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A clear order for a eulogy — who you are, who they were, one story, what they leave behind, and how to finish. Fill in the prompts with your own memories; read it aloud tomorrow.
Get the free fill-in templateWritten as guidance, not a script. Your words stay yours.
The whole thing, in one line
A eulogy is a gift you give the room — not a performance to survive.
Each part is short on purpose. A eulogy that holds a room is 3–6 minutes — roughly 400–900 words said slowly. Every part below has the job it does and the words to start it.
Two or three sentences. Your name, your relationship, and one honest line about standing there.
"For those who don't know me, I'm Anna, and Dad was my father for forty-one years."
The summary you'd give a stranger. Not a list of facts — the shape of the person.
"He was a man who fixed things — cars, fences, and other people's bad days."
The heart of it. One specific memory, told properly: what happened, what it showed. One story lands; five blur.
"Let me tell you about the night he drove two hours for a missing hamster…"
What changes because they were here. Habits, people, places, the small things you'll keep doing.
"I'll never hear a drill without hearing him humming."
End on them, not on your grief. Their phrase, a wish, or a simple goodbye.
"So: thanks, Dad. We'll keep the kettle on."
Given a day's notice, this is enough. Do the steps in order; don't polish as you go.
Minutes 0–10
Say their name and write down every word, place and small memory it pulls up. Messy is fine. You're gathering, not composing.
Minutes 10–25
Pick the memory that is most them — not the biggest event, the most specific. If it makes you smile before it makes you cry, that's usually the one.
Minutes 25–45
Use the template's prompts. Write like you talk. If a sentence sounds written, say it out loud and write down what you actually said.
Minutes 45–60
Time it — aim for 3–6 minutes. Cut anything you stumble on twice. Print it, or write it large, with a line break between parts. That's the rehearsal.
The five parts as a printable skeleton, with prompts and sentence starters for a father, a mother, a partner or a friend. Free, one email, nothing else.