Guide
Writing a eulogy when you're short on time
If the funeral is close and you haven't started, a simple plan helps. Spend fifteen minutes writing down three memories, fifteen turning them into a beginning, middle and end, fifteen reading it aloud and trimming, and the last fifteen printing it large and marking pauses. A short, true eulogy of two or three minutes is enough.
By the Lovingly Written team · Updated
Before you begin
Find a quiet place. Have a glass of water. Tell yourself that this doesn't need to be perfect or complete; it needs to be true and kind. Two to three minutes, around 300 to 400 words, is a perfectly good eulogy.
A calm one-hour plan
Minutes 0–15: gather. Write down, in rough notes:
- One thing they always said.
- One place you'll always link with them.
- One moment you'll never forget.
Minutes 15–30: shape. Turn your notes into three parts:
- Opening: who you are and how you knew them.
- Middle: the one or two memories, told as small stories.
- Ending: a short line to them, or their own phrase.
Minutes 30–45: read aloud. Read it out loud once, timing it. Cut anything that feels like a list. Replace general words ("kind", "generous") with the memory that shows it.
Minutes 45–60: prepare the page. Print in a large font (16–18 point) with space between paragraphs. Mark where you'll pause. Print two copies and give one to someone who can step in if needed.
If you only have ten minutes
Write three sentences: who you are, one memory, and goodbye. That's a eulogy. Nobody will measure it.
Ask for help
Ask a relative for one story to include, or for help checking names. If you'd like help with the words, tell us about them and we'll draft a eulogy from your memories; you'll see the opening before deciding anything. Our eulogy template and tips on starting and ending can also help.