How to Format a Eulogy: A 5 Step Quick Guide
Need to know how to outline or format a eulogy? We’ve got you.
*Disclaimer (privacy policy; cookie policy): We aim to provide helpful information, links, and resources to our readers. This means we may affiliate with or partner with businesses whose services or products or information we think you might find useful. This does not mean we have personally used all of their services or products. We may receive a commission when you use the links we post to access or purchase their services or products.
The Challenges
Writing a eulogy can be challenging, especially if you’ve never done it before. You want to get it right and honor your loved one. Oftentimes, people search online for hours to find the right tools. And what happens? You guessed it - there will be a ton of examples. This can be helpful, but it can also be overwhelming. That isn’t exactly what most people need when faced with creating a eulogy format or outline for the funeral speech. Use the eulogy format and outline tips below for a quick guide. If you want to dig a bit deeper into how to prepare, write, and deliver the eulogy, we’ve got a more thorough article here.
The Basic eulogy format or Outline
In this post, we provide you with a simple eulogy format and outline that is perfect to get you started.
Introduction
For the introduction, you may wish to include a bit about you and your relationship to the deceased. For example, are you the daughter or a colleague? Wanting some more info on how to write the introduction? We’ve got that here: How to Start a Eulogy Example: A Must Have
Example: “Good afternoon. I’m Lilian and have been Lucy’s best friend since we met 30 years ago.”
Brief Background Information
You can provide some background information on the deceased, such as family members, life’s work, etc. You don’t have to, but it can be helpful for anyone who may not know this information.
Example: “Lucy was born in Chicago and raised by her parents Julian and Maria. She is survived by her sister Angela and her two children, Kristina and Marcos. Aside from being a mother, her most cherished role was that of a dedicated member of the St. Nicholas parish where she led the homeless outreach ministry.”
A Fond Memory or Two
Sharing a fond memory or two can help engage the audience and help them feel connected. It can also help you feel more comfortable giving the eulogy when you are talking about your own experiences.
Example: “My favorite memory of Lucy is our first memory of us meeting. I was desperately trying to help a friend who was struggling and reached out to the homeless ministry. That is where we met. Although Lucy’s program was unable to meet the needs of my friend, Lucy made it her mission to make sure I was able to connect my friend with an organization that could help. She worked late into the night reaching out to all of her contacts. And then followed up to make sure things were working out. That is who Lucy was… someone who gave of herself to others and made a difference in people’s lives.”
What They Meant to You
This is probably one of the most heartfelt sections of the eulogy. Simply tell the audience how they made you feel and what they meant to you.
Example: “She taught me about hope, going the extra mile, and the joy of helping others.”
Closing
Be sure to close the eulogy with an expression of thanks to the audience.
Example: “We are grateful for your presence, love, and support as we mourn the loss of someone so special. And we also thank you for joining us in celebrating her life.”
Bonus eulogy format tips:
You can add a poem, quote, religious/spiritual verse, etc. at any point in the eulogy.
This can be done either at the start or at the end of the eulogy. This is up to you. If you want to grab the audience’s attention, however, you may want to start with an impactful quote or poem. This will often allow the audience to immediately connect with the person giving the eulogy.
You can make it your own.
You can make the eulogy as unique as you’d like. Just remember that in order to keep folks engaged, you may wish to keep it to about 10 minutes or so.
If these quick eulogy formatting and outline tips helped you, please share them with someone who might need it. And, if you find you want more support, learn more about our affordable Eulogy Now Digital Toolkit .
Other Funeral-Related Tips & Resources:
create an online memorial (for free)
An online memorial is a great way to let others know about the loss, share funeral arrangement information, post memories, and find comfort in the supportive words and memories others might share about your loved one. Memorial websites like this one allow people to publish an obituary, share funeral details (including a live stream), hold a memorial fundraiser, collect photos and stories, and more - * all for free with this link.
Raise funds for the funeral
Did you know the average funeral costs $9,000 and almost 50% of people are concerned with how they will cover costs? Funerals can be an unexpected cost for many people. Worrying about how to finance the funeral can make the situation even more stressful. It may even interfere with the grieving process. Now, more than ever, we can find community support online. While you may be reluctant to crowdfund for a funeral, the truth is most of us want to help our friends, colleagues, or loved ones when they are going through a difficult time. Oftentimes, we may not know how to help. Contributing to the funeral allows people to feel like they are doing something. An online fundraiser specifically for funeral-related expenses may help relieve some of the stress - start now with the link below.
order Flowers
Flowers can have a way of providing comfort. If you are short on time or find ordering online easier, check out this selection of sympathy arrangements. Use the link below and save up to 40% off.
PHOTO PRINTING & MEMORIES
Keep their memory alive with high-quality photos. *Print high-quality photos and photo gifts today.
purchase FUNERAL-RELATED items online
Some folks want to make sure that they either 1) have all options available to them or b) can find the best price for their purchase. Sometimes searching and purchasing online can help - you can even purchase coffins online. Ever Loved's funeral product marketplace offers caskets, urns, headstones and memorial jewelry, often at significantly better prices than families will find through their funeral home. *Search the marketplace for funeral products.
We hope you found these tips and resources helpful. Wishing you comfort.