How to Write a Eulogy for Your Client - Eulogy Examples & Tips

Saying a few words about a client feels strange and heavy at the same time. You want to honor their life and the relationship they had with your team. You also want to respect family privacy and any professional boundaries. This guide walks you through the process from permission to delivery. We explain the terms you might not know and give real examples you can adapt for a workplace memorial, a virtual service, or a short office remembrance. Read, pick a template, and write something that feels honest and okay to share.

Who this guide is for

This article is for agency leads, account managers, freelancers, consultants, vendor teams, and in house staff who were asked to speak about a client at a funeral, memorial, office gathering, or virtual service. Maybe you were the person who managed the relationship, maybe you were a technical contributor who worked closely with them, or maybe you were their main point of contact for years. This guide gives scripts for different tones and situations including short remarks for a workplace moment of silence and fuller remarks for a public service.

What is a eulogy for a client

A eulogy is a short speech that honors a person who has died. When the person was a client the speech often connects the personal with the professional. It is not a testimonial or a sales pitch. It is a story about the person, their values, their impact on people and projects, and the ways they shaped work and relationships. A eulogy is allowed to be simple and honest.

Terms you might see

• Obituary A written notice of death that usually includes biographical facts and service details.
• Order of service The schedule for a funeral or memorial listing readings, music, and speakers.
• Officiant The person who leads the service. This can be religious or secular.
• Celebration of life A less formal gathering that often focuses on stories and photos rather than rituals.
• NDA Short for nondisclosure agreement. Check if any information is protected by contract before sharing it publicly.
• Executor The person legally responsible for a deceased person s estate. They may be the point of contact for family decisions.
• Virtual memorial An online gathering using video conferencing or a recorded tribute.

Before you start writing

First things first get permission. Reach out to the deceased person s family or the person coordinating the service and ask whether it is appropriate for you to speak. Ask about tone, length, and any topics to avoid. If the client was high profile check with legal and PR teams at your company. If there are contracts or NDAs confirm that sharing certain project details is allowed.

Quick checklist before you open a document

• Confirm with family or the officiant that you are welcome to speak.
• Ask how long you should be. Three to five minutes is common for workplace remarks.
• Ask if there are subjects to avoid such as medical details or internal disputes.
• Check with your company about public statements and social media posting.
• Get any necessary permissions to use photos or project examples in a slide or handout.

How to gather material

Collecting the right material will save time and keep the eulogy grounded. Your job is to pull together what people remember about the client beyond job titles and dates.

• Talk to colleagues Ask three to five people who worked closest with the client for one memory each. Short memories give you options.
• Review messages Look through emails, chat threads, and project notes for quick lines that show personality. Respect privacy when quoting messages.
• Collect visual aids If a slideshow or printed program is allowed choose two to six photos that show the person in work and out of work settings.
• Ask about favorite rituals Did the client always bring snacks to meetings, start with a joke, or insist on a weekly check in? Those details make a speech feel real.
• Note impact List specific outcomes the person influenced like a successful product launch, a team change, or a habit they taught others.

Structure that works

Simple structure gives your audience permission to listen and lets you stay focused. Use this shape and you will not get lost mid speech.

• Opening Say who you are and what your relationship to the client was. Keep it one sentence.
• Life sketch Give a brief overview of who they were outside job titles. Mention family if appropriate and if family has approved.
• Work story Share one or two job related anecdotes that reveal character. Be specific and short.
• Personal memory Offer one small personal story that shows their humor, kindness, or stubbornness.
• Legacy Summarize what people will remember and how the team will carry the lessons forward.
• Closing End with a line of thanks or a simple goodbye. You can invite a moment of silence or a way for people to share memories.

Tone and etiquette

Workplace eulogies sit between private grief and public professionalism. Balance warmth with respect. If your relationship with the client was mostly professional keep the tone measured. If you knew them personally you can allow more intimacy but still check with family first.

Etiquette rules to live by

• Do not use the speech to settle business disputes or to air grievances.
• Avoid surprising the family with previously private stories.
• Do not turn the talk into a product pitch or a brag about your team.
• Keep religious language to brief readings or quotes only if the family is comfortable with that.

What to avoid

• Detailed medical information unless family has asked you to share.
• Confidential business information or numbers that are sensitive.
• Jokes that could embarrass or isolate attendees.
• Long lists of awards without a story to make them human.

Examples you can adapt

Below are full examples. Swap names and specifics and keep the rhythm. Practice them out loud before the day.

Example 1 Account manager for a client you knew well

Hi everyone. I am Jamie and I was Alex s account manager for seven years. Alex had a way of cutting through the noise and getting to the thing that mattered. When a launch looked impossible Alex would sit with the team and ask one clear question. What are we trying to solve for the customer. That question saved us time and improved three product iterations.

One small memory that always makes me smile happened at a late night launch. The coffee machine broke and Alex refused to let the team lose steam. They re created espresso shots by boiling water twice and calling it creative problem solving. We laughed and we shipped. That was Alex in a nutshell practical and oddly optimistic.

Beyond work Alex loved weekend bike rides and bringing pastries to status meetings. We will miss the pastries and the straight talk. More importantly we will miss the example Alex set about treating people with decency and focus. Thank you for letting me share this memory.

Example 2 Vendor who became a friend speaking at an office remembrance

Hello I am Priya from Bright Labs. I did not just work with Sam I learned from Sam. Sam taught me to ask for feedback and to actually change things based on it. Our partnership started as a contract and became routine tea breaks where we traded parenting tips and product notes.

Sam had a joke for every awkward meeting. My favorite was when a board call derailed and Sam said quietly to me you can always pivot to snacks. We did and the call was charmingly calmer. That lightness was a gift.

Sam leaves behind a team that is kinder and a process that is clearer because they insisted on both. Thank you Sam for the clarity and the snacks. We will carry you forward in the way we work.

Example 3 Short remarks for a virtual memorial

Hi I am Marcus from Hometown Creative. I will keep this short. I was lucky to work with Lisa on three campaigns. Lisa had standards that made our work better and a laugh that made all the long nights easier. If you want to share a memory we have started a thread in our company chat. Please add a photo or one sentence about how Lisa helped you. Thank you for joining us today.

Example 4 Complicated relationship handled with respect

My name is Rachel. I worked with Tom for many years and our relationship was not always smooth. Tom pushed hard and sometimes pushed too hard. That pressure grew into outcomes we are all proud of. In the last year Tom softened and asked for help in ways that mattered. I am grateful for that change because it taught me how to set boundaries and how to listen better. Thank you Tom for the lessons and for the late nights you forced us through. We will remember them as growth moments.

Fill in the blank templates

Pick a template that fits your role. Replace bracketed text with your details and trim anything that feels off.

Template A Full workplace eulogy three to five minutes

Hello. I am [Your Name] and I was [Client s] [role or relationship]. [Client Name] was [one sentence about who they were outside work]. At work [Client Name] was known for [trait or habit]. One memory that shows this is [brief story]. That memory shows how they changed us by [lesson or impact]. We will miss [what people will miss]. Thank you for being here to honor [Client Name].

Template B Short workplace remark under two minutes

Hi. I am [Your Name]. I worked with [Client Name] on [project or team]. They were always the person who [small habit]. I will always remember [short memory]. Thank you all for the chance to remember them together.

Template C For complicated or mixed relationships

My name is [Your Name]. My relationship with [Client Name] was complicated. We had high pressure moments and sharp conversations. Those moments taught us to improve how we work and how we communicate. In the end I am grateful for [specific lesson or moment of reconciliation]. Thank you.

Delivery tips and logistics

Whether you speak in an office conference room or on a livestream these practical tips will help.

• Time it Practice so you know you fit the allotted time. Keep a printed copy with large font.
• Use cue cards Short index cards with one or two lines per card prevent you from getting lost if you tear up.
• Virtual setups If you are on camera place your script slightly below the lens so you seem to be looking at people. Test audio and mute notifications.
• Microphone basics Keep the mic a few inches from your mouth and speak slowly. Project without shouting.
• Pause and breathe If you cry pause, breathe, and swallow. Slow down. A calm voice carries more than rushed words.
• Have a backup Arrange for a colleague to be ready to finish your remark if you need help. Agree on a short hand signal.

Legal and ethical checklist

Before publishing or posting anything confirm these items.

• Family permission to speak and to post photos or recordings.
• Check for NDAs or other contract clauses that limit what you can publicly disclose.
• Approval from company communications and legal teams for public statements.
• Copyright permission if you plan to use music in a recorded tribute.
• Consider sensitive data like client lists and financials and do not include them.

How to include readings, poems and music in a workplace setting

Short pieces work best. A two to four line poem or a brief lyric that was meaningful to the client can be powerful. Ask the family or the client s closest colleague before including anything personal. If you play recorded audio for a virtual memorial test audio levels and ensure the sound is brief so it does not dominate the gathering.

After the eulogy

People will likely ask for a copy. Offer to email a typed version to interested colleagues and to the family. If your organization keeps a memory archive consider adding the text and any approved photos to it. If recording was done ask family permission before sharing publicly. A private company channel is usually fine for internal sharing when the family approves.

Glossary of useful terms and acronyms

• Eulogy A speech given to honor a person who has died. In a professional context it connects the person s life and work.
• Obituary A written notice announcing a death that usually includes basic details and service information.
• Order of service The sequence of events during a funeral or memorial.
• Officiant The person leading the service whether religious or secular.
• Celebration of life A less formal gathering that often emphasizes stories and photos.
• NDA A legal agreement that limits disclosure of certain information.
• Executor The person responsible for carrying out the deceased person s legal wishes.
• Virtual memorial An online gathering that may be live or recorded.

Frequently asked questions

Can I give a eulogy for my client

Yes if the family or the person coordinating the service has invited you. Always ask permission in advance and confirm any topics to avoid. If you are unsure check with your company s communications or legal team if the client was public facing.

How long should my remarks be

For workplace or vendor remarks aim for three to five minutes. Shorter is often better. If multiple people are speaking coordinate time so the program stays on schedule.

What if our relationship had problems

Be honest but respectful. You can acknowledge complexity without airing grievances. Focus on lessons learned and the impact the person had on work or colleagues.

Is it okay to mention business achievements

Yes but do it briefly and always tie achievements to the person s character or the way they treated people. Avoid numbers or proprietary details that are sensitive.

Can I post the eulogy online

Check with the family and with your company. If permission is given be mindful of privacy and of any legal constraints. A private company channel is usually safer than a public post.

Should I include a call to action like donations

If the family has requested donations to a charity include that information only with explicit permission. For workplace memorials you can invite people to contribute to a memory book or an internal collection with the family s blessing.