Eulogy template: how to write and read a eulogy
Updated November 2, 2026 · Anthony Delmotte
In short. A eulogy usually lasts three to five minutes, about 400 to 600 words. Say who the person was, share two or three specific memories, say what they gave to the people around them, and end with a goodbye. It is fine to read it; most people do.
The template
Replace everything in [brackets] before you read. Each paragraph becomes one card. 125 words as written, before you fill in the brackets.
Thank you all for being here. My name is [your name], and I was [name]’s [relationship].
[Name] was born in [place] in [year], and [one sentence on their life: work, family, where they lived].
But that’s not what most of us will remember. We’ll remember [one quality: their laugh, their generosity, their stubbornness].
I remember [first memory: a short, specific scene].
[Second memory, or a story someone shared with you this week.]
[Name] taught me [a lesson, a habit, a saying], and I still [how it shows in your life].
To [family members], [one sentence of comfort or recognition].
[Name], thank you for [what you are grateful for]. We will miss you every day.
[Optional: a short poem, a favourite saying, or their own words.]
How to make it yours
Write the way they spoke
A eulogy in their tone, with their favourite expressions, feels more like them than formal prose.
Ask others for stories
One or two memories from friends or colleagues make the portrait fuller.
Plan your pauses
Leave empty lines where you might need a breath. With a voice-following prompter, the text waits as long as you need.
Have a backup
Give a copy to someone who can finish reading if you cannot. Nobody will mind.