How to Write a Eulogy: Structure, Samples, and Templates

Writing a eulogy can feel like standing at the edge of a deep ocean. The surface trembles with emotion, stories, and the weight of loss. Yet a eulogy is also a gift. It invites others to remember, to laugh, and to grieve together. This guide offers a clear structure, sample passages, and templates that you can adapt to your voice and the person you are honoring.

What a eulogy should do

A eulogy does not need to tell every story from a life. It should do a few things well:

• Capture the essence of the person
• Provide a narrative that connects memory to meaning
• Offer comfort through honesty, humor, and humility
• Include a call to remembrance or a suggestion for how others might honor the person

Simple structure to follow

Use a three part structure to organize your thoughts

1. Opening and context - Introduce yourself, acknowledge the gathering, and offer a succinct statement about the person you are remembering.
2. Stories and character - Share two to three short stories or examples that reveal who they were. Balance sorrow with levity if appropriate.
3. Meaning and closing - Reflect on lessons, wishes, or a closing tribute. Offer a line of hope, a call to action, or a legacy statement.

Tips for writing and delivery

• Keep it concise - A strong eulogy often runs three to eight minutes. That keeps attention and leaves space for others.
• Practice aloud - Reading the words gives you a sense of pacing and emotional peaks.
• Use simple language - Clarity carries more weight than ornate phrases.
• Be honest - Acknowledge complexity if needed. People connect with truth more than perfection.
• Prepare for emotion - Leave pauses where the audience can respond. Have a backup reader if you think you may not finish.

Sample openings

Below are three different tones to help you begin

Warm and personal

My name is Lila Park. I loved Sarah as a sister and a friend. Today I want to share a story that captures the way she filled a room with curiosity and kindness.

Reflective and formal

We gather to honor the life of Dr. Aaron Bell. His work transformed a field, and his compassion changed the lives of people he never met.

Light and humorous

If Carl had written his own obituary, he would have spent half of it listing his puns. So let me spare you and instead tell a few stories that explain why we all loved his terrible jokes.

Sample story paragraphs

Choose stories that reveal values more than chronologies. Here is a template you can adapt

When I think of Anna, I always remember the afternoon she drove across town to deliver a casserole to a neighbor she barely knew. She said she couldnt stand the idea of someone eating cold pizza on a wet evening. That small kindness is the person she was in miniature: always noticing, always doing.

Another memory: on her last birthday she insisted we spend the day planting a small garden by the community center. She said it was silly to save gratitude for special days. To her, gratitude was a daily habit not an event.

Closing lines and calls to action

End with a sentence that moves the group forward. Offer a blessing, an instruction for how to remember, or an image that lingers.

May we carry her curiosity into our lives, asking more questions and doing more small kindnesses. Today, in her honor, let us plant one small seed.

Full short template you can personalize

Hello, my name is [name]. I am [relation]. I want to begin by thanking everyone for being here to honor [name].

[Short story one that illustrates personality]

[Short story two that shows values or humor]

What I admired most about [name] was [quality]. In moments when I felt lost, [name] would [typical action]. That shaped me, and many others, in ways I am still discovering.

In closing, I ask each of you to [suggested action or reflection]. Let this be the legacy we carry forward.

Practical checklist

• Decide length and tone
• Collect 2 to 3 short stories
• Write a draft and practice aloud
• Bring a printed copy in large type
• Have water and tissues within reach

Final thought

A eulogy is a human bridge. It carries memory across an emotional river. You do not have to be a perfect writer to build it. Speak from a place of love, pretend you are telling a friend a story, and trust that your honesty will give others permission to remember and to grieve.