Free Eulogy Writer
Find the words for a eulogy or funeral tribute. Tell us about the person you’re remembering, and we’ll write a first draft you can read at the funeral, memorial or celebration of life.
How the eulogy writer works
- 1
Tell us who they were to you
Your relationship, how long you knew them, and the qualities everyone will recognise.
- 2
Share a few memories
The stories that make you smile, the challenges they faced, and what they meant to family, friends and community.
- 3
Choose the tone and length
Respectful, warm, uplifting or lightly humorous; 2–3, 4–5 or 7–10 minutes.
- 4
Edit, download and read
Change any word so it sounds like you, then download it to print or read from your phone.
How to write a eulogy
A good eulogy isn’t a list of achievements. It helps everyone in the room remember the same person at once. Most follow four simple parts:
Opening
Say who you are and how you knew them. One sentence about the person they were sets the tone for everything that follows.
Their life
A few chapters, not a CV: where they grew up, the work they did, the people and places they loved.
Stories and qualities
Two or three short stories that show what they were like, rather than a list of adjectives. A little gentle humour is welcome at most services.
Closing
What they leave behind, a word of comfort for the people gathered, and a last goodbye. A line from a poem or reading can close it well.
Read it aloud at least once before the day, and time yourself. For more help, see our guides on how to start a funeral speech and funeral speech samples.
Opening and closing lines
The first and last lines are often the hardest to write. Borrow one of these and make it your own.
To open
- For those who don’t know me, I’m your name, and I had the privilege of being Name’s relationship for number years.
- If you knew Name, you knew that a habit or saying everyone will recognise.
- I’ve been trying to find a way to sum up Name in a few minutes, and I don’t think I can. So I’d like to tell you a few stories instead.
To close
- Thank you, Name, for every cup of tea / phone call / Sunday dinner. We’ll carry you with us.
- Name would want us to laugh / be kind / look after each other today. So let’s do that for him/her.
- Goodbye, Name. We love you, and we’ll miss you every day.
A eulogy for the person you’ve lost
What to think about first, depending on who you’re writing for:
- Mum (or Mom)
- The everyday things she did for everyone, the phrases she always said, and what she taught you without meaning to.
- Dad
- His work and the things he made or fixed, the advice he gave, and the moments he showed how much he cared.
- Nan, Grandma or Grandad
- The house everyone gathered in, the recipes and traditions, and the long life they lived across the generations.
- Husband, wife or partner
- How you met, the life you built together, and what you want everyone to know about the person only you saw every day.
- Brother or sister
- Growing up together, the in-jokes, and how the relationship changed as you both grew older.
- A friend
- How you met, what made the friendship last, and the side of them their family may not have seen.
Questions about writing a eulogy
How long should a eulogy be?
Most eulogies last three to five minutes, about 400 to 700 words when read at a steady pace. If several people are speaking, or the service has a fixed slot (crematorium services often do), keep it shorter and check the timing with the funeral director, celebrant or officiant.
Is a eulogy the same as a funeral tribute?
Yes, mostly. In the UK and Australia the eulogy is often called the tribute, and a celebrant may read it on the family’s behalf. A eulogy usually tells the story of the person’s life, while a shorter tribute might focus on one relationship or a few memories. This writer can do either.
Who usually gives the eulogy?
A close family member or friend, a celebrant, or the minister, priest or officiant. Sometimes several people share it, each speaking for a few minutes about a different part of the person’s life.
Can AI write a eulogy that sounds like me?
The writer only works from what you tell it, so the more real details you share, the more it will sound like you and like them. Treat the draft as a starting point: read it aloud, change any word that doesn’t sound like you, and add the stories only you can tell.
Will it use British or American spelling?
It follows the way you write. If your answers say Mum, Nan or colour, the eulogy uses British English; if they say Mom or color, it uses American English.
Is the eulogy writer free?
Yes. Writing, editing and downloading your eulogy is free, and you don’t need an account.
What if I can’t get through reading it?
That’s all right, and everyone there will understand. Print it in a large font, pause and breathe when you need to, and ask someone you trust to have a copy ready so they can carry on for you.
Writing a welcome speech or a celebration of life speech instead? Use the funeral speech writer. You can also print the eulogy in a funeral program or order of service, and write the notice with the free obituary writer.