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

Losing a customer who felt like family is painful and awkward at the same time. As a small business owner, a barista, a manager, or a community organization leader you might be asked to say a few words at a funeral or memorial. This guide helps you write something honest and fitting without corporate stiffness. We explain any terms you might see and give real, adaptable examples you can use as templates.

Who this guide is for

This article is for anyone representing a business or organization who has been asked to speak about a customer at a funeral memorial celebration of life or graveside service. Maybe you knew them for years as a daily coffee order or a weekly client. Maybe the relationship grew into friendship. Maybe you are the owner who watched them laugh with the staff and quietly support your small business. There are sample scripts for short remarks longer tributes formal tones and lighthearted remembrances.

What is a eulogy for a customer

A eulogy is a short speech that honors a person who has died. In the context of a customer the speaker usually represents a business team or community that the customer touched. This is not a corporate announcement. It is a personal remembrance that shows how the customer mattered to your place and to the people who worked there.

Terms you might see

• Obituary A written notice about a death that usually lists biographical details service information and survivors.
• Order of service The schedule for a funeral or memorial listing the sequence of readings music and speakers. Think of it as the event program.
• Celebration of life A less formal gathering that focuses on stories photos and memories more than ritual.
• Funeral director A professional who arranges and oversees funeral services. They can advise about timing and logistics.
• RSVP Short for the French phrase respond s il vous plait which means please respond. It is used on invitations to request attendance confirmation.

Before you start writing

Preparation keeps this from feeling like another stressful task. Use this quick plan.

• Check with the family Respect the family s wishes about who should speak and what is appropriate to say. Ask if they prefer company representation or a strictly personal tribute.
• Know the time limit Ask the funeral director or officiant how long you are allowed to speak and where your remarks fit in the order of service.
• Decide who speaks If multiple staff members want to speak choose one person to deliver the main tribute and consider short comments from others if time allows.
• Set the tone Match the family and the customer s personality. Choose solemn celebratory humorous or a blend based on what the family and staff feel is right.
• Gather material Ask staff for memories collect receipts or notes about favorite orders or projects and find photos or notes that show the relationship.

Tone and boundaries

Speaking for a business requires a little extra care. You want to be warm and human not promotional. Keep these boundaries in mind.

• Avoid turning the eulogy into a marketing message about your business. This is about the person not your brand.
• Steer clear of private medical details unless the family has publicly shared them and asked you to include them.
• Be honest about your relationship. If you knew the customer well say so. If you were simply their barista for a decade say that with affection.
• If the customer had complicated relationships avoid gossip. Focus on the small true things the community will remember.

Structure that works

Stick to a simple shape it gives you permission to be concise and effective. Aim for three to five minutes if you are representing a business and want to stay respectful of the family s schedule.

• Opening Say who you are and why you are speaking. If you represent a team say that clearly.
• Connection Give a one sentence summary of how the customer related to your business for example regular of ten years community supporter project collaborator or daily laughter source.
• Stories Tell one or two short anecdotes that show character. Keep them sensory and specific.
• Impact Explain how their presence changed the staff the space or the wider community.
• Closing Offer a short goodbye a call to remember them in a small way or an invitation to share memory after the service.

Gathering material and interviewing staff

Collecting small details makes a short speech feel deep. Ask coworkers for one memory each. Ask regular customers who might have a story. Use these prompts when you interview people.

• What was their usual order or habit?
• Did they have a nickname a catchphrase or a signature joke?
• Was there a time they helped the staff or other customers?
• Can you remember the last thing they said to you or a small kindness they offered?

Short interviews can be done informally over text email or in a quick staff huddle. Write down exact wording from quotes and ask permission to use them in your speech. This protects privacy and ensures accuracy.

Stories and anecdotes that work

People remember images and scenes. Pick stories that show the customer s character in action. Keep them brief and with a line that connects back to why the story matters.

Good examples

• Mrs. D came in every Thursday for her green tea and the crossword puzzle. She would save a seat at the window for the pigeons and feed them the crusts from her scone. That small ritual taught us about how she found company in quiet things.
• Sam was our contractor but he was also the guy who fixed the broken table during a busy shift. He refused payment and left a note that said keep it for a rainy day. That was his way of being practical and kind at once.
• Jamal always paid for the next person s meal when he had a good day. Once a trainee told us he made their week. His generosity was quiet and contagious.

Example eulogies you can adapt

Below are full examples that represent different business contexts. Replace bracketed text with your details and trim for time.

Example 1: For a cafe regular three minute version

Hi everyone. My name is Lila and I own Morning Grind Coffee. We are honored to be here to remember George who sat in the same booth near the window for twelve years.

George came in every morning at 8 15 give or take a minute and ordered black coffee with two sugars in a paper packet he kept in his wallet. He had a way of commenting on the headlines that made you think twice and then laugh. He taught our staff how to make the perfect noisy slurp which he swore was a measure of true coffee appreciation.

One rainy morning he noticed a teen waiting for a bus without a jacket. He walked out of our shop handed over his own hoodie and said keep warm you never know when you will need someone to pass on an old hoodie. That image stuck with all of us. He did small surprising acts of kindness and he made our shop feel safer and warmer.

We will miss his paper packets of sugar his grumpy morning salutations and the way he always left a little extra for the tip jar. If you ever sit in that window seat you will know a little more about George. Please join us after the service in raising a cup in his honor. Thank you.

Example 2: For a barber shop client short and light

Good afternoon. I am Marco and I cut Elizabeth s hair for seven years. She called me her hair therapist and I called her my unofficial schedule manager because she never missed an appointment and she never let me forget my mother s birthday.

Elizabeth had a laugh that filled the room. She also had an opinion about every new beard trend. Once she brought in a stack of homemade lemon bars to celebrate a shop anniversary and insisted we take the recipe. That was Elizabeth in a jar of lemon bars sweet and sharp at the same time.

We will miss her jokes her exactness and the way she scolded us to take a break when we needed it. Thank you for letting me share these moments. If you want to leave a memory there is a book at the reception where we are collecting stories for the family.

Example 3: For a B2B client longer version from an account manager

Hello. I am Priya and I was Laura s account manager at BrightPath Consulting. We worked together for five years through growth transitions product rollouts and a scandalous office coffee machine replacement.

Laura was the kind of client who expected excellence and then made room for the people she worked with. In one project deadline week she stayed up late to edit a report and then sent the team a playlist she called midnight tacos to keep morale up. That playlist became a running joke and a comfort on tough nights.

Her direct feedback made our deliverables better and her gratitude made the job meaningful. She supported our junior staff by inviting them to meetings and by insisting their views were heard. When the company downsized she mentored two people from our team without being asked.

Laura taught us that professional relationships can be humane. We are better practitioners because of her example. The firm will be sharing a scholarship in her name for early career project managers to honor that legacy. On behalf of BrightPath thank you for letting us be part of her life and for sharing your memories today.

Example 4: For a nonprofit donor and volunteer community tone

My name is Hassan and I coordinate volunteer programs at Green Blocks. Mary was not only our longtime donor she showed up every second Saturday with gloves and a thermos of tea. She would arrive before the rest and stay to sweep the site after everyone left.

Mary had a way of celebrating small victories. When a new tree survived its first summer she texted the team three exclamation points and a photo. She was the person who noticed the shy volunteer and asked for their story. She believed community meant noticing who was not yet seen.

Please join Green Blocks in planting a flowering tree at the site in Mary s memory. We hope it will be a quiet place to remember her practice of consistent small acts. Thank you.

Fill in the blank templates

Use these to draft quickly then personalize. Read aloud once and trim anything that feels rehearsed.

Template A: Short memorial from a small business

Hi I am [Your Name] and I work at [Business Name]. [Customer Name] was a regular for [time period]. They always ordered [favorite order or service] and had a habit of [quirky habit]. One moment that shows who they were is [short story]. We will miss [what staff will miss]. Thank you for being here and for holding their family and ours in your thoughts.

Template B: Corporate account manager short speech

Hello I am [Your Name] from [Company]. I had the pleasure of working with [Customer Name] on [project or account]. They pushed us to do better and they made our team laugh even on late nights. One line they said that I will never forget is [quote]. We honor their impact and we will continue the work they cared about.

Template C: Short and light from a service provider

Hello I am [Your Name] and I helped [Customer Name] with [service]. They had a way of making appointments feel like friendly check ins. My favorite memory is [funny short anecdote]. We will miss their voice and their steady presence. Thank you for sharing a moment with us today.

Delivery tips for business representatives

Speaking in public while representing your workplace can feel high stakes. Keep calm with practical steps.

• Keep it short Three minutes is often enough to say something meaningful without overshadowing family speakers.
• Practice once out loud Run through the speech with a coworker so you feel the pace and tone.
• Use first person Speak from your experience. Even as a company representative personal words carry more weight.
• Bring a printed copy Use large font and simple spacing. Paper is less likely to glitch than a phone or tablet.
• Avoid props Photos or artifacts are lovely but clear them with family and officiant first. They can distract or complicate timing.
• Coordinate a backup Ask a colleague to be ready to read a short closing line if you cannot finish.

Permissions and privacy

Before using photos customer quotes or private messages check with the family. Some families welcome public sharing. Others prefer privacy. If you plan to post a tribute on social media tag only with permission and avoid medical detail. Respect the family s wishes about donations memorial funds or dedications and route offers through a designated point of contact.

What to do after the eulogy

People will thank you and some will want to share a memory. Make it easy for them. Offer a guest book or a memory jar at the business collect notes and photos and deliver them to the family. If the family asked for privacy respect that request. If the business is collecting funds for a memorial follow the family s guidance and keep records to be transparent.

How to include a reading or music

Short readings or a single song can be meaningful. If you include a piece choose something the customer loved or that the family approves. Keep it brief and coordinate with the officiant so it fits the order of service. Avoid long tracks that delay the schedule.

Practical checklist for the speaker

• Confirm time limit and placement in the order of service.
• Run your remarks by a family contact if possible.
• Print a backup copy of your speech and a small card with prompts.
• Practice once with a coworker and confirm audio needs with the funeral director.
• Bring tissues and a bottle of water if permitted.
• Plan a short closing line such as Thank you for letting me share a memory or We will miss [name] every day at closing time.

Glossary of useful terms and acronyms

• Eulogy A speech given at a funeral memorial or celebration of life to honor the person who has died.
• Obituary A written notice announcing a death with basic biographical details and service information.
• Order of service The planned sequence of events at a funeral or memorial such as readings music and speakers.
• Funeral director A professional who manages funeral logistics and can advise on timing microphone setup and seating.
• Celebration of life A gathering that focuses on storytelling photos and memory rather than formal ritual.
• RSVP This is an abbreviation for the French respond s il vous plait which means please respond. It is used to request attendance confirmation on an invitation.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the right person from a business to give a eulogy for a customer

Choose someone who had a direct relationship with the customer such as an owner manager or staff member who knew them well. If the customer was a public supporter and the family requests an organizational voice consider a short statement delivered by the owner or executive with a personal anecdote included.

How long should a business representative speak

Three minutes is a good target. It is long enough to share a meaningful story and short enough to respect family speakers and the service schedule. If you need to include multiple staff voices coordinate a combined time of five to seven minutes maximum unless the family explicitly allows more.

Can I mention the customer s support of the business

Yes but keep it brief and sincere. Thank them for their support or loyalty without turning the tribute into a promotion. Mention specific acts of support such as regular patronage referrals volunteer time or donations and tie those acts to their character.

Is it okay to share a funny story about a customer

Yes if it is kind and if the family is comfortable with humor. Small earned jokes that reveal personality are usually welcome. Avoid stories that could embarrass the family or reveal private matters.

What if I am emotional and cannot finish

Pause breathe and look at your notes. If you need a moment step aside and ask a colleague to finish a short closing line. Having a backup plan reduces pressure and shows care for the family s event.

Should the business post the eulogy online

Only with permission from the family. Many families prefer privacy. If the family approves decide where to post who will approve comments and whether donations or memorial pages will be linked.