How to Write a Eulogy: Best Practices & Example Speeches

Writing a eulogy is not easy.

If you have been asked to deliver a eulogy, you would agree that trying to grieve and summarising the life of someone you loved at the same time is scary. 

If executed correctly, you can honor someone you love and make others remember them.

How do you, however, summarize a person’s life in minutes?

The best part is that you don’t have to sum up a person’s life, you just have to capture the essence of who they were.   

What is a Eulogy?

Eulogy comes from the Greek word ‘eulogia’ which is “good speech” or “praise.”

A eulogy is a word of praise that takes place in memorial services.

When delivering a eulogy it is your responsibility to emphasize the life values of the deceased to everyone attending the memorial.

Through your eulogy, you provide other bereaved persons with emotional support. 

Did you know that a eulogy can be formal or informal? And sometimes choosing what type of eulogy depends on the setting and your relationship with the deceased.

So, a eulogy can be written either emotionally with humorous sections or completely formally professional.

The Purpose of a Eulogy at a Funeral or Memorial Service

So why do you need a eulogy? A eulogy serves many important purposes, and they include: 

• Honoring the Deceased: You can appreciate another person’s valuable contributions and achievements through a eulogy. A eulogy does not need to provide a complete life summary because it only requires showcasing how the person showed themselves to others.
• Sharing Memories: You can tell stories about a person or something memorable that they did. You may not know it but sharing a memory may provide comfort or help someone else grief. 
• Celebrating Their Life: Through eulogy, we praise the life achievements that someone has accomplished instead of focusing on their departure. A eulogy allows people to remember the remarkable life of the departed.  
• Closure: A eulogy creates a sense of closure for you and other mourners.

How a Eulogy Differs From an Obituary

People think that obituaries and eulogies are the same.

This is because they both respect and appreciate deceased persons.

Though both obituaries and eulogies have a common purpose, they have separate roles.

Here are some differences between an obituary and a eulogy:

Eulogy	Obituary
It is a personal speech delivered at a funeral	It is a written notice published in a newspaper or on the internet
It focuses on the stories, qualities, and memories of the deceased	It contains biographical information, date of death, family information, and details about funeral arrangements
It doesn’t have a standard format	It has a standard format
It takes about 5 to 10 minutes to deliver	It is usually between 200-500 words
It is delivered by someone close to the deceased	It is written by family members or a funeral director
It doesn’t cost money	It sometimes costs money to publish

So in summary, an obituary announces a death while a eulogy brings the person’s spirit to life through personal reflection.

How to Write a Eulogy (Step-by-Step Guide)

Yes, writing a eulogy is hard. And it is okay to be clueless about what to write. But what you should know is that writing a eulogy is not impossible.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how you can write a meaningful eulogy: 

Gather your thoughts 

Understandably, you are sad but you still have to get the job done. So first of all take a deep breath and to gather your thoughts.

You can collect your thoughts about your loved one by doing the following: 

• Look at an old photo to spark memories 
• Talk to family members or friends 
• Try to remember and jot down your memories
• Recall their accomplishments and their good qualities 
• Remember important milestones

Choose a Theme and Tone 

Instead of trying to talk about everything, why don’t you choose a theme? The theme you have chosen should be something that captures their essence.

You can decide to focus on the following: 

• Their kindness and good heart
• The role they played in your life 
• Their passion and interests 
• How they helped you overcome a challenge

Also, what tone would you want your theme to have? Think about the preferences that the deceased would choose for their funeral service.

In your opinion, would they want their eulogy to be casual, solemn, or a combination of both?

Know the Structure of a Eulogy 

If you understand the structure of a eulogy then you would have 50 percent of your work cut out for you.

But if you don’t, here is what a basic structure includes: 

• Introduction: The opening of your eulogy should set the tone. It should be a brief introduction of yourself and your relationship with the deceased. If you are a close family member, you could also thank everyone for coming. 
• Opening: You could open with a poem, quote, or statement they loved. 
• Middle: Think of this part as the heart of the eulogy. It is where you share significant life events and personal memories. You should also talk about their character and legacy here. Just talk about how you would want them to be remembered. 
• Closing: Here, you could offer words of comfort and express gratitude for support during this trying time. You could close by telling everyone what you think the deceased would like them to remember. 

Write and Review Your First Draft

You don’t need to worry about perfection. Just use your own words and be genuine.

Write like you are having a conversation with a friend. 

After you are done with your draft, do the following: 

• Read it aloud to check for flow
• Remove repetitive sentences 
• Ensure your tone is right 
• Check for grammatical and spelling errors 

Practice your Delivery 

After writing your final draft, you should read it out loud to ensure you are passing the right message. This helps with pacing and sounding natural.

Here is how you can work on delivery: 

• Time yourself 
• Mark places where you need to pause
• Identify emotional sections and prepare yourself in case you cry
• Consider having a backup person to read if you can’t continue

Even after following this guide, if you still feel you are not in the headspace to write a eulogy, that’s okay.

You can rely on our AI Chat to help you. Undetectable AI Chat can help you come up with a eulogy that captures the essence of your loved one.

All you need to do is tell our chat a little about the person you are writing about and leave it to us to do the rest of the work.

Example Eulogy Template

If you’re struggling to get started, here are some simple templates you can follow: 

How to Write a Eulogy for Dad 

When offering a eulogy about your father, you express gratitude for the man who formed the direction of your life.

Here is a template for you: 

“It has been a difficult task to express through words the importance my father had in my life. He played both the role of my best supporter and my closest friend. Anyone he met was instantly drawn to him because he had an amazing ability to brighten every room he walked into. He naturally made everyone relaxed in his presence.  

Every moment was a teachable moment with him. I vividly recall my unsuccessful first attempt at bike riding without guidance. My father used that moment to show me it is acceptable to request help. He also told me that it was okay to fail and I will continue to carry that lesson throughout my adult life. 

I am going to miss my dad but I know he is happy and making others happy wherever he is. Till we meet again Dad. Always and forever”

Your eulogy doesn’t need to portray your father as perfect. So if you are thinking about how to write a eulogy for a father, just include authentic memories.

Adding his quirks and even his flaws can create a more genuine tribute.

How to Write a Eulogy for a Mother

Your mother’s eulogy should show a balance between the roles she played in your family and who she was as a human with her dreams and accomplishments.

Here is one for you:

“My mom was a good woman. And today I would like to share with you the incredible woman she was and the legacy she left. 

My mother had a big heart and because of this, I had to share her with other people. I didn’t like this at first, but I later realized that she was the type of person to be a mother to everyone, even if she did not give birth to them. She showed love in countless ways. 

My mother was smart and she inspired me to get to the academic level I am today. She inspired me in words and actions. My mom gave the best hugs and I am going to miss that. Even if I had the worst day, I could rely on the comfort that I was coming back to her arms at the end of the day. 

During trying periods she managed everything with elegance. Every day in her final moments she started her morning by putting on a smile. She reminded us that no matter what happened she would always be by our side. I have felt her by my side since she passed. A woman of her word even till the end. 

Mom, we will carry your love with us always. I will love you forever. Rest with the angels”

How to Write a Eulogy for a Friend

Your eulogy for a friend should focus on the special bond you shared. This is also your opportunity to add humor and lighten up the mood a bit.

Here is a template for you: 

“My friend was the kind of friend most people needed in their life. Ever supportive, ever loving. It is so hard to summarise the bond we shared in 10 minutes but instead, I will tell you 10 things I loved about him/her. 

1. He/she had a good sense of humor. Though dark sometimes, the humor was there. 
2. He/she was Adventurous 
3. He/she was a risk-taker 
4. He/she was a good father/mother 
5. He/she was a good listener
6. He/she gave the best advice 
7. He/she valued friendship 
8. He/she was smart 
9. He/she handled conflicts with grace 
10. He/she was my best friend 

The faces in this room are a testament to how many lives He/she touched. Though I will miss the times we shared, I am grateful to have experienced you. Goodbye, my dear friend.” 

How to Write a Eulogy for a Sibling

Here is how to eulogize a sibling: 

Growing up with my sister was an adventure. She was daring and bold. We often got into trouble because she had a sharp mouth and she wasn’t afraid of anyone. Even if she was older than me, our relationship was built on fundamental respect. 

My sister was talented, she could sing and it was annoying most of the time because she would never stop trying to sing the house down. But I am going to miss her singing in the bathroom every morning. 

Our fights were short because my sister did not know how to hold a grudge. She was very free-spirited. A trait I have picked up from her. 

I will always carry a piece of her with me. I take comfort in knowing she is no longer in pain. Goodbye, my friend and sister. It is always going to be me and you against the world” 

If you are still confused about what to write, just use our AI Chat. Here is an example of an eulogy Undetectable AI Chat generated:

To ensure your speech sounds natural and heartfelt, you can use our AI Detector and Humanizer in the widget below!

What to Avoid When Writing a Eulogy

Even though there are no strict rules on how to write a eulogy, here are some things you should avoid:

• Don’t focus on how they died rather than how they lived 
• Don’t make it about yourself 
• Don’t include stories to tarnish their image 
• Avoid mentioning unresolved conflicts 
• Don’t make it too long
• Avoid disrespectful jokes

FAQs About Writing a Eulogy

Final Tips for Writing & Delivering a Beautiful Eulogy

Here are some helpful tips: 

• Speak slowly 
• Bring a tissue along
• Maintain eye contact with the crowd 
• Practice beforehand 
• Be authentic 
• Consider bringing printed copies to hand out to others 

Conclusion

By giving a eulogy you have provided a valuable tribute both to the departed life and to the people who attended the memorial service.

It doesn’t have to be perfect but let it be authentic and celebratory. If you need help, just use our AI Chat.

We can help you create a eulogy based on what you share about the deceased.