How to Write and Deliver a Eulogy, with Examples

Fondly Missed · 05 July 2026 · 7 min read

Asked to speak at the service? A practical guide to writing and delivering a eulogy that honours a life — with a simple structure, examples, and tips for the day.

Being asked to give a eulogy is a profound honour and, often, a daunting one. In the middle of your own grief, you are asked to stand before family and friends and put a whole person into words. Take heart: a eulogy does not need to be a polished speech or a complete biography. It needs to be honest, warm, and true to the person you are remembering. Here is how to write and deliver one with confidence.

What a eulogy is — and isn’t

A eulogy is a spoken tribute, delivered at a funeral or memorial service, that celebrates the life and character of the person who has died. It differs from an obituary, which is a written announcement of the death and its details. Where an obituary informs, a eulogy evokes — it helps the room laugh, weep, and remember together. Its aim is not to list every fact of a life, but to capture its spirit.

Begin by gathering memories

Before you write a word, collect the raw material. Sit quietly and jot down everything that comes to mind: their sayings, their habits, the way they laughed, the stories the family tells again and again. Then ask others — children, old friends, colleagues — for the moments that defined them. You will often find that a small, specific memory says more than any grand summary.

A simple structure

You need not reinvent the form. A eulogy that flows naturally often moves through a few clear parts:

An opening — who you are, your relationship to them, and a warm first line that sets the tone.
The shape of their life — a light sketch of where they came from and what they held dear, rather than an exhaustive timeline.
Stories and character — two or three anecdotes that reveal who they truly were. This is the heart of the eulogy.
What they meant — the mark they left on you and on others, and the lessons you will carry.
A closing — a farewell, a favourite line, a scripture, or a simple thank-you for the gift of having known them.

An example to borrow

You do not have to be a writer. A heartfelt opening might be as simple as: “My grandmother measured her wealth in people, not pounds. Her door was never locked, her kettle never cold, and no one ever left her house hungry — or unloved.” From there, one or two stories that show that open door will do more than a page of praise.

Keep it personal, and keep it kind

Speak in your own voice, as though telling the stories to a friend. It is perfectly fine to include gentle humour — laughter and tears belong together at a farewell. Be honest, but be generous; a eulogy is not the place to air grievances. Aim for roughly three to five minutes, around five hundred to eight hundred words. Brevity is a kindness to a grieving room.

Delivering it on the day

Even a beautiful eulogy can feel impossible to read through tears. A few practical steps make it easier:

Print it in large type, double-spaced, so you never lose your place.
Read it aloud several times beforehand — the practice steadies you.
Pause, breathe, and take your time. Silence is not a mistake.
Keep a glass of water nearby, and it is perfectly all right to cry.
Ask someone you trust to be your backup reader, ready to step in if your voice fails.

Let the words live on

A eulogy is heard once, but it deserves to last. Many families post the full text on the person’s online memorial afterwards, so that those who could not attend — a relative overseas, a friend who was unwell — can still read the words spoken in their honour. Shared this way, your tribute becomes part of the permanent record of a life well loved, long after the service has ended.