Guide
Eulogy vs obituary vs tribute: what's the difference?
A eulogy is a speech given at the funeral about the person's life and character. An obituary is a written notice, published in a newspaper or online, that announces the death and gives key facts and service details. A tribute is a broader term for any spoken or written words honoring someone, often shorter and from friends or colleagues.
By the Lovingly Written team · Updated
At a glance
| Eulogy | Obituary | Tribute | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form | Spoken | Written | Spoken or written |
| Where | At the funeral or memorial | Newspaper, funeral home site, online memorial | Service, wake, online, workplace |
| Who writes it | Family member or close friend | Usually family, sometimes the funeral home | Anyone |
| Length | 3–5 minutes (400–700 words) | 50–150 words in print; 200–500 online | Often short |
| Main purpose | Share who they were, through stories | Announce the death, give facts and service details | Honor them from a particular angle |
What goes in a eulogy
Stories, character and meaning. A eulogy doesn't need to list dates or every family member. It's personal and usually told from the speaker's point of view. See how to write a eulogy.
What goes in an obituary
Facts in a fairly standard order: the announcement (name, age, town, date), a short life summary, surviving family and those who died before, service details, and where to send donations. See how to write an obituary.
What counts as a tribute
A tribute can be a few words from a colleague, a post on a memorial page, a speech at a celebration of life, or a short address from a club or community group. It's less formal than a eulogy and often focuses on one part of the person's life. See funeral speech and celebration of life speech.
Do you need all three?
Most families publish an obituary and have at least one eulogy or tribute at the service. Some families also print a short life summary in the funeral program. The same memories can feed all three, written a little differently for each.