A eulogy for a friend

Help writing a eulogy for a friend.

A eulogy for a friend usually runs three to five minutes, about 400 to 700 words. As a friend, you can show a side of them their family may not have seen: how you met, what you did together, who they were when they were completely themselves. Tell us about your friend and we'll help you shape it into something you can read.

Who are you writing for?

Free to start · your answers save as you go · read the opening before you decide

Speaking as a friend

Family members often talk about where someone came from. A friend can talk about who they chose to be: the trips, the nights out, the help they gave without being asked, the jokes only your group understood. Keep in mind the family will be listening, so choose stories that show your friend at their best and that you'd be comfortable telling their parents.

Questions that help you remember them

How did you meet, and what was your first impression?
What did you always do together?
When did they show up for you?
What did they make everyone else feel?
What is a message from them you'll keep?

A simple shape

Introduce yourself and how you knew them.
Tell the story of your friendship in one or two moments.
Widen it out: what they meant to the other friends in the room.
End with a line to them, or a toast-style sentence the room can share.

Checking with the family

It's kind to tell the family roughly what you plan to say, especially if you include something they may not know about. Most families are grateful to hear new stories, but it helps to avoid surprises on the day.

How it works

Three quiet steps

Tell us about them

A few gentle questions, one at a time. Leave anything blank. Your answers save as you go, so you can stop and come back.

ii.

Read how it begins

We prepare it in two voices, warm and personal or calm and composed, and show you the opening.

iii.

Keep it if it feels right

Download it as PDF or Word, with a large-print copy for reading aloud. Ask for changes for seven days.

Questions

How do I speak to a family who knew a different side of them?

Start by saying how you knew them. Then share the side only friends saw, kindly. Families often treasure hearing it.

Can I include memories from our friend group?

Yes. Add one or two from others in the form and the eulogy can name who shared them.

What if there are things the family wouldn't want said?

List them in the form under things to avoid; we leave them out completely.

Do I pay before I see anything?

No. You read the opening first, and only pay if it feels right. Refunds are available for 7 days, no questions asked.

Take your time. We'll be here when you're ready.