was so young. 

Grandpa, was of course, a very driven person.  You do not become the largest pig farmer in a whole county by being ok with “average”. 

You do not pay off a bank loan on your first splitter ahead of schedule, when you were first told by the bank “we aren’t going to give you the money because you will fail”. 

No—Grandpa had a work ethic and drive that he was very modest about.  So why then would grandpa sell his business that he developed into a success?  I believe it was because his love of his family and desire to keep the peace with his boys.

It was not only this act that showed what a family man grandpa was.  If there was a holiday to be celebrated by Grandma and Grandpa you were pretty sure it wasn’t going to be on the actual day—Christmas was never Christmas day. 

This way everyone in the family could celebrate with their other family’s on that day. 

Grandpa, was of course, all about keeping the peace in the family.  I don’t know if we all really thought about it that way. 

It’s easy to just dismiss it and say it’s what our family does, not really thinking about why.  That’s ok, It keeps the peace then, just as Grandpa wanted it.

Grandpa was also a very devote husband to his wife. 

They used to go to the mall every Sunday, just to walk around and hold hands, and maybe buy grandma a piece of jewelry at JCPenny’s. 

I don’t honestly know if I ever really saw one without the other.  Just like going to their house, if you came to the door, chances are they were at the table together, grandpa at the head of the table, grandma to the right. 

They had a life together that was inspirational.  Sure through the years I’m sure there were issues they had to work through.  No matter the issue, they made the most of their life together. 

Even these last few days, the love you could see in Grandma’s eye’s for this man she went through life with was nothing short of amazing. 

Grandpa hanging on to allow grandma time to smile at him and gently hold her hand one day longer.  We can all learn from them, our time together is short, even 63 years together is barely a blip in the realm of the world.

Some say it’s what you leave on this earth that shows what you did with your life. 

What Grandpa was able to help me see is it is more important to grow old with style and dignity, and give everything you can to the people you love. 

Now, Grandpa would likely state how difficult it was in his golden years: hard to breath—coughing those three deep coughs in a row over and over that made you think a lung would spit right out on the table. 

Yes, no amount of bee pollen pills were going to make him feel better… (but of course to him they did). 

Grandpa grew old with dignitary because he kept his wife happy.  He’d chauffeur Grandma and her sister’s around like they were rock stars—it was always funny when he’d stop at work with them—he’s have the biggest grin on his face! 

Grandpa made sure grandma was happy, and that is something that we should all take pride in.  It was never about individual accomplishment with him, it was about their life together.

I would never say I was the closest in the family with grandpa, or the best grand kid, but what I would say is there is no one else in the world I would have wanted as a grandpa. 

He taught all of us in the family what it meant to do an honest day’s work. I can remember as a youngster playing outside on a Saturday or Sunday watching grandpa drive his little Massey Ferguson forklift to his quarry on Paradise road. 

He’d get together a pallet of stone, and then drive back to work to do what he needed with it. 

Work had to be done, and if there was time, it needed to get taken care of. 

He was not one to sit still too long, whether it was to saw stone, or later in his career driving his single axle truck he was so proud of, he’d make sure he did his job.

As a sidenote—Grandpa was a perfectionist that would drive us non-perfectionist absolutely crazy. 

Loading grandpa’s truck was an art form, and if you had something a little out of place he’d make sure you knew it… every pallet had a place, every strap had a location, every load an exact drop spot to be delivered to. 

Grandpa’s maps were a source of extreme pride for him…  Don’t try to give Grandpa a direction that didn’t have an exact route. 

I’ll never forget how excited he was when he got a Calumet County road map that had every road and route you could take. 

When being “the gofer”—pa’s nickname for himself because he would “go for” whatever was needed at work, it wouldn’t matter where he was going or how many times he had been there—those maps were getting whipped out. 

For those of you who knew Dick Kaiser, those two going around and around about how to get to a job site was always a battle to the end.  The man who couldn’t give a direction with the man that couldn’t get there without..

Anyway—back to my point from before—it wouldn’t be a eulogy about grandpa without a random story getting thrown in the middle.

Grandpa taught all of us the importance of being honest in our work, and doing the best job you can. 

When Grandpa was getting older he got into woodworking, specifically doll cradles and Christmas mangers.  Grandpa was always so proud of the work he put into these. 

His mangers were a thing of beauty, taking old barn board off his barn and cutting them down to the last piece of wood he could get out of them. 

He had an assembly process for making those mangers down to a science that Henry Ford would have been impresses with.

Did I mention grandpa was fickle? 

I loved the way he would save every little piece of wood and nothing would go to waste. 

I cleaned out grandma and grandpa’s car garage this past year… what a good laugh I had inside.  That man saved every little scrap piece of wood you could imagine.  

It was so funny because he was feeling pretty good the day I did it, so sure enough, grandpa made his way to the basement to see how I was doing, or more likely, what I was doing. 

I loaded the wood onto a pallet, and as I was taking the pallet away from the house a cutoff shovel handle rolled off the pallet. Of course grandpa picked it up and said, “I’ll keep this one piece, I might need this yet.”  

But I digress… I’m certain I have grandpa’s random storytelling and smart alack dysfunction too…

So in concluding our memory on the life of “Pa” Buechel, I want you all to remember that he was one of the best people you may ever have had the honor of meeting. 

I understand that’s a bold statement, but I believe it to be very true. 

The people that make the biggest impact in the world are people like grandpa—honest, truthful, and putting the needs of their family first, it’s bigger than I think Pa even realized.

Remember, this is a man who likely did not realize how big a deal it was that he took a risk and made a decision that affected thousands of people. 

As Rick Schneider, a salesperson at Buechel Stone was told by one of his customers: “That very decision Francis made that day to buy a stone splitter did not just change you and me, it changed the stone industry”… 

Yet I stand here telling you that decision was not nearly as significant for everyone here as the decision he made to love and care for his family. 

I know one thing for sure—Grandpa will always have my back.

By Mike Buechel at Buechel Stone Corp.

Example 2:  A Granddaughter’s Eulogy For Her Grandfather

Grandfathers are put into our lives in order to make better sense of the universe.  And my Grandfather certainly shaped the universe for myself and the rest of our family. 

Astronomer Dr. Michelle Thaller explains our position in the universe with the eloquent, yet literal sentiment—“We are dead stars, looking back up at the sky.”  Grandpa now having returned to the sky.

My Grandfather, like all of us, was a complex person.  He was someone many people would describe as gruff and serious.  

He didn’t always make the best first, second, or third impression, but his heart was always in the right place, whether he was ushering here at St. Mark or helping me clean rabbit cages or my cousins with their Boy Scout projects. 

But today, I want to talk about the Grandpa that I knew.

My Grandpa was the one who smiled for my photos—which he never did for Grandma; he always made sure to hop on the phone and say “I love you”; and he liked to joke that I was his favorite. 

(But let me pause here and draw back the curtain to spoil you for Grandpa’s hand.  He said this to all his grandchildren.  Sorry, brothers and cousins, if this takes away the magic.)

My Grandpa found his joy with his grandchildren, and it’s something that almost wasn’t.  

I’m the oldest grandchild.  When I was born over 30 years ago, my mother told him he wasn’t allowed to smoke or drink around me. 

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My Grandfather in all his infamous stubbornness took a “5 Day Plan to Stop Smoking” class from the Seventh Day Adventists and quit cold turkey.  Grandma recently gave me the certificate from the program, and I laughed a lot. 

Of course, Grandpa made something lots of people sincerely struggle with look like a day in the park with his granddaughter. 

Everyone now knows no single addiction can be curbed in five days.  But Grandpa stopped a 40-year-old habit because of his love for his grandchildren.

My Grandpa showed his love through actions. 

He built two of the homes I’ve lived in, showing me how to hammer nails.  Grandpa attended graduations, plays, birthday parties, 4-H fairs, piano recitals, and much more. 

He’d always help out where needed, whether buckling on my patent leather shoes or the time he disastrously attempted to brush my hair. 

Grandpa’s “get-it-done” attitude didn’t always mix with the delicate nature of grooming a 5-year-old.  But his attitude did get a lot things right: like my need for a drill, after I moved away from home, or when he built little wooden hidey-holes for my rabbits.

Many of the happiest times during my childhood were the weekends spent at my Grandparents’ home.  I’d sit in the passenger’s seat of my Grandpa’s pickup truck going from Bend to Eugene, chatting or singing his ear off with whatever was on my mind. 

Like my Grandpa, I’ve been full of opinions since day one. Opinions that my Grandpa and I were always honest and upfront with each other about.  

I’m pretty sure he was the first one to truthfully point out that I do not have the singing voice of an angel.

It’s an incredibly rare gift in life to find someone who you’re not afraid to talk to, because you know that they’ll always unconditionally love you and honestly root for your happiness as you shape it.  This was my Grandpa. 

We didn’t agree on everything, and yes, sometimes I got his gruff too.  But those were just moments, not lifetimes. My Grandpa understood that. 

While everyone else flipped out when I shaved my head at 16, my Grandpa took it all in stride.  He instead patted my head and told me that the texture reminded him of his childhood dog Fred. 

After all, my hair was a) already gone and b) would grow back.  Even in his disapproval, he was practical and loving.

While I’m sure my Grandpa would enjoy all this bragging about how much I love and miss him, he was never someone who appreciated the overly sentimental. 

He would much rather see everyone together and enjoying themselves.  Grandpa would like us to be doing something. 

So please join us, after this service concludes, at the Parish Center for food and fellowship.

By Erica McGillivray at  Silver of Ice .

Example 1:  A Granddaughter’s Eulogy For Her Grandma

This touching eulogy was written by journalist and business woman Lynne Meredith Golodner and hosted on her  blog .

Golodner’s special talent is in “telling stories of the moments in our lives” and in “helping us find meaning in the mundane”.

Her words beautifully capture the profound influence that a grandmother can have on our lives.

Our parents give us life.

Our grandparents give us a sense of who we are and where we came from. 

This week, as we said goodbye to Grandma Sheila, it hit me how incredibly lucky I have been to have my lovely grandmother with me for 42 years.  

Not only with me, but an integral, close part of my life.  

It is rare for a grandparent-grandchild relationship to be so essential and so long-lasting, but then, Grandma Sheila was that exceptional kind of person every single day of her life.

Until the last couple of years, my grandmother had more energy and interest in life than anyone I’ve ever known.  

When I was living in Washington, D.C. in my 20s, she and Grandpa Artie came to visit.  

They must have been in their 70s at the time, and we went all over town—shopping, dinner, movies.  

After seeing a Hitchcock film that Saturday night, Grandma and Grandpa said, “Ok, where are we going now?”

I was so exhausted that I insisted it was time for bed.  They looked at me with surprise—and disappointment—because they would have gone for dessert, coffee, more living, more life.

My grandmother was an incredible matriarch.  Really, she was the regal leader in our family.  

She baked and cooked and babysat and took us shopping and saw our new clothes when we were little.  S

he was always present, part of our everyday lives in such a tangible way.  

As a child, I had friends whose grandparents had retired to Florida and I remember feeling that while they were lucky enough to get a yearly trip to warmer weather, I was even luckier, because I had my grandparents all the time.

That constant loving presence really shapes a person.  

From our grandparents, we learn where we come from, we learn our history, we learn who we are.

Once, when I was 12, my grandmother took me for a day of shopping at Fairlane Mall.  

I was so excited to share with her my favorite music—early 1980s rap.   She agreed to play my radio station in her car as she drove us carefully down the Southfield Freeway.  

As we came up over a hill, we didn’t know there was a car stalled in the center lane.

Grandma reacted quickly, extended her arm in front of me to protect me, and with the other arm, masterfully steered around the car, spinning out across the three freeway lanes onto the shoulder.  It was terrifying.   The first car accident I had ever been in.  

The car stopped, she checked to make sure we were both ok, then leaned over and shut off the radio.

I felt terrible that my music caused my grandmother to get in an accident.  

Of course, it didn’t, and she told me that later, but she never said a harsh word.  

She simply pulled back onto the road and took us quietly to the mall and we spent the afternoon shopping and talking as if nothing had happened.

What made my grandmother special?  So wonderful?  Her elegance.  She always looked the picture of perfection and grace.  

She knew everyone in Detroit, and everyone knew her.  Even better, no one ever had a bad word to say about my grandmother.  

She loved deeply and fully, all of us.  She was the kind of person who just had more love in her heart for the more people who joined our lives. 

This story of my grandmother wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t pay homage to her incredible cooking.  It seemed anything she made was delicious—even my children thought her Campbell’s vegetable soup was amazing!

When I lived in New York, Grandma Sheila sent me Jacobson’s boxes full of her double-chocolate brownies and once, I made the mistake of bringing them to work—I barely got one for myself.

She taught me to make gefilte fish from scratch.  

I took this very seriously, as quite an honor, and showed up on a Sunday before Passover one year to help her chop the fish in her big wooden bowl, twice, so it came out extra fluffy.  

There were fish heads bobbing in a pot of boiling water and carrots cooking and so many steps in this assembly line process.

The apartment reeked of cooking fish and by the time we were done, so did I—my hair, my clothing, everything.  

I went home and showered to rid myself of the smell—but the next day at work, when I unzipped my purse that had been with me at Grandma’s apartment, out wafted the scent of fish.  For a week I carried that smell with me!

One year when I couldn’t make it home for Passover, I called Grandma Sheila for her matzo ball soup recipe.  

The secret, she said, was fresh dill. I wrote down everything she said and drove all over town looking for a whole pullet cut into eighths, parsnip, parsley root, everything she listed.

In my apartment, which I shared with one friend, I spent half a day cooking and when I finally sat down at our little table by myself with a steaming bowl in front of me, that first bite, full of dill, made me feel like I was at my grandparents’ Passover table, rather than alone in another city. 

My grandparents were a large part of the reason I moved back to Michigan.  After all, what is life without family to support you, to love you unconditionally, to be at your side through good and through bad?

As I have shared the news this week of my grandmother’s state, friends and colleagues have mentioned how old they were when they lost their grandparents.  The oldest was late 20s.

I come back to this notion that for 42 years, my grandmother has been an influential and important part of my life.  Until this last week, I hadn’t realized how truly exceptional that is.  Many marriages never last that long!

She is so much a part of who I am that even though I knew she would one day leave us, I can’t quite believe she is gone.

Grandma Sheila—you impacted my life in so many ways.  

You shaped who I am.  You shaped who my children are.  You influenced all of us so greatly.  

I will always love you and save a special corner of my heart to keep you with me.  

And I know we will miss you every day of our lives.

Example 2:  A Granddaughter’s Eulogy For Her Grandmother

Emma Garofalo wasn’t only a sister, a mother, wife, grandmother and friend.  She was a fighter, a believer, a teacher and a guide.  She was a perfectionist, an umpire, a comforter and a mentor. 

The reason she touched so many lives and affected so many people was due to her dynamic sense of being. 

In the same breath she could and would praise you and holler at you.  (And I’m sure we can all recall times when Emma has hollered at us for one thing or another). 

I’ve always thought of my grandmother as immortal.  We look up to our grandparents with a sense of awe as they represents so much history and so many memories. 

They are our living roots and their words weave the tapestry of not only their past, but our past as well. 

As time begins to show on the faces of our loved ones, we begin to listen more closely and seek out answers to questions we didn’t even know we had.  

I took the time to listen and as the tales began to unravel, I began to see the woman my grandmother was and how she was the heroine in her own autobiography. 

Her travels began at the age of 5 when she embarked upon the journey of a lifetime to Ellis Island in New York City from Novara, Sicily. Lady Liberty in all of her splendour was no match for a young and inquisitive Emma.  

It was here where she was given her first taste of America: a banana.  She decided she wasn’t keen on the yellow fruit.  It wasn’t until a few years later did she learn you weren’t meant to eat the skin.  

Unable to speak a word of English; nothing seemed to deter her.  When her mother passed away quite young, Emma rose to the challenge of raising her brother, Tony, and helped to shape him into the successful man he is today.  

Now, If anyone knows this family, they’ll know that the women may possess a slightly stubborn side.  I’m going to go ahead and blame Grandma for that trait.   

On a trip back to her hometown in Italy, she met the dashing (and probably mischievous) ex-serviceman, Carmelo Garofalo.

Her story with Carmelo involved a whirlwind of love letters, a $500 wedding dress bought in New York and a defiant trip back to Sicily to marry her Prince Charming. 

Her Uncle Ugo was the only person there to give her away—but she didn’t care.  She was always determined to have her own way. She was straight talking.  No one ever did tell Emma what to do. 

Most of you have probably heard the story of how Emma and Carmelo escaped a close shave in the middle of the Atlantic.   This was one of her favourite stories to tell. 

While scheduled to return to America in June, they learnt my mother, Susanna,  was to be born in May. they decided to take an earlier voyage on the Andrea Dora so Sue would be born in the United States. 

The journey they were meant to take in June ended In tragedy as the Andrea Dora sunk due to collision with another ship.  It would seem that that was the first of her nine lives. 

These are our favourite stories.   But this is only a snapshot of the millions of smiles, laughs, tears and exchanges we have experienced with Emma.  

What’s gotten us through the past few days are the stories we have all shared—reliving those moments where we laughed or cried with Emma. 

There were stories about the Wine Shop—which Mr DiCarlo owned but— in true Emma fashion—she ran.

Struggling to Find the Right Words? View Our Collection of 100+ Best Funeral Quotes

Tales of baking in a steamy kitchen and passing down family recipes to Uncle Chuck such as buckeyes, nut roll, biscotti and baelish.  She could never give you a full recipe if you asked though, as time had gifted her with precision.

One tale which made us smile was Uncle Chuck spending hours grinding walnuts for the assorted recipes.  There’s only so much grinding of nuts of that a man can take.  (That’s what he said anyways!) 

Many of us smiled at the memories of the Christmas Eve dinners she executed perfectly year after year, no matter how difficult it was to find the traditional seven fish. 

With a full house and 15 cars in the drive, you wouldn’t expect a carolling family to be left out in the cold.  We’ve all been present for a meal at Emma and Carmelo’s.  There’s no chance of hearing much of anything beyond the clanging and shouting at the dinner table. 

Sunday dinners were another tradition my grandparents prided themselves on.  Carmelo May have been in charge of the sauce and meatballs, but everyone knew is was Emma running the show. 

After a few hours she would tell you to get your kids and go home—she never was one for hiding her true feelings.  

She would tell you if you were wrong.  She would tell if you were right.  That is, of course, as long as your idea of right was also her idea of right.  You can’t find that kind of honesty now a days. 

Her love for her friends was unconditional—and she has a lot of friends.  Everyone knew they could count on Emma for one thing or another. 

Whether that be translating documents into Italian or English or looking after the kids.  She was always prepared to help a friend in need.   Of course, that went both ways. 

Not that I believe my mum, aunt and uncles ever misbehaved …. but I’ve heard tales that they couldn’t get away with anything.  She always found out—like she had eyes in every corner of Painesville.   

After 84 full years of life, she was the mother to five, Aunt to twelve, grandmother to six and nearly a great grandmother.  

She will be buried today with a blank cheque numbered 6984, as she always wanted money to spend in paradise. 

The number represents her six grandchildren, her nine Lives and her 84 years spent living her own adventure story.  

It’s Monday, grandma. The bank opened at 9. 

She fought cancer, survived a hit and run accident and even escaped a shipwreck.  Her life was lived to its fullest, just as we would expect from her, and that is evident by the many faces we see here today. 

God, faith and family were her most treasured possessions.  So it is only fitting that we join here today to give her the farewell she deserves. 

It’s said that those who touch our lives inspire us and love us.  And they do so for a lifetime. 

Today we honour and celebrate her life and her love.  Our lives more colourful because she was apart of it. 

We have the opportunity today to remember and share her treasured stories and know that it was all of us—her family and friends—who helped Emma live a long and happy life.

By Jennifer Berry at  Reflections of an Everyday Life .

Example 1: US President Barack Obama’s Eulogy For His Friend, Senator Ted Kennedy

Your Eminence, Vicki, Kara, Edward, Patrick, Curran, Caroline, members of the Kennedy family, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens:

Today we say goodbye to the youngest child of Rose and Joseph Kennedy.

The world will long remember their son Edward as the heir to a weighty legacy; a champion for those who had none; the soul of the Democratic Party; and the lion of the United States Senate—a man who graces nearly 1,000 laws, and who penned more than 300 laws himself.

But those of us who loved him, and ache with his passing, know Ted Kennedy by the other titles he held: Father. Brother. Husband. Grandfather. Uncle Teddy, or as he was often known to his younger nieces and nephews, “The Grand Fromage,” or “The Big Cheese.” 

I, like so many others in the city where he worked for nearly half a century, knew him as a colleague, a mentor, and above all, as a friend.

Ted Kennedy was the baby of the family who became its patriarch; the restless dreamer who became its rock. 

He was the sunny, joyful child who bore the brunt of his brothers’ teasing, but learned quickly how to brush it off. 

When they tossed him off a boat because he didn’t know what a jib was, six-year-old Teddy got back in and learned to sail. 

When a photographer asked the newly elected Bobby to step back at a press conference because he was casting a shadow on his younger brother, Teddy quipped, “It’ll be the same in Washington.”

That spirit of resilience and good humour would see Teddy through more pain and tragedy than most of us will ever know. 

He lost two siblings by the age of 16.  He saw two more taken violently from a country that loved them.  He said goodbye to his beloved sister, Eunice, in the final days of his life. 

He narrowly survived a plane crash, watched two children struggle with cancer, buried three nephews, and experienced personal failings and setbacks in the most public way possible.

It’s a string of events that would have broken a lesser man. 

And it would have been easy for Ted to let himself become bitter and hardened; to surrender to self-pity and regret; to retreat from public life and live out his years in peaceful quiet.  No one would have blamed him for that. 

But that was not Ted Kennedy. As he told us, “…[I]ndividual faults and frailties are no excuse to give in — and no exemption from the common obligation to give of ourselves.” 

Indeed, Ted was the “Happy Warrior” that the poet Wordsworth spoke of when he wrote:

As tempted more; more able to endure, As more exposed to suffering and distress; Thence, also, more alive to tenderness.

Through his own suffering, Ted Kennedy became more alive to the plight and the suffering of others—the sick child who could not see a doctor; the young soldier denied her rights because of what she looks like or who she loves or where she comes from. 

The landmark laws that he championed—the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, immigration reform, children’s health insurance, the Family and Medical Leave Act—all have a running thread. 

Ted Kennedy’s life work was not to champion the causes of those with wealth or power or special connections. 

It was to give a voice to those who were not heard; to add a rung to the ladder of opportunity; to make real the dream of our founding. 

He was given the gift of time that his brothers were not, and he used that gift to touch as many lives and right as many wrongs as the years would allow.

We can still hear his voice bellowing through the Senate chamber, face reddened, fist pounding the podium, a veritable force of nature, in support of health care or workers’ rights or civil rights. 

And yet, as has been noted, while his causes became deeply personal, his disagreements never did. While he was seen by his fiercest critics as a partisan lightning rod, that’s not the prism through which Ted Kennedy saw the world, nor was it the prism through which his colleagues saw Ted Kennedy. 

He was a product of an age when the joy and nobility of politics prevented differences of party and platform and philosophy from becoming barriers to cooperation and mutual respect—a time when adversaries still saw each other as patriots.

And that’s how Ted Kennedy became the greatest legislator of our time. 

He did it by hewing to principle, yes, but also by seeking compromise and common cause—not through deal-making and horse-trading alone, but through friendship, and kindness, and humour. 

There was the time he courted Orrin Hatch for support of the Children’s Health Insurance Program by having his chief of staff serenade the senator with a song Orrin had written himself; the time he delivered shamrock cookies on a china plate to sweeten up a crusty Republican colleague; the famous story of how he won the support of a Texas Committee chairman on an immigration bill. 

Teddy walked into a meeting with a plain manilla envelope, and showed only the chairman that it was filled with the Texan’s favourite cigars. When the negotiations were going well, he would inch the envelope closer to the chairman.

When they weren’t, he’d pull it back.

Before long, the deal was done.

It was only a few years ago, on St. Patrick’s Day, when Teddy buttonholed me on the floor of the Senate for my support of a certain piece of legislation that was coming up for vote.   I gave my pledge, but I expressed scepticism that it would pass. 

But when the roll call was over, the bill garnered the votes that it needed, and then some. 

I looked at Teddy with astonishment and asked how had he done it. He just patted me on the back and said, “Luck of the Irish.”

Of course, luck had little to do with Ted Kennedy’s legislative success; he knew that. 

A few years ago, his father-in-law told him that he and Daniel Webster just might be the two greatest senators of all time. 

Without missing a beat, Teddy replied, “What did Webster do?”

But though it is Teddy’s historic body of achievements that we will remember, it is his giving heart that we will miss. 

It was the friend and the colleague who was always the first to pick up the phone and say, “I’m sorry for your loss,” or “I hope you feel better,” or “What can I do to help?” 

It was the boss so adored by his staff that over 500, spanning five decades, showed up for his 75th birthday party.

It was the man who sent birthday wishes and thank-you notes and even his own paintings to so many who never imagined that a U.S. senator of such stature would take the time to think about somebody like them. 

I have one of those paintings in my private study off the Oval Office—a Cape Cod seascape that was a gift to a freshman legislator who had just arrived in Washington and happened to admire it when Ted Kennedy welcomed him into his office. 

That, by the way, is my second gift from Teddy and Vicki after our dog Bo. 

And it seems like everyone has one of those stories—the ones that often start with “You wouldn’t believe who called me today.”

Ted Kennedy was the father who looked not only after his own three children, but John’s and Bobby’s as well. 

He took them camping and taught them to sail.  He laughed and danced with them at birthdays and weddings; cried and mourned with them through hardship and tragedy; and passed on that same sense of service and selflessness that his parents had instilled in him. 

Shortly after Ted walked Caroline down the aisle and gave her away at the altar, he received a note from Jackie that read, “On you the carefree youngest brother fell a burden a hero would have begged to been spared.  We are all going to make it because you were always there with your love.”

Not only did the Kennedy family make it because of Ted’s love—he made it because of t heirs, especially because the love and the life he found in Vicki. 

After so much loss and so much sorrow, it could not have been easy for Ted to risk his heart again. 

And that he did is a testament to how deeply he loved this remarkable woman from Louisiana.  And she didn’t just love him back.  As Ted would often acknowledge, Vicki saved him. 

She gave him strength and purpose; joy and friendship; and stood by him always, especially in those last, hardest days.  

We cannot know for certain how long we have here.

We cannot foresee the trials or misfortunes that will test us along the way.  

We cannot know what God’s plan is for us.

What we can do is to live out our lives as best we can with purpose, and with love, and with joy. 

We can use each day to show those who are closest to us how much we care about them, and treat others with the kindness and respect that we wish for ourselves. 

We can learn from our mistakes and grow from our failures.  

And we can strive at all costs to make a better world, so that someday, if we are blessed with the chance to look back on our time here, we know that we spent it well; that we made a difference; that our fleeting presence had a lasting impact on the lives of others.

This is how Ted Kennedy lived.  This is his legacy. 

He once said, as has already been mentioned, of his brother Bobby that he need not be idealized or enlarged in death because what he was in life—and I imagine he would say the same about himself. 

The greatest expectations were placed upon Ted Kennedy’s shoulders because of who he was, but he surpassed them all because of who he became. 

We do not weep for him today because of the prestige attached to his name or his office. 

We weep because we loved this kind and tender hero who persevered through pain and tragedy—not for the sake of ambition or vanity; not for wealth or power; but only for the people and the country that he loved.

In the days after September 11th, Teddy made it a point to personally call each one of the 177 families of this state who lost a loved one in the attack. 

But he didn’t stop there.  He kept calling and checking up on them.  He fought through red tape to get them assistance and grief counselling. 

He invited them sailing, played with their children, and would write each family a letter whenever the anniversary of that terrible day came along.  

To one widow, he wrote the following:

“As you know so well, the passage of time never really heals the tragic memory of such a great loss, but we carry on, because we have to, because our loved ones would want us to, and because there is still light to guide us in the world from the love they gave us.”

We carry on.

Ted Kennedy has gone home now, guided by his faith and by the light of those that he has loved and lost. 

At last he is with them once more, leaving those of us who grieve his passing with the memories he gave, the good that he did, the dream he kept alive, and a single, enduring image—the image of a man on a boat, white mane tousled, smiling broadly as he sails into the wind, ready for whatever storms may come, carrying on toward some new and wondrous place just beyond the horizon. 

May God bless Ted Kennedy, and may he rest in eternal peace.

Example 2: Woman’s Eulogy For A Life-Long Friend

I experienced a deep loss on December 9, 2015. Raymond Casanova Penfield, a lifelong friend, passed away on that day at the age of ninety-eight.

Ray was an extraordinary man.  He and my dad became friends right after WWII. 

They were both marketing guys in Chicago.  Ray was already married: he had asked Thelma to be his wife the day Pearl Harbor was bombed. 

He went back to Europe right after their wedding and ended up serving on the ground in Europe for five years, all the way through the Allied campaign in Italy.

They lived the high life in post-war Chicago: clubs and dinners and dancing. 

Ray and Thelma would double date with my dad and whomever he was going out with at the time. They were the first couple to meet my mom when she came into the picture.

When Ray and Thelma started a family, they moved to California to begin a new life. 

A few years later, my folks followed. (My sister and I were toddlers, about the same age as their two daughters.) 

Ray was just the kind of guy to invite us to live with them in Berkeley.  The four of them and the four of us were inseparable. 

Afterwards, he offered us the use of their little rustic cabin in Tahoe for as long as we wanted.

Things didn’t work out for my dad in California, so we moved back to Chicago.  But the friendship continued. 

Every summer, we would make the cross-country drive to San Francisco.  Ray opened his home to us.  

I have a flood of memories of summer days with Ray taking time to take us everywhere and summer evenings filled wonderful dinners and loads of laughter.

I moved to the Bay Area to go to college.  

Ray was the one who had written me the reference that I’m sure caught the Stanford admissions’ eyes.  Ray was the one to pick me up at the airport.  Ray was the one who made sure their home was my home. 

And as my relationship with my dad became more and more strained, Ray was the one who listened.  Ray was the one who held my hand.  Ray was the rock for me.

When my mom died, there was no question that her service would be held in their home.  (My parents had since retired to the Bay Area.)  We all gathered in the living room and spoke of her and the intertwining of our lives.

Al and I became engaged, and I brought him to meet Ray and Thelma.  The two of them opened their hearts to us.  We watched how they were together. 

Ray was a great punster and loved to make Thelma laugh.  They hugged each other and went out their way to be kind to each other.  Neither of us had experienced this in our own families.  We learned about how to love, how to be married. 

Ray again offered his home to us: we held our California wedding ceremony in the same living room.

We stayed with Ray for a while after Thelma passed away.  

We went through boxes full of his family photographs, the three of us sitting on the floor of his closet.  He told us stories of his life.  

How he was a boy soprano in a cathedral choir in New York City.  How he met Thelma.  How he joined the Army.  How he created a fake milk product called Klim, i.e. milk spelled backwards.  How he was part of the early days of bringing BART to the Bay Area.

Ray had a piece of very good fortune when he was in his eighties.  The inheritance that had been denied him for family reasons when he went off to war was finally released when his sister passed away. 

He now had the financial freedom to do what he had wanted to do since he was a child: sing.

He started taking piano lessons.  He traveled to London to visit his daughter, a cabaret singer on the European club circuit.  He wrote songs and performed them.  He recorded and created a Facebook Page to post his videos. 

He lived with an infectious enthusiasm, still making puns, still generous, and filled with even more wisdom.

The last time Al and I had dinner with Ray, we told him how he and Thelma had changed our lives. 

He wouldn’t take any credit, saying that he, too, had made mistakes. 

On one of his very last days, though, he said that he had heard Thelma talking to him.  She was telling him how happy she was that she would see him soon.

Who is your family? It may not be the people you are related to by blood. 

If you need to, you might find real parents when you when you look beyond your birth certificate. 

You might find other siblings all around you when your own have betrayed you. 

It may be someone who gives you a new way to see the world.  It may be someone who loves you unconditionally, happy when you are happy, there for you when you are lost.

And you, too, can be family to those who don’t have they ones they should. 

Be kind, be generous.  Open your home.  Share your wisdom.  Share your laughter.  Show what it means to truly love.

By Nancy Houfek at  Nancy Houfek .

Example 3: Former President Barack Obama’s Eulogy For His Friend, Congressman Elijah Cummings

To the bishop, and the first lady, and the New Psalmist family, to the Cummings family, Maya, Mr. President, Madam Secretary, Madam Speaker, governor, friends, colleagues, staff.

The seed on good soil, the parable of the sower tells us, stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. The seed on good soil.

Elijah Cummings came from good soil. And in this sturdy frame, goodness took root. His parents were sharecroppers from the South. They picked tobacco and strawberries, and then sought something better in this city, South Baltimore. Robert worked shifts at a plant, and Ruth cleaned other people’s homes. They became parents of seven, preachers to a small flock. I remember I had the pleasure of meeting Elijah’s mother, Ruth, and she told me she prayed for me every day, and I knew it was true, and I felt better for it. Sometimes people say they are praying for you, and you don’t know. They might be praying about you, but you don’t know if they are praying for you. But I knew Miss Ruth was telling the truth.

So they were the proverbial salt of the earth, and they passed on that strength and that grit, but also that kindness and that faith to their son. As a boy, Elijah’s dad made him shine his shoes and tie his tie, and they’d go to the airport—not to board the airplanes, but to watch others do it. I remember Elijah telling me this story. Robert would say, “I have not flied. I may not fly, but you will fly one day. We can’t afford it right now, but you will fly.”

His grandmother—as Elijah related—and as grandmothers do, was a little more impatient with her advice. Your daddy, she said, “he’s been waiting and waiting for a better day. Don’t you wait.” And Elijah did not wait. Against all odds, Elijah earned his degrees. He learned about the rights that all people in this country are supposed to possess, with a little help, apparently, from Perry Mason. Elijah became a lawyer to make sure that others had rights, and his people had their God-given rights, and from the statehouse to the House of Representatives, his commitment to justice and the rights of others would never, ever waver.

Elijah’s example: a son of parents who rose from nothing to carve out just a little something, a public servant who toiled to guarantee the least of us have the same opportunities that he had earned. A leader who once said he would die for his people, even as he lived every minute for them—his life validates the things we tell ourselves about what’s possible in this country. Not guaranteed, but possible. The possibility that our destinies are not preordained. But rather, through our works, and our dedication, and our willingness to open our hearts to God’s message of love for all people, we can live a purposeful life. That we can reap a bountiful harvest. That we are neither sentenced to wither among the rocks nor assured a bounty, but we have a capacity, the chance, as individuals and as a nation, to root ourselves in good soil.

Elijah understood that. That’s why he fought for justice. That’s why he embraced his beloved community of Baltimore. That’s why he went on to fight for the rights and opportunities of forgotten people all across America, not just in his district. He was never complacent, for he knew that without clarity of purpose and a steadfast faith, and the dogged determination demanded by our liberty, the promise of this nation can wither. Complacency, he knew, was not only corrosive for our collective lives, but for our individual lives.

It has been remarked that Elijah was a kind man. I tell my daughters—and I have to say, listening to Elijah’s daughters speak, that got me choked up. I am sure those of you who have sons feel the same way, but there is something about daughters and their fathers. And I was thinking, I would want my daughters to know how much I love them, but I would also want them to know that being a strong man includes being kind. That there is nothing weak about kindness and compassion. There is nothing weak about looking out for others. There is nothing weak about being honorable. You are not a sucker to have integrity and to treat others with respect. I was sitting here and I was just noticing T he Honorable Elijah E. Cummings and, you know, this is a title that we confer on all kinds of people who get elected to public office. We’re supposed to introduce them as honorable.

But Elijah Cummings was honorable before he was elected to office. There’s a difference. There is a difference if you are honorable and treated others honorably outside the limelight. On the side of a road; in a quiet moment, counseling somebody you work with; letting your daughters know you love them. As president, I knew I could always count on Elijah being honorable and doing the right thing. And people have talked about his voice. There is something about his voice. It just made you feel better. There’s some people, they have that deep baritone, a prophetic voice. And when it was good times and we achieved victories together, that voice and that laugh was a gift. But you needed it more during the tough times, when the path ahead looked crooked, when obstacles abounded. When I entertained doubts, or I saw those who were in the fight start to waver, that’s when Elijah’s voice mattered most.

More than once during my presidency, when the economy still looked like it might plunge into depression, when the health-care bill was pronounced dead in Congress, I would watch Elijah rally his colleagues. “The cost of doing nothing isn’t nothing,” he would say, and folks would remember why they entered into public service. “Our children are the living messengers we send to a future we will never see,” he would say, and he would remind all of us that our time is too short not to fight for what’s good and what is true and what is best in America.

Two hundred years to 300 years from now, he would say, people will look back at this moment and they will ask the question “What did you do?” And hearing him, we would be reminded that it falls upon each of us to give voice to the voiceless, and comfort to the sick, and opportunity to those not born to it, and to preserve and nurture our democracy.

Elijah Cummings was a man of noble and good heart. His parents and his faith planted the seeds of hope, and love, and compassion, and righteousness in that good soil of his. He has harvested all the crops that he could, for the Lord has now called Elijah home, to give his humble, faithful servant rest. And it now falls on us to continue his work, so that other young boys and girls from Baltimore, across Maryland, across the United States, and around the world might too have a chance to grow and to flourish. That’s how we will honor him. That’s how we will remember him. That’s what he would hope for. May God bless the memory of the very honorable Elijah Cummings. And may God bless this city, and this state, and this nation that he loved. God bless you.

Example 1: Melissa Rivers’ Eulogy For Her Mom, Joan Rivers

American comedian Joan Rivers was known for her humour and fiery wit.

She died unexpectedly on September 4, 2014, after a botched medical procedure.  Soon after, a memorial service was held at  Temple Emanu-El on New York’s Upper East Side.

The funeral was attended by many Hollywood celebrities, including Hugh Jackman, Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters and Sarah Jessica Parker.

According to a report by Tim Teeman for  The Daily Beast , who was in attendance, the temple was carpeted with white lilies.

The New York Gay Men’s Chorus regaled the congregation with hilarious musical numbers like “There’s nothing like a dame” and “Big Spender” while everybody took their seats.

By all accounts, the service was filled with tears, but also a great deal of laughter—just as Joan would have wanted it.

The final eulogy given at the memorial service was by her daughter, Melissa.  She read an excerpt from her upcoming book, “A Letter to My Mom.”

In her sweet and funny eulogy, Melissa joked about the things that frustrated her about her mother, but also the things that she would miss.

I received the note that you slipped under my bedroom door last night.  I was very excited to read it, thinking that it would contain amazing, loving advice that you wanted to share with me.  Imagine my surprise when I opened it and saw that it began with the salutation, “Dear Landlord.” I have reviewed your complaints and address them below:

1. While I appreciate your desire to “upgrade” your accommodations to a larger space, I cannot, in good conscience, move [my 13-year-old son] Cooper into the laundry room.  I do agree that it will teach him a life lesson about fluffing and folding, but since I don’t foresee him having a future in dry cleaning, I must say no.

Also, I know you are a true creative genius (and I am in awe of the depth of your instincts), but breaking down a wall without my permission is not an appropriate way to express that creativity.  It is not only a boundary violation but a building-code violation as well.  Additionally, the repairman can’t get here until next week, so your expansion plan will have to be put on hold.

2. Re: Your fellow “tenant” (your word), Cooper.  While I trust you with him, it is not OK for you to undermine my rules.  It is not OK that you let him have chips and ice cream for dinner.  It is not OK that you let him skip school to go to the movies.  And it is really not OK that the movie was “Last Tango in Paris.”

As for your taking his friends to a “gentlemen’s club,” I accepted your rationale that it was an educational experience for the boys—and you are right, he is the most popular kid in school right now—but I’d prefer he not learn biology from those “gentlemen” and their ladies, Bambi, Trixie and Kitten.  And just because I yelled at you, I do not appreciate your claim that I have created a hostile living environment.

3. While I’m glad to see you’re socializing, you must refill the hot tub after your parties.  In fact, you need to tone down the parties altogether.  Imagine my surprise when I saw the photos you posted on Facebook of your friends frolicking topless in the hot tub.

I think it’s great that you’re entertaining more often, but I can’t keep fielding complaints from the neighbors about your noisy party games like Ring Around the Walker or naked Duck, Duck Caregiver.

I’m more than happy to have you use the house for social gatherings, but you cannot rent it out, advertise as “party central” or hand out T-shirts that say “F—Jimmy Buffett.”

In closing, I hope I have satisfactorily answered your complaints and queries.  I love having you live with me, and I am grateful for every minute Cooper and I have with you.  You are an inspiration. You are also 30 days late with the rent.

Example 2: John Cleese’s Eulogy For His Friend, Graham Chapman

British shock comedian Graham Chapman was one of the six members of the surreal comedy group Monty Python.  He played the lead role in two hugely successful Python films,  Holy Grail  and  Life of Brian .

He died at the age of 48 from tonsil and spinal cancer.

At his private memorial service, five of his Python cast mates decided to stay away to prevent the funeral from becoming a media circus and to give his family some privacy.

They did, however, send a wreath in the shape of the famous Python foot with the message: “To Graham, from the other Pythons with all our love.  P.S. Stop us if we’re getting too silly.”

The Rolling Stones also sent a floral arrangement with the message: “Thanks for all the laughs”.

The memorial service began with a church choir singing a traditional hymn (Jerusalem) in a mock Chinese accent (which the Python’s referred to as “Engrish”).

John Cleese delivered a memorable eulogy to Chapman with a shock humour that he believed that Chapman would have wanted and was the first person on a televised British memorial service to say the F-word.

It is rumoured that Chapman’s ashes have been “blasted into the skies in a rocket” with assistance from the Dangerous Sports Club.  In another (less exciting and funny) rumour, his ashes were scattered on Snowdon, North Wales.

Graham Chapman, co-author of the ‘Parrot Sketch,’ is no more.

He has ceased to be, bereft of life, he rests in peace, he has kicked the bucket, hopped the twig, bit the dust, snuffed it, breathed his last, and gone to meet the Great Head of Light Entertainment in the sky …

And I guess that we’re all thinking how sad it is that a man of such talent, such capability and kindness, of such unusual intelligence should now be so suddenly spirited away at the age of only forty-eight, before he’d achieved many of the things of which he was capable, and before he’d had enough fun.

Well, I feel that I should say, “Nonsense. Good riddance to him, the freeloading bastard!  I hope he fries. ”

And the reason I feel I should say this is, he would never forgive me if I didn’t, if I threw away this glorious opportunity to shock you all on his behalf.  Anything for him but mindless good taste.  I could hear him whispering in my ear last night as I was writing this:

‘All right, Cleese, you’re very proud of being the very first person to ever say shit on British television.  If this service is really just for starters, I want you to be the first person ever at a British memorial service to say f——!’

You see, the trouble is, I can’t. If he were here with me now I would probably have the courage, because he always emboldened me.  But the truth is, I lack his balls, his splendid defiance.  And so I’ll have to content myself instead with saying ‘Betty Mardsen…’

But bolder and less inhibited spirits than me follow today.  Jones and Idle, Gilliam and Palin.  

Heaven knows what the next hour will bring in Graham’s name.  

Trousers dropping, blasphemers on pogo sticks, spectacular displays of high-speed farting, synchronized incest.  

One of the four is planning to stuff a dead ocelot and a 1922 Remington typewriter up his own arse to the sound of the second movement of Elgar’s cello concerto. And that’s in the first half.

Because you see, Gray would have wanted it this way.  Really.  Anything for him but mindless good taste.  And that’s what I’ll always remember about him—apart, of course, from his Olympian extravagance.   He was the prince of bad taste.  

He loved to shock.  In fact, Gray, more than anyone I knew, embodied and symbolized all that was most offensive and juvenile in Monty Python.  

And his delight in shocking people led him on to greater and greater feats.  I like to think of him as the pioneering beacon that beat the path along which fainter spirits could follow.

Some memories, I remember writing the undertaker speech with him, and him suggesting the punch line, ‘All right, we’ll eat her, but if you feel bad about it afterwards, we’ll dig a grave and you can throw up into it.’  

I remember discovering in 1969, when we wrote every day at the flat where Connie Booth and I lived, that he’d recently discovered the game of printing four-letter words on neat little squares of paper, and then quietly placing them at strategic points around our flat, forcing Connie and me into frantic last minute paper chases whenever we were expecting important guests.

I remember him at BBC parties crawling around on all fours, rubbing himself affectionately against the legs of gray-suited executives, and delicately nibbling the more appetizing female calves.  Mrs. Eric Morecambe remembers that too.

I remember his being invited to speak at the Oxford union, and entering the chamber dressed as a carrot—a full length orange tapering costume with a large, bright green sprig as a hat—-and then, when his turn came to speak, refusing to do so.  

He just stood there, literally speechless, for twenty minutes, smiling beatifically. The only time in world history that a totally silent man has succeeded in inciting a riot.

I remember Graham receiving a Sun newspaper TV award from Reggie Maudling. Who else!  And taking the trophy falling to the ground and crawling all the way back to his table, screaming loudly, as loudly as he could.  

And if you remember Gray, that was very loud indeed.

It is magnificent, isn’t it?  You see, the thing about shock … is not that it upsets some people, I think;  I think that it gives others a momentary joy of liberation, as we realized in that instant that the social rules that constrict our lives so terribly are not actually very important.

Well, Gray can’t do that for us anymore.  He’s gone. He is an ex-Chapman.  

All we have of him now is our memories.  

But it will be some time before they fade.

Example 1:  Father’s Eulogy For His Baby Son

The focus of my talk will be to help you better get to know baby Will.

I plan to share things about Will’s life that only Michelle and I know.

I plan to share things about Will’s death that we think are important.

And I will conclude with a special request from our family.

But before I begin, I would like to address something Michelle and I feel is important  in context with the rest of this talk.

I never knew how much a eulogy could be for the man giving it, or the people in the audience until this week.

Often times I’ve been to funerals which resemble a party.  The eulogy is a recount of the great long life lived, and a celebration of extraordinary accomplishments.

The reality is Will was only with us for 82 days.  The period from his conception to his death spanned only 50 weeks.

There have been those who have expressed feelings of guilt for not having seen or met Will before he died.  It is our deepest wish that you do not do that to yourself.

No one expects a loved one to die so soon.

To be candid, Michelle and I actually feel the fact Will died so soon will be a significant part of his legacy.

So if you are one of those harbouring such feelings, please free yourself of this unnecessary burden.

I am now going to share with you some things about Will’s life that only Michelle and I know.

Michelle and I think it is important for you to know that Will was not planned; and that it was very unusual for us not to plan something so significant.

We believe we know exactly when Will was conceived.  Now in hindsight it seems only fitting that we both laughed and cried at the same time when we found out Michelle was pregnant again.

This memory actually gives us comfort because we believe God has had a special purpose for baby Will from the very beginning.

It was also unusually easy to find a name for Will.

Given that Michelle is a teacher, it can be challenging to find names we like which do not remind her of certain former students.

Will’s name came to us easily very early in the pregnancy, and given Will’s death, we believe the obvious play on words associated with his name, and the many powerful meanings for the word “will”, is now something which is almost divine.

For some reason Michelle had the desire to hold Will so much more than with the other boys.

Will also liked to sit up more than the other boys.  Even as a newborn, it was as if he could not see enough of the world.

Will and Michelle were rarely apart for his entire life.

We would often joke with our neighbours about how she would always carry Will around with her.

Given it was summer time and that our other boys love to play outside, Michelle would carry Will around with her in a papoose while both she and Will would watch our other boys play.

Will had strikingly beautiful blue eyes and his physical features were noticeably symmetrical.  I always referred to Will as the best looking boy we had.

Each of our children has obvious unique gifts, and right from the start it was apparent to me that Will was going to be a lady’s man.

One of the neat things we noticed very early is how Will’s whole demeanour would light up when his brothers came around.

It was remarkable and we first noticed it in the hospital the second day Will was with us.

This might sound strange, and I hope I do not offend anyone, but Will loved to have his diaper changed.

After Will’s death last week, this memory was the first thing that made Michelle and I laugh again.  We don’t know why.

It seems easy to just think Will did not like to have anything wet touching his skin, but the way he would throw his arms back and smile made it look as though he was just proud to show off his stuff.  It was so funny.

Will also grunted and growled all the the time.  I actually called him “grunt head.”  He would be smiling at you all the while grunting and growling.

This was the one thing that gave me hope that somehow this pretty boy would be a linebacker instead of a quarterback.

Michelle and I are so grateful of the technology that is available these days.  As crazy as it may sound, we are so grateful for our iPhones.  We bought our iPhones a little over a moth after Will was born, ironically as belated Mother’s Day and Father’s Day presents.

You see, given that Will was our third born, we did not get our normal cameras out nearly as much as we did with the first born.

It gives us pause now to think why we ever thought it such a burden to get the big camera out of its case.

But we had our iPhones.  And as a result, we got some amazing images and videos that we now treasure so  much more than we could have ever imagined.

These images and especially the videos are now so therapeutic for Michelle, me, and our boys.

I know it might be hard for some of you to watch because Will has now passed away, but Michelle and I feel it is so important to share one of our treasures with you so that you leave here today remembering him as we do.

Wendy, could you please play the video …

See what I mean?  Will was beautiful.

I am now going to share with you things about Will’s death that Michelle and I think are important.

The fact Will was our third child enabled Michelle and I to have some sense of what was normal when having children.  In hindsight, there are things which really stood out from Will’s short life which now give us both comfort and pause.

Will was born on May 11, his Great-Grandfather Chuck’s birthday, and he died on July 31, his Great-Grandfather Matt’s birthday.

Ironically, Will’s middle name Matthew is in honor of Great-Grandpa Matt who would have had a birthday the day Will died.

In the first days following Will’s death, I struggled with the idea of whether Will’s spirit in heaven was Will the baby or Will the man he was to become.

I desperately wanted to talk with the man he was to become.

It might sound strange, but as an entrepreneur and business man, I got peace from the vision of Will the man handing me his first business card.

I envisioned him being so proud of the enterprise he was building and the difference he was making for the world.

I ended up settling on the notion that Will’s spirit is paradoxically what I needed it to be at the moment I thought of him; sometimes as a baby, sometimes the man, and I love to talk with him in heaven.

Michelle and I believe it is important for you to know that the Coroner ruled our son died from something called SIDS.  It stands for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Based on what we have learned of SIDS in the past several days, nothing currently known could have been done to save him.  It was just his time.

Michelle and I count the fact Will died from SIDS as one of the significant blessings associated with this profound loss.  It gives us comfort to know that Will died a peaceful death.

Will dying from SIDS also gives us pause in that it was so far out of everyone’s control.

When coupled with his unplanned birth, Will’s unplanned death truly makes us wonder if we are receiving an important signal of God’s greater plan for Will and our family.

We are so thankful for the incredible outpouring of financial support to help our family.  It is humbling.

We are committed to doing something important to support those who are impacted by SIDS.  While we are not yet certain how this mission will unfold, we are recording this eulogy to provide the option of using it later.

We think it is important for you to know that Will died at our babysitter’s home during his afternoon nap.  This was only the third time Will had been to the babysitter, and that even upon learning of Will’s death, neither Michelle bro I ever suspected her of any wrong doing.

In fact, and quite to the contrary, Michelle and I want you to know we feel so grateful that Will was with our babysitter the day he died.

She is an amazing woman with an amazing family.  Neither she nor her beautiful home deserve the burden  they now bare for us. But they know we are eternally grateful.

Earlier this week we stopped using the word “tragic” to describe the loss of Will.  It is not a “tragic loss,” it is indeed a profound loss, but there are far too many good things occurring as a result of our son’s death for it to be described as “tragic.”

Michelle and I think it is important for you to know two of Will’s heart valves were able to be harvested through organ donation.

We count this as a significant blessing associated with our profound loss.  It gives us great peace to live with the possibility that Will’s short life saved the lives of two other small babies.

Earlier I mentioned that we believe God has had a special plan for Will all along.  But it is important to Michelle and I that you know that we do not believe God caused Will’s death.

We want you to know that we believe God came to us in comfort only after the death of baby Will.

We want you to know that throughout this whole ordeal in losing baby Will, we have not experienced any anger towards God.

In fact, and quite to the contrary, we feel fortunate to be able to see many of the significant blessings associated with the loss of our son, and our faith in God has never been stronger.

The power of prayer has been palpable for Michelle and I throughout this entire week.

Years ago, as a student at Ohio State, I was fortunate to meet others from a wide variety of religious backgrounds.

I believe the thing I found most profound was that despite all the obvious differences, prayer seemed to be the one constant commonality.

As a people throughout the world I have seen that we are all for the most part raised believing in the power of prayer.  And I think that one the whole most of us believe that use this gift as liberally as God intended.

But ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you today as a stronger man to give testament to the awesome power of this under-utilized resource.

Do not fall into the trap of believing God somehow has limited capacity, and please never underestimate what a network of people united in prayer can accomplish.

I personally want you to know that Will’s death has shown me many things that I have taken for granted.

A great example of this is the network of great people which constitute our families and friends.  It was humbling for Michelle and I to see the hundreds, if not the thousands, of people who were able to make it to Will’s showing yesterday.

It is humbling for us to see the loved ones who dropped everything and drove days to be here just for us.  It is humbling to go to the mailbox and see the door open because it is so full of sympathy cards.

And it makes me a little uncomfortable to hear people talk about how well we are doing, because we would never have made it this far without you.

Another important thing I have taken for granted are my boys and my wife.  I am a better father and husband today than at this time last week.

I want you to know last Thursday baby Will could not sleep … I was supposed to be cutting the grass, but because he could not sleep, I held him and we rocked in my lazy boy watching TV instead.

While I enjoyed that time, I kept thinking about what I needed to get done around the house, and as a result, I had no idea how valuable that moment was until Will died the next day.

That moment was the last time I held my boy when he was alive.

My hope is that sharing this small part of my story will be especially helpful for you fathers in the audience.

I think as men we are often so driven towards accomplishments and our various manly vices that we mistakenly treat time with our children as one more thing to check off the list or some kind of burden that gets in the way of whatever it is we need to go do.

I would wager that even those of you who are not guilty of this probably are also not providing or receiving the full value from your role with your children.

I am, without question, a better father today than I was prior to Will’s death.

It is unfortunate that it took the death of my best looking son to jolt me into action, but thankfully, it did, and I pray that it does not take such a jolt for you to become the man and father you aspire to be.

Before I get to the special request from our family, I want to share with you one final thing about Will’s death.

Michelle and I feel it is important for you to know that we do not want to “move on”.  It is important for you to know that we want to “move forward”.

We will always be the same people; we just have a profound new perspective on life.

Upon receiving the call informing me that Will had died, it was instantly clear to me that forward was the only way out.  We learn from this, somehow become better people, move forward, and Will would always be with us.

I would like to now conclude with a special request from our family.

We want you to know that we pray with the boys every night at bedtime.

Our prayer follows a set pattern:  first we ask for blessings, then we spend time giving thanks (we help the boys participate and we end up giving thanks for some of the neatest things), then we always conclude the same way, and we play it up quite a bit to make it fun for the boys like this:

God, please help Daddy and Mommy make good decisions, and please help Sam, Nate, and Baby Will grow up to be grea——-t men.  Thank you.  Amen.  Alri———ght.

We’ll often then give each other high fives, or great big “giant” hugs, and we laugh.

As a Dad, one of my favourite things to ask kids is: “What are you going to be when you grow up?”

This past week I thought a lot about what Will may have become when he grew up.

I think it is the hope of every father that their children become something great.  You consider all kinds of possibilities: maybe he’ll be a great entrepreneur, Senator, or President.  Maybe he’ll be a great solider.

Or perhaps he would be a great police officer that did not think twice about performing CPR on the body of an infant, or a paramedic who sat steadfast with a family as they held the body of their little boy and wept.

He might even have become a great paediatrician that personified everything healthcare is supposed to be.

Or maybe even a great babysitter who took such care of kids that they often wanted to stay at her house instead of their own.

Or maybe he would take after his Great-Grandfather Matt and become a great funeral director who turned on a night light in the room where the little boy’s body lived while it awaited its final resting place so that symbolically the boy was not afraid.

It is therapeutic for me to consider what positive impact Will might have made on the world.

Like others who grieve, we are desperate to find meaning in the life which was lost.

Michelle and I believe that the only way this death makes any sense is if it forces others to discover or recommit themselves to the things in their own lives which will make a positive impact on the world.

In addition, we feel that our little boy has provided us a powerful example of accomplishment in just two short months of life, and that his accomplishments serve as a challenge for all of us to try and live up to.

In conclusion, Michelle and I feel it is important to draw a distinction between saying and doing.

The death of our son has caused us all to take pause, and as a result, many of us are committed to making some positive changes in our own life.

This gives Michelle and I peace, and we are grateful.

But the number of you who WILL actually take action as a result of what you now feel is entirely out of our hands.  It is now in your hands.

I am certain that Michelle and I WILL see each of you many times in the future, and there is little doubt that when we meet you will often recall the loss of Baby Will.

It is our solemn wish that when you do think of us, you also force yourself to consider one very important work: ACTION.

It is not enough for you to leave here today committed to making a positive change in your own life.  It is not enough for you to talk about making a positive change with your spouse, your children, your brother, your sister, or your pastor.

We are asking you to thoughtfully consider what it is you WILL do to make a difference, write it down, and then do it.

Michelle and I do not care what you do, or what aspect of the world you try to improve.  We just want you to take ACTION.

When you leave this holy temple today, we ask that each of you, children and adults, take one of Baby Will’s business cards.  And that sometime this week, you write down on that card one thing you WILL do.

This is for you to keep.  If you take more than one card, or you write on it and send it back to us, you are missing the point.  Will had some business to take care of, and Will’s card is for you.

In the end, we are hopeful that everyone jolted by the death of such a young child actually TAKES ACTION in making a difference, that the gifts provided by our little boy WILL will have an exponential effect.

God bless you, and thank you so much for helping us in our hour of greatest need.

By Nathan Hurd at  Baby Will , a nonprofit organization founded following the death their baby son in 2009.

Before he died, my father asked me to talk about one aspect of his life.  He asked me to talk about his Christian faith.  I promised him I would.?

As I started to jot down a few things I might say about my father’s Christian faith, I wondered: Was there a single word—a single adjective—that would best describe my father’s faith??

“Remarkable” was an option.  My father’s faith was certainly remarkable.  Anyone who met him could tell you that. 

“Consistent” was another option.  My father’s faith was absolutely a consistent faith.  He lived it, with honor, day in and day out. 

But while both of those adjectives are true—while my father’s faith was both remarkable and consistent—the adjective that stuck with me, that I think best describes my father’s Christian faith, is “genuine.”   My father was a genuine Christian.?

If you take a moment to look up the word “genuine” in a dictionary, you’ll find that it means several things. 

It means “actual.”  It means “true” … “sincere” … “free from hypocrisy or pretense.” 

When something or someone is genuine, they are “produced by or they proceed from the [original] source.” 

?So when I say my father was a genuine Christian, I mean this: His Christianity was without hypocrisy or pretense.  It was produced by and it proceeded from the original source: from Christ.?

I’m comfortable making that claim, I’m confident attaching the word “genuine” to my father’s Christianity, because I have been a first-hand witness to how he lived his life. 

I have also heard the testimony of others who witnessed how my father lived his life.  And based on that knowledge, I’d like to share with you today three passages of scripture from the New Testament, all of them from the Gospels: the books that tell the story of Jesus. 

After I share each of these passages, I will talk briefly about relevant aspects of my father’s life, and when I’m done, I trust there will be no doubt in this room, there will be no question in any of your minds, that my father was not only a Christian, but that he lived a genuine Christian life.?

The first passage I’d like to read today is from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 22, verses 35 through 39: ?… an expert in the law tested [Jesus] by asking, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?”?

Jesus said to him, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the greatest and most important commandment. 

The second is like it: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’

??My father honored both of those commandments.?  Now, I realize it’s difficult to prove that my father honored the first of those commandments; that he loved God with all his heart and soul and mind. 

He told me he did, as he told anyone who would listen to him.  And I believed him. 

But how do I prove what he believed to others??

Every day on this planet, billions of people say things they don’t really mean.  

And because people say things they don’t mean, it’s far too easy for all of us to become cynical; to mistrust each other; to demand some form of proof that the words we hear people say are true. 

And that’s why I think Jesus tied the two great commandments together.  

He knew it would be difficult for us to prove our love for God to the people around us because the people around us can never really know what’s in our hearts. 

And so Jesus gave us a way to demonstrate our love for God.  He gave us a way to move beyond statements to actions.?  

He did that by giving us the second greatest commandment: the opportunity to prove that we love God by demonstrating our love for the people around us. 

And so I can prove that my father loved God because I saw my father act with love toward his neighbors.  

I saw my father think and care about other people before he thought and cared about himself. ?

And who were my father’s neighbors?  Everyone he met.  His family, his friends, his colleagues.  We were all my father’s neighbors. 

?After my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, it surprised me how quickly he began to weaken; how quickly the cancer began to take its toll. 

When that started to happen, there is not a single one of us who would have blamed my Dad if he had thought first about himself. 

In fact, we would have told him, if he had listened to us, “Do what’s right for you, Dad. Don’t stretch yourself. Take it easy. Make you as comfortable as you can be before you leave us.”?

But that was not my father.  His first thought was not about himself or his comfort, but about his neighbors: his family and friends and colleagues. 

He demonstrated his love for all of us in several ways.  I’ll mention two. ?

First, his love for the people of this Church.  Shortly after he was diagnosed with cancer, my father told his pastor that he wanted some time on a Sunday night to share with the members of this church the lessons that he, my father, had learned during his life. 

His pastor said “Absolutely. You tell us when, and we’ll make it happen.”?

And so, in early January, my father—getting weaker by the day—gathered up strength he didn’t have, ignored the discomfort he felt, and made his way up these steps to sit in a chair, right about here, and share with the people of this church the lessons he had learned during his life. 

My father didn’t do that for his own benefit. 

He didn’t do that out of love for himself.  He did that out of love for this congregation.  He did that because he loved his neighbors more than he loved himself.?

In similar fashion, my father ignored his disease to make sure that before he died, his wife, our mother, was taken care of: that the finances were in order; that she knew where to find the things she’d need when he was no longer around. 

He did the same for us, his children, our spouses, and his grandchildren. 

Throughout the entire time he was dying, my father was loving his family more than he loved himself. ? 

Now, these simple acts may not sound like that much to you.  But you have to understand, even these simple acts required strength my father didn’t have. 

They required reading and writing, concentration and focus—tasks that we all take for granted, but tasks that became more difficult for my father with every passing day. 

Even last Sunday, a week ago today, when my father could hardly move himself up in his bed; when he had a very difficult time staying awake for more than a few minutes: I was standing there when he told my mother he wanted to help her check and balance their banking statement, one more time.?

I told him: “Dad, Mom’s a smart woman. I think she can do this. And if she has a problem, I can help her.” 

He responded: “I just want to go over it with her one more time, to make sure.”?

Now, he never got to do that.  He never had a chance to complete that one last act of love. 

The cancer had essentially won the battle at that point.  But that’s not what matters. 

What matters is the fact that my father tried to complete that last act of love.  He had every excuse in the book to think first about himself, but he didn’t. 

Instead, all the way until the end, he obeyed the greatest commandments: he demonstrated his love for God by loving others, by putting others before himself.?

The second passage I’d like to read today is also from the Gospel of Matthew, this time from Chapter 25, verses 31 through 40. 

This passage starts with Jesus speaking.   He said:?… when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 

All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. ?

Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 

For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’?

Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? … when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 

?The King will answer and say to them, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’??

Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me. 

That was my father. ?

I can’t count the number of times someone told me that my father gave a generous gift to someone who needed it. 

There is not a list long enough to capture the names of all of “the least of these” who benefited from my father’s time and talent and treasure. 

In fact, I imagine some of those people are sitting in this room today.?   Even in his profession, my father was compelled to care for the least of these. 

In one of our many conversations during his final months, my father told me that he knew he could have been a richer man. 

My father was not a poor man, but he was convinced he could have been even more wealthy, if he had taken the relatively small tax preparation business that he and my mom had started … and expanded it; opened an office outside the home; hired staff, taken on more clients — and yes, made more money. 

He knew he could have done all of that.?

But he told me that he didn’t do all of that for two reasons. 

First, he didn’t want to take the time away from his family.  Second, he knew he couldn’t bring himself to charge people what he needed to charge them to make a business expansion viable. 

Don’t get me wrong.  Some of my father’s tax clients, I’m sure, could have paid more than he charged them. 

But there were also many, I suspect, who could not pay more; whose only option for professional help on their taxes were my parents.?

And my dad knew that.  So he kept his prices low, charging far less than he and my mom deserved—and in some cases, I’m sure, he charged nothing at all. 

He did that deliberately and gladly, knowing full well that by under-charging his clients, he was foregoing the opportunity to add wealth to his home. 

But it didn’t matter.  It was yet another way that my father tried to care for those less fortunate than him.?

The third and final passage I’d like to read today is from the Gospel of John, Chapter 4, verses 5 through 9: ?

Jesus came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the piece of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 

Jacob’s Well was also there, and Jesus, tired out by the journey, sat down by the well.  It was about noon.? 

A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink,” since his disciples had gone off into town to buy food.?

The Samaritan woman asked him, “How can you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?”??

In that simple act—stopping at that well and chatting with this woman—Jesus shattered two social conventions of his time. 

It was taboo in Jesus’ day for a man to sit down with a woman who was not his wife and talk with her, one-on-one, in a public place. 

It was also taboo for a Jew to speak with a Samaritan.  But Jesus didn’t care. 

To him, this woman’s gender and her background were not important.  The only thing that mattered to Jesus was that this woman was a person, like any other person, who deserved to be treated with dignity and respect.?

In this way, too—as I’ve learned only recently—my father emulated Jesus. 

?In 1965, shortly after I was born, my father took a job at Monsanto. 

Now, it’s important to remember what was going on in 1965.  A year earlier, Congress had passed landmark legislation to help put an end to discrimination and advance civil rights in this country. 

And a year before that, the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. had delivered the speech in which he said: “I have a dream … I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”?

It would be nice to believe that Dr. King’s words in 1963 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 combined to immediately put an end to discrimination in this country. 

Sadly, that was not the case.  In fact, there was such violent backlash to the Civil Rights Act and to Dr. King that on April 4, 1968—41 years ago this week—Dr. King was gunned down and killed.?

So let there be no doubt.  In 1965, three years before Dr. King was killed, discrimination continued, too often and in too many places in this country.?

If you don’t believe me, ask Cleo Collins.  Cleo was also working at Monsanto in 1965.  Cleo remembers how many of his white colleagues treated him: the averted glances; the condescending talk. 

If Cleo is willing to remember those days, he’ll tell you that the laws might have changed, but the prejudice and disrespect were still there.?

And then Cleo met my dad.  Many years later, Cleo told my Mom that my father was one of the few, perhaps the only white man, who treated Cleo with the respect he deserved, who judged Cleo not on the color of his skin but on the content of his character.?

There’s a reason Cleo Collins and my father remained lifelong friends.  There’s a reason Cleo stopped by my parents’ home the morning my father died, without even knowing until he got there, that my father’s time on this planet was no more. 

Cleo loved my dad, because my dad loved Cleo—because my dad did for Cleo effectively what Christ did when he stopped to speak, with respect, to a Samaritan woman.?

Fast forward now, from 1965 to 2008, when a man named Barack Obama persuaded a solid majority of the people of this country to judge him on nothing more or less than the content of his character.?

My father did not vote for Barack Obama.  Their politics were far too different.  But unlike some so-called Christians, my father never spoke ill of Barack Obama. 

In fact, after Obama was elected, my father told me, “He’s now my President, too.  And I will respect him and I will pray for him as he leads this country.”?

There’s more to the story than that.  When my father learned that his oldest grandson had used his first-ever vote for President to help elect Barack Obama, my father was not disappointed. 

He didn’t scold my son or tell him he had cast the wrong vote.  To the contrary, my father openly, proudly told anyone who would listen that his oldest grandson had voted for Barack Obama. ?

I think my father was proud of my son’s vote, not because he agreed with his vote, but because he saw in my son’s vote a familiar story: the story of one person judging another person on the content of his character; nothing more and nothing less. ?

For these reasons, I know my father was a genuine Christian: because he demonstrated his love for God by loving others more than himself; because he took time to help those less fortunate; and because he freely gave the people he met the respect they deserved, whether or not they looked like him or thought like him or voted like him. ?

My father was a genuine Christian. And it’s my hope today that his example will motivate all of us, starting with me, to live our lives more like he did.

By Pete Abel of  The Moderate Voice .

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The 16 Best Eulogies Ever Written [Famous Funeral Speeches]

Eulogies are a way of paying tribute to someone who has passed away and celebrating their life.

Unfortunately, writing and giving them can be hard.

The task of capturing the essence of a loved one who has passed, and expressing it in words to a gathering of friends and family, is a heavy responsibility.

Despite its difficulties, a eulogy is an incredibly important part of the grieving process. It provides closure, helps to preserve memories, and celebrates the life of the deceased.

On this page, we set out some our favorites; the best eulogies ever written over the years.

In This Article

16 Best Eulogies Ever Written

1. mona simpson’s eulogy for steve jobs.

Mona Simpson’s eulogy of Steve Jobs is a personal and heartfelt tribute to the late co-founder of Apple.

Mona shares their own experiences of meeting Jobs, who she ultimately discovered was her long-lost brother.

Throughout the eulogy, Mona describes how Jobs inspired her in different ways over the 27 years that she knew him. She highlights Jobs’ hard work ethic, his love for aesthetics and beauty, and his unwavering commitment to his work even in the face of setbacks.

Related Article: How To Write a Eulogy: Tips, Structure, & Examples [Guide]

Mona’s use of anecdotes and stories brings Jobs to life and makes him feel like a real human , like a friend or family member of our own, not just the legendary figure we know him as. Honestly, Mona’s admiration for Jobs’ commitment to beauty is inspiring and serves as a reminder of how much one person can impact the world.

The eulogy is a touching tribute to Jobs and a fitting farewell to one of the greatest innovators of our time.

Read the full eulogy by clicking here

Our Favorite Quote From Mona Simpson’s Eulogy for Steve Jobs

But with that will, that work ethic, that strength, there was also sweet Steve’s capacity for wonderment, the artist’s belief in the ideal, the still more beautiful later. Steve’s final words, hours earlier, were monosyllables, repeated three times. Before embarking, he’d looked at his sister Patty, then for a long time at his children, then at his life’s partner, Laurene, and then over their shoulders past them. Steve’s final words were: OH WOW. OH WOW. OH WOW.

2. Frank Oz’s Eulogy for Jim Henson

Frank Oz’s eulogy for Jim Henson , the creator of The Muppets, is a speech that praises the beloved creator and performer, and is another one of the best eulogies ever given.

Frank, who was a friend and colleague of Henson for 27 years, highlights the appreciation and joy that was at the heart of Henson’s life and work.

The eulogy captures the essence of Henson’s spirit through vivid, personal anecdotes that illustrate his love for life. The way Frank describes Henson’s love for the outdoors, his family, his colleagues, and even dessert, showcases the energy and positivity that he brought to life.

This eulogy is a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to Jim Henson.

Our Favorite Quote From Frank Oz’s Eulogy for Jim Henson

Looking here I think I only realise now how large a man this was.  This man that I just worked with and played with, and had so much fun with. And we did have fun, we had such great silly fun together. The best thing of all—the best thing—is when you watched Jim laugh until he cried.

3. Earl Spencer’s Funeral Oration for Princess Diana

Earl Spencer’s eulogy for his sister Diana is a touching and heartfelt tribute to the late princess.

Spencer does an excellent job of capturing Diana’s essence, painting a picture of a selfless, compassionate, and kind person who used her intuition and vulnerability to connect with those in need.

The speech is personal, with Spencer reminiscing about his time with Diana, and it shows the deep love and admiration he had for his sister, who died tragically.

Overall, this is a beautiful eulogy that captures the essence of Princess Diana.

Our Favorite Quote From Earl Spencer’s Eulogy for Princess Diana

There is no doubt that she was looking for a new direction in her life at this time. She talked endlessly of getting away from England, mainly because of the treatment that she received at the hands of the newspapers. I don’t think she ever understood why her genuinely good intentions were sneered at by the media, why there appeared to be a permanent quest on their behalf to bring her down. It is baffling. My own and only explanation is that genuine goodness is threatening to those at the opposite end of the moral spectrum. It is a point to remember that of all the ironies about Diana, perhaps the greatest was this – a girl given the name of the ancient goddess of hunting was, in the end, the most hunted person of the modern age. She would want us today to pledge ourselves to protecting her beloved boys William and Harry from a similar fate and I do this here Diana on your behalf. We will not allow them to suffer the anguish that used regularly to drive you to tearful despair.

4. Father Michael Duffy’s Eulogy for Father Mychal Judge

Michael Duffy’s eulogy for Mychal Judge opens with humility, acknowledging the difficulty of following the many accolades and tributes already given during the service.

Duffy then shares the impact that Father Mychal had on his own life, describing him as a true friend and a source of comfort during a time of national tragedy with 9/11.

The eulogy is full of emotion and reflects the Duffy’s deep faith, which gave him the courage to stand before the crowd and celebrate the life of his friend.

The choice of scripture from the Book of Lamentations was particularly moving and provided a reminder of the hope and renewal that can be found in the darkest of times.

Our Favorite Quote From Michael Duffy’s Eulogy for Father Mychal Judge

And so, this morning we come to bury Mike Judge’s body but not his spirit. We come to bury his mind but not his dreams. We come to bury his voice but not his message. We come to bury his hands but not his good works. We come to bury his heart but not his love. Never his love.

5. Ronald Reagan’s Eulogy for the Crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger

Ronald Reagan’s eulogy for the seven heroes who lost their lives in the Challenger shuttle tragedy is a moving one.

Reagan does an excellent job of capturing the collective grief of the nation and honoring the memory of the fallen astronauts.

I particularly appreciate the way he honors the crew’s dedication and bravery, as well as their spirit of exploration and discovery.

The reference to Sir Francis Drake and the comparison to the Challenger crew’s dedication is a powerful one.

Overall, this eulogy is a touching reminder of the sacrifices made in the pursuit of knowledge and exploration.

Our Favorite Quote From Ronald Reagan’s Eulogy for the Crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger

The future doesn’t belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we’ll continue to follow them. I’ve always had great faith in and respect for our space program, and what happened today does nothing to diminish it. We don’t hide our space program.

6. Ex-Canadian PM Brian Mulroney’s Eulogy for Queen Elizabeth II

The eulogy given by former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney for Queen Elizabeth II celebrates Her Majesty’s role as a head of state and her relationship with Canada.

Mulroney speaks fondly of his time serving as the Queen’s Prime Minister and the alignment they shared on various issues, particularly Canadian unity and the Commonwealth.

He highlights the Queen’s support for the liberation of Nelson Mandela and the destruction of apartheid in South Africa. Mulroney also mentions her deep love for Canada and its diversity, geography, and history.

He concludes by recalling the Queen’s words, “I knew myself to be not only amongst friends but amongst fellow countrymen.” The perfect tribute to the Queen’s contributions and her relationship with Canada.

Our Favorite Quote From Ex-Canadian PM Brian Mulroney’s Eulogy for Queen Elizabeth II

Today, our system might appear anachronistic to some. I understand that. But to others – who constitute in my judgment the overwhelming majority of Canadians – the role of the monarchy and in particular the irreplaceable role played by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II for 70 years, was absolutely indispensable in our country’s hugely impressive, achievements and contributions to peace, prosperity and stability at home and around the world.

7. John Cleese’s Eulogy for Graham Chapman

This eulogy by John Cleese for Graham Chapman is another one of the best. A fantastic tribute to his late friend and fellow Monty Python member.

It is filled with hilarious anecdotes and memories, showcasing Chapman’s love of absurdity and shocking people.

Cleese captures the spirit of Chapman in his unique way of speaking and tells stories that are both absurd and touching.

He also reflects on the role that Chapman played in his life, both as a performer and as a friend.

It is a fitting tribute to a man who lived a life filled with humor, satire, and creativity.

Our Favorite Quote From John Cleese’s Eulogy for Graham Chapman

Graham Chapman, co-author of the ‘Parrot Sketch,’ is no more. He has ceased to be, bereft of life, he rests in peace, he has kicked the bucket, hopped the twig, bit the dust, snuffed it, breathed his last, and gone to meet the Great Head of Light Entertainment in the sky, and I guess that we’re all thinking how sad it is that a man of such talent, such capability and kindness, of such intelligence should now be so suddenly spirited away at the age of only forty-eight, before he’d achieved many of the things of which he was capable, and before he’d had enough fun.

8. Bill Clinton’s Eulogy for Richard Nixon

In Bill Clinton’s eulogy for Richard Nixon he highlighted Nixon’s humble beginnings, his journey across America, and his contributions to the country both as President and after leaving office.

He also touched on Nixon’s achievements, controversies, and his tireless spirit.

The eulogy was delivered with a genuine tone of respect, admiration, and gratitude. It was clear that Clinton had a personal relationship with Nixon and was honored to be speaking on his behalf.

The closing words of the eulogy were poignant and emphasized the importance of judging a person’s life in its entirety.

Our Favorite Quote From Bill Clinton’s Eulogy for Richard Nixon

Today is a day for his family, his friends, and his nation to remember President Nixon’s life in totality. To them, let us say, may the day of judging President Nixon on anything less than his entire life and career come to a close. May we heed his call to maintain the will and the wisdom to build on America’s greatest gift, its freedom, to lead a world full of difficulty to the just and lasting peace he dreamed of.

9. Rev. Al Sharpton’s Eulogy for Tyre Nichols

Rev. Al Sharpton’s eulogy for Tyre Nichol is a powerful and impassioned speech that connects the death of Tyre Nichol to the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Sharpton draws a parallel between the story of Joseph in the Bible and the tragedy of Tyre’s death, painting it as another example of the ongoing struggle for justice and equality.

Throughout the eulogy, Sharpton’s deep sense of injustice and his commitment to the fight for equality shine through.

He delivers a call to action for those in attendance, urging them to demand accountability and to continue the struggle for justice, using Tyre’s eulogy to ensure he did not die in vain.

Our Favorite Quote From Rev. Al Sharpton’s Eulogy for Tyre Nichols

And here we are Ashely, 55 years later, looking at the balcony where Martin Luther King shed his blood for city workers, for Black city workers to be able to work in the police department, work in sanitation. And the reason why, Mr. and Mrs, Wells, what happened to Tyre is so personal to me is that five Black men that wouldn’t have had a job in the police department – would not ever be thought of to be in the elite squad – in the city that Dr. King lost his life, not far away from that balcony, you beat a Brother to death. 

10. Barack Obama’s Eulogy for John McCain

In this eulogy for John McCain , Obama honors the late senator’s life, character, and achievements.

He highlights McCain’s patriotism and statesmanship and notes how he inspired both Bush and Obama to be better presidents.

Obama emphasizes McCain’s love of unpredictability, his disdain for self-pity, and his irreverence and sense of humor. He notes that despite their differences, McCain and he had a deep respect for one another.

Lastly, Obama highlights McCain’s commitment to upholding values that transcend politics and his belief in honest argument and the importance of our institutions.

Our Favorite Quote from Barack Obama’s Eulogy for John McCain

Today is only one day in all the days that will ever be. but what will happen in all the other days that will ever come can depend on what you do today. What better way to honor John McCain’s life of service than as best we can follow his example to prove that the willingness to get in the arena and fight for this country is not reserved for the few, it is open to all of us, and in fact it is demanded of all of us as citizens of this great republic. That’s perhaps how we honor him best, by recognizing that there are some things bigger than party or ambition or money or fame or power, that the things that are worth risking everything for, principles that are eternal, truths that are abiding. At his best, John showed us what that means. For that, we are all deeply in his debt.

11. Oprah Winfrey’s Eulogy for Rosa Parks

Oprah Winfrey’s Eulogy for Rosa Parks is a beautiful goodbye to a civil rights icon.

Her delivery is personal and emotive, which makes the speech powerful and memorable. The way she describes her childhood impression of Parks as a hundred-feet tall woman and how she later met her in person, is a great example of how Parks’ bravery and grace inspired people of all ages.

Oprah’s words are a testament to Parks’ impact on the world, and how her refusal to give up her seat on the bus changed the trajectory of so many lives.

The final message, “We shall not be moved,” is a reminder of Parks’ strength and resilience in the face of adversity.

Our Favorite Quote from Oprah Winfrey’s Eulogy for Rosa Parks

So I thank you again, Sister Rosa, for not only confronting the one white man whose seat you took, not only confronting the bus driver, not only for confronting the law, but for confronting history, a history that for 400 years said that you were not even worthy of a glance, certainly no consideration. I thank you for not moving.

12. Cher’s Eulogy for Sonny Bono

Cher’s eulogy for Sonny Bono is a heartfelt goodbye to her former partner and husband.

She speaks candidly about his impact on her life and the misconceptions people had about him.

Through her anecdotes, we get a glimpse into the person he was and the strong bond he and Cher shared.

The eulogy is both humorous and emotional, capturing the spirit of Sonny’s larger-than-life personality.

This is another one of the best eulogies ever written.

Our Favorite Quote from Cher’s Eulogy for Sonny Bono

Some people were under the misconception that Sonny was a short man, but he was heads and tails taller than anyone else. He could see above the tallest people. He had a vision of his future and just how he was going to build it.

13. Jawaharlal Nehru’s Eulogy for Mahatma Gandhi

Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech for Gandhi is another deeply affecting eulogy, reflective of the immense influence Gandhi had on India and the world.

Nehru captures the sense of grief and loss felt by many upon Gandhi’s passing, while also expressing the hope that Gandhi’s legacy would remain a guiding light for generations to come.

I appreciate the emphasis on unity and the reminder to act with poise and courage in the face of adversity.

Our Favorite Quote from Jawaharlal Nehru’s Eulogy for Mahatma Gandhi

Friends and Comrades, The light has gone out of our lives and there is darkness everywhere. I do not know what to tell you and how to say it. Our beloved leader, Bapu as we called him, the Father of the Nation, is no more.

14. Billy Crystal’s Eulogy for Muhammad Ali

Comedian Billy Crystal’s eulogy for Muhammad Ali is humorous; one of the best eulogies of all time for one of the greatest athletes of all time.

Crystal’s personal anecdotes paint a vivid picture of Ali’s impact on not just sports but society as a whole. It captures Ali’s charisma, humor, and bravery, making him more than just a boxer but a symbol of hope for those who fought for civil rights.

This eulogy is a testament to Ali’s lasting legacy and his ability to inspire future generations.

Our Favorite Quote from Billy Crystal’s Eulogy for Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali struck us in the middle of America’s darkest night, in the heart of its most threatening gathering storm. His power toppled the mighty foes and his intense light shined on America and we were able to see clearly: injustice, inequality, poverty, pride, self-realization, courage, laughter, love, joy and religious freedom for all.

15. Ex-New Zealand PM Helen Clark’s Eulogy for Sir Edmund Hillary

The eulogy for Sir Edmund Hillary by Helen Clark is a fitting tribute to the late New Zealand hero.

Beyond discussing his climb to the top of Mount Everest and how it was a defining moment of the 20th century, Clark also touches on Sir Edmund’s compassion for others. She highlighs his dedication to the wellbeing of the Sherpa people in Nepal and his numerous other endeavors.

The use of words like “colossus” and “hero” help to emphasize the magnitude of Sir Edmund’s impact, making this eulogy a heartfelt memorial for him.

Our Favorite Quote from Ex-New Zealand PM Helen Clark’s Eulogy for Sir Edmund Hillary

Sir Ed described himself as a person of modest abilities. In reality he was a colossus. He was our hero. He brought fame to our country. We admired his achievements and the great international respect in which he was held. But above all, we loved Sir Ed for what he represented – a determination to succeed against the odds, humility, an innate sense of fair play, and a tremendous sense of service to the community, at home and abroad.

16. Winston Churchill’s Eulogy for King George VI

Well known for his inspiring speeches, Winston Churchill’s eulogy for King George VI is no outlier.

It is a beautiful ode to someone who was at the time a beloved monarch.

Churchill’s words are heartfelt and evocative. He gives a vivid description of King George’s character and his influence on the people of England and the world.

What really stands out is how Churchill captures George’s attitude to life and death, depicting him as one “who walked with death as if death were a companion, an acquaintance whom he recognized and did not fear.” This is a powerful reminder to everyone to confront life’s challenges with courage.

Our Favorite Quote from Winston Churchill’s Eulogy for King George VI

For fifteen years George VI was King. Never at any moment in all the perplexities at home and abroad, in public or in private, did he fail in his duties. Well does he deserve the farewell salute of all his governments and peoples.

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Welcome to Bangor's Compassionate Funeral Service

Our commitment to providing personalized services, facilities crafted for comfort and serenity, a range of services to meet every need, guidance through the planning process, support beyond the funeral service, respecting the rich history of bangor, accessible and attentive to your needs, frequently asked questions.

At 159 Center Street, the heart of Bangor, Maine, lies a funeral home that stands as a beacon of comfort and dignity for those who are navigating through one of life's most challenging times. This funeral home is not just any establishment for end-of-life services; it is a place where every detail is handled with great care, where every staff member understands the gravity of their responsibility, and where families are embraced with warmth and understanding.

The staff at the funeral home on Center Street is dedicated to providing personalized services that honor the unique life of each individual. Here, every life is celebrated in a manner that respects the wishes and cultural traditions of the deceased and their loved ones. The funeral home prides itself on its flexibility and willingness to accommodate special requests, ensuring that each service is as unique as the individual being remembered.

Bangor - 159 Center Street

The funeral home at 159 Center Street has been thoughtfully designed to provide a serene and comfortable environment. The chapel offers a peaceful setting for memorial services, while the visitation rooms provide a space for guests to offer their condolences in a more intimate setting. The premises also include private family areas, where relatives can find a moment of solace away from the public eye.

This Bangor funeral home provides a comprehensive array of services that cater to the varied needs of the community. From traditional burial and cremation services to more contemporary celebrations of life, each option is available to suit the diverse preferences and budgets of the families served. Their full-service approach includes assistance with planning, floral arrangements, obituaries, and any other detail that can ease the burden during a difficult period.

Need a Eulogy? Get a Personalized Professional Eulogy Written For Your Loved One

Writing a eulogy for a loved one you have just lost, can be both challenging and painful. Alongside the pressure of delivering a meaningful tribute in front of other funeral guests.

Let our expert Funeral Speech Writers create a heartfelt & personalized eulogy, that captures the amazing life and memories of your loved one.

Learn more about our Professional Eulogy Writing Service today, and see how we can help you.

Understanding that planning a funeral can be a daunting task, particularly during a time of grief, the experienced staff at 159 Center Street offers expert guidance throughout the entire process. They can help with making informed decisions regarding the many elements of funeral planning, including selecting a casket or urn, choosing a service format, and determining the final resting place. Their goal is to provide clarity and simplicity for the families they serve.

The commitment of the funeral home extends beyond the day of the service. Recognizing that grief does not conclude with the funeral, they offer continued support and resources to help families cope with their loss. This includes connecting them with local support groups and counseling services, providing grief literature, and offering advice on adjusting to life after the loss of a loved one.

The funeral home at 159 Center Street pays homage to the rich history and culture of Bangor. By understanding the community's roots and values, the staff is able to offer services that truly resonate with local traditions and sentiments. Families can take comfort in knowing their loved ones are being honored in a manner that's both respectful and reflective of the life they lived in Maine.

In times of need, accessibility is key. The funeral home ensures that all questions and concerns are addressed promptly and with the utmost sensitivity. The team is attentive to the needs of each family, providing clear communication and staying available to assist at any time. The central location of the funeral home on Center Street, Bangor, Maine, also provides convenience for both local and out-of-town guests, simplifying travel and logistics during a challenging time.

In summary, the funeral home on 159 Center Street represents more than just a facility for funeral services; it is a place where life is honored, families are supported, and community traditions are respected. Choosing to entrust your loved one's final arrangements to this distinguished establishment means choosing a team dedicated to compassion, quality, and respect. For those in the Bangor area, it is a sanctuary offering peace and dignity when it's needed most.

What is an obituary?

An obituary is a public notice, often published in newspapers or online, which announces a person's death and usually includes a brief summary of their life, information about the funeral or memorial services, and sometimes a request for charitable donations in their memory.

What is the difference between an obituary and a death notice?

An obituary is a detailed remembrance that often includes a person's biography, accomplishments, and information about their family. A death notice is usually shorter and more factual, strictly announcing the person's death, and service details without additional life history or tributes.

Who writes obituaries?

Obituaries are often written by family members or close friends but can also be written by funeral home staff or newspaper employees. Occasionally, individuals write their own obituaries as part of their end-of-life planning.

How do you write a good obituary?

A good obituary should be respectful and truthful, summarizing the key points of the deceased's life story, their personal qualities, and their significance to the family and community. It may also include details of the funeral arrangements and any preferred charities for donations.

Is there a typical structure for an obituary?

Yes. Most obituaries start with the announcement of death, followed by a brief biography, listing of family members, details of the funeral service, and any special messages or requests for donations.

How long should an obituary be?

The length can vary widely depending on the publication's space limitations and the life story's complexity. They can range from a few lines to several hundred words.

What details are typically included in an obituary?

Details often include the person's full name, age, date of birth, date of death, cause of death (if the family wishes to include it), summary of their personal and professional life, list of surviving relatives, details on the services, and final resting place.

Should obituaries include cause of death?

Including the cause of death is a personal choice and not required. Some families prefer to keep this information private, while others may choose to share it, especially if they feel it could benefit others or raise awareness for a cause.

How much does it cost to publish an obituary?

The cost can vary greatly depending on the newspaper's size, geographic location, and the obituary's length. Some online platforms offer free or lower-cost options.

Can obituaries be published online?

Yes, many funeral homes offer online obituary services, and there are numerous dedicated websites where obituaries can be published either for free or for a fee. Additionally, many traditional newspapers also post their obituaries on their websites.

What are some common obituary etiquette guidelines?

Etiquette includes being factual, respectful, and considerate of surviving family members' privacy. It's also customary to carefully review and edit the obituary before publishing to avoid errors.

How soon after death should an obituary be published?

Obituaries are usually published within a week after death to inform the community and announce service times, but the timing can vary based on the family's wishes and the publication schedule of the chosen platform.

Are obituaries necessary?

While not legally required, they are a normative way to honor the deceased, inform the community, and announce service details. Some families may choose more private ways to communicate this information.

Can an obituary be too personal?

While obituaries are personal by nature, it's important to balance intimacy with respect for the privacy of the deceased and their family members. Avoid overly personal or sensitive information that might cause discomfort.

What if I don't want to publish an obituary in a newspaper?

You are under no obligation to publish an obituary in a traditional newspaper. You can opt for online obituary platforms, social media, or simply share the news within your personal community.

How do I announce a death without an obituary?

You can use personal communication methods such as phone calls, emails, or letters to inform close friends and family. Social media and word of mouth are also common ways to spread the news.

Can I update an obituary after it has been published?

In print, once an obituary has been published, it cannot be changed, but online obituaries often offer the possibility to edit or update the post.

How do I write an obituary for someone with a complicated history?

Focus on the person’s positive aspects, their contributions, and the loved ones they leave behind. Avoid contentious or negative details that could detract from the obituary's purpose or upset family members and readers.

What if the deceased didn't want an obituary?

If the deceased expressly did not want an obituary, their wishes should be respected. Communication of their passing can be done privately through friends and family.

Should children or infants have an obituary?

Yes, the loss of a young life is profound, and many families choose to publish an obituary to acknowledge the child’s or infant's life, no matter how brief, and to share their grief with the community.

What should I do if I spot an error in an obituary?

If the obituary is online, contact the website to request a correction. For print obituaries, contact the newspaper, although corrections will likely appear in a subsequent issue rather than changing the original obituary.

Is it acceptable to include religion or politics in an obituary?

Including information about a person's religious beliefs or political views is acceptable if it was a significant part of their identity and life. However, be mindful of the tone to ensure it stays respectful and inclusive for all readers.

How can an obituary honor a person's legacy?

An obituary honors a person's legacy by celebrating their achievements, character, and the impact they had on their family, friends, and community. Personal anecdotes and tributes from loved ones can also be powerful additions.

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Jeff Mason is a White House Correspondent for Reuters. He has covered the presidencies of Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden and the presidential campaigns of Biden, Trump, Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain. He served as president of the White House Correspondents’ Association in 2016-2017, leading the press corps in advocating for press freedom in the early days of the Trump administration. His and the WHCA's work was recognized with Deutsche Welle's "Freedom of Speech Award." Jeff has asked pointed questions of domestic and foreign leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un. He is a winner of the WHCA's “Excellence in Presidential News Coverage Under Deadline Pressure" award and co-winner of the Association for Business Journalists' "Breaking News" award. Jeff began his career in Frankfurt, Germany as a business reporter before being posted to Brussels, Belgium, where he covered the European Union. Jeff appears regularly on television and radio and teaches political journalism at Georgetown University. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and a former Fulbright scholar.

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