How to Write a Eulogy (With Examples & Templates)

Being asked to write a eulogy is an honour and a weight at the same time. You want to do the person justice, the room will be listening, and grief makes the words hard to find. The good news: a eulogy doesn't have to be perfect or poetic. It has to be honest and heartfelt — and that's something you can absolutely do. Here's a gentle, step-by-step way to begin.

1. Start with who they were to you

Before you worry about structure, write down the first honest sentence that comes to mind about the person. "My father was a quiet man who showed his love by showing up." "My grandmother's kitchen was the centre of our whole family." That single true line is the seed of your entire eulogy — everything else grows from it.

2. Gather memories, not a biography

A eulogy is a portrait, not a résumé. You don't need every date and job title. Instead, jot down:

• Two or three specific memories — a story, a habit, a moment that captures them.
• The qualities they were known for — kindness, humour, determination, faith.
• What they gave the people around them — and what those people will carry forward.

Pick the details that make you smile or catch your breath. Those are the ones that will land.

3. Use a simple structure

Most eulogies follow the same gentle shape. Fill in each part and you have a complete tribute:

1. Opening — who you are and your one true line about them.
2. Their life, briefly — where they came from and what mattered to them (a few sentences, not a timeline).
3. A story or two — the specific memories that show their character.
4. Their impact — what they meant to the family and community.
5. Closing — a final line to them or to everyone gathered.

A eulogy template you can fill in

[Name] was [your one true line about them]. [He/She/They] came from [place or background] and built a life around [what mattered to them — family, work, faith, community].

What I'll remember most is [a specific memory or habit]. It captured exactly who [he/she/they] was: [the quality it shows].

[Name] touched all of us. [He/She/They] taught us [a lesson or value], and left us [what endures — love, stories, an example].

[Name], thank you. We will miss you every day, and we will carry you with us.

A short eulogy example

My grandmother was the quiet centre of our family — the one who remembered every birthday and kept the door open for everyone. She measured her life not in what she gained but in who she cared for, and by that measure she was one of the richest people I've ever known. Grandma, we will keep your kindness alive in everything we do.

That's a complete, moving eulogy in under sixty words. Yours can be longer, but it doesn't have to be.

4. Read it aloud and trim

Once you have a draft, read it out loud. You'll hear where it rambles, where a sentence is too long for one breath, and where a word rings false. Cut anything that doesn't feel true. Aim for three to five minutes — roughly 500–750 words.

5. Be kind to yourself on the day

Print it large. Bring a backup copy. Have a glass of water nearby. And know that if your voice breaks, no one will mind — a trembling voice is simply love with nowhere left to hide.

If you're struggling to begin

You don't have to face the blank page alone. GenNxt Family's free tribute generator lets you choose a style — warm, inspirational, a celebration of life — add a few details about the person (all optional), and receive a heartfelt draft you can edit and read aloud. It's a gentle starting point when the words won't come.

You can also read ready-made eulogy examples and tribute templates, including a tribute to a mother, a tribute to a father, or a tribute to a grandparent.

Whatever you write, write it with love — that's the only thing a eulogy truly needs.