How to Write a Eulogy for Your Great Grandparent - Eulogy Examples & Tips

Writing a eulogy for your great grandparent can feel both meaningful and oddly challenging. Maybe you have vivid memories of their laugh and secret recipes. Maybe you only met them a few times but still want to honor their life. This guide gives a clear method you can use, plus real examples and fill in the blank templates you can copy and personalize. We explain any funeral terms you might not know and give delivery tips that actually help when grief makes your voice shaky.

Who this guide is for

This article is for anyone asked to speak about a great grandparent at a funeral, memorial, graveside service, or celebration of life. You might be the oldest living great grandchild. You might be the one who lived closest or who kept a phone relationship going. You might feel unsure because great grandparents sit a generation and a half away. That is okay. There are sample scripts for short tributes, longer stories, funny memories, and situations where the relationship was distant or complicated.

What is a eulogy

A eulogy is a short speech that honors a person who has died. It is part of a funeral or memorial service. A eulogy is not an obituary. An obituary is a written notice that lists facts like birth date, survivors, and service details. A eulogy is a personal story. It invites listeners to remember someone through memory and feeling.

Terms you might see

• Obituary A published notice about a death that usually includes biographical details and service arrangements.
• Order of service The schedule for the event listing readings, music, and speakers. Think of it as the event program.
• Pallbearer A person who helps carry the casket. They are often close family or friends.
• Celebration of life A less formal gathering that focuses on stories, photos, and remembering rather than formal rituals.
• Reception A time after the service where people eat, talk, and share memories. It is often more relaxed and a good place for storytelling.
• Legacy project A collection of memories, letters, photos, or recordings gathered to preserve the person s story for future generations.

How long should a eulogy for a great grandparent be

Short and clear is usually better. Aim for three to six minutes. That commonly translates to about four hundred to seven hundred spoken words. Great grandparent tributes can be shorter if multiple people are speaking. Brief targeted stories are often more memorable than long lists of facts.

Before you start writing

Preparation removes a lot of stress. Use this quick plan to collect what you need.

• Ask about time Confirm with the family or officiant how long you are expected to speak and where your eulogy fits in the order of service.
• Decide the tone Do you want to be gentle and solemn, light and celebratory, or a mix? Check with close relatives so the tone respects family wishes and the character of your great grandparent.
• Gather stories Ask parents, grandparents, and older relatives for one memory each. Look through photos, letters, and keepsakes. Even a small detail like a catch phrase or favorite cookie gives you something vivid to use.
• Choose two or three focus points Pick a small number of ideas you want people to remember. Too many points make a speech feel scattered. Two to three gives shape and makes it easy to follow.

Structure that works

Use a simple shape. Clear structure helps you write and helps listeners follow the story.

• Opening Say who you are and your relationship. Offer one sentence that sets the tone.
• Life sketch Give a brief overview of their life in practical strokes. Keep it short and focused on roles that mattered such as immigrant, veteran, gardener, or neighbor.
• Anecdotes Tell one or two short stories that reveal character. Stories should be specific and sensory.
• Legacy and lessons Mention what they passed on to family like recipes, songs, skills, or a way of being.
• Closing Offer a single goodbye line, a short quote, or an invitation for listeners to share memories later.

How to write the opening

Keep the opening simple. Your audience will be listening and likely emotional. Start with your name and how you are related. Then say one clear sentence about the person or what the day is for. That first line grounds you.

Opening examples

• Hi, I m Jamie and I am Great Granddaughter to Ruth. Today we remember how she filled holidays with music and a table big enough to hold everyone.
• Hello, I am Marcus and I am the eldest great grandson. My great grandfather, Albert, taught me how to fix a tire and how to tell a story.
• Good morning. I am Noor and I am a proud member of Huda s family. She loved making tea for anyone who stopped by because she believed conversations healed things.

How to build the life sketch

The life sketch is not every detail. Pick a few facts that help listeners imagine them. Think about the roles they played that shaped family memory. You can include where they were born, a main job or calling, and a few hobbies or habits that made them recognizable.

Life sketch templates

• [Name] was born in [place] and moved to [city] as a young adult. She worked as a [job] and later became known for [hobby or role]. She married [name] and raised [number] children. She loved [thing].
• [Name] grew up during [historical era] and that shaped how they lived. They kept family traditions like [tradition] and they were always the person who [habit].

Anecdotes that matter

People remember stories not lists. Pick a memory that is short, vivid, and has a small payoff that explains why it counts. Use sensory details when you can. Instead of saying they liked cooking, say how the kitchen smelled like cinnamon on winter evenings and how they stirred batter with a spoon that had a small chip on its handle.

Examples of short anecdotes

• Every Fourth of July he would put on the same red cap and insist we stand around the backyard to hear his version of the family s history. It was half fact and half performance art. We did not care which was which.
• My great grandmother kept jars of mint leaves in the freezer. She would take one out and hand you a cup of tea with a wink. She said it was her way of freezing summer for the winter.
• She had a rule about birthdays. If you forgot to sing for someone you had to bake the next cake. That rule made us all better at remembering.

What if you did not know them well

Great grandparents sometimes live far away or pass at an advanced age. If you did not spend a lot of time with them you can still give a meaningful tribute. Use family stories, old letters, photographs, and research. Talk to older relatives and record their memories. Saying that you did not know them well but that you learned about them through others is honest and moving.

Examples for distant relationships

• I did not grow up in the same town as Great Aunt Irene. Still, every family visit included a supply of her almond cookies. They connected me to her even when we were apart.
• Though I met him only a few times, his voice is alive in the stories my mother tells. Those stories are how I came to know the man who loved to whistle while gardening.

How to handle complicated family histories

Family histories can be messy. You do not need to air private conflicts in public. You can acknowledge complexity with dignity. Focus on a truth you can claim. Maybe the relationship was distant, or maybe past hurts exist. You can say that the person was imperfect while also counting a way in which they mattered to you or to others.

Examples for complicated relationships

• We had our differences, and still there was always a bowl of soup on my grandmother s porch when I returned from a long trip. That is the part of her I will not forget.
• He was not perfect. He could be stubborn and opinionated. He was also the first person in our family to teach me to say sorry. That lesson matters.

Using humor carefully

Humor can be a relief. Use small, earned jokes that come from true stories. Avoid humor that could embarrass living relatives or that relies on private information. Test a joke on someone who will be honest. After a joke, reconnect with a sincere line so the tone stays respectful.

Safe humor examples

• She counted her spoons every Sunday and claimed one was always missing. We never found it. We did find a better story each year.
• Great Grandpa loved to nap after dinner. He called it quality control for the evening. If you were quiet he might wake up with a nugget of advice.

What to avoid in a eulogy

• Avoid long lists of achievements without stories to make them human.
• Avoid private grievances or family disputes that could make the room uncomfortable.
• Avoid reading verbatim from social media posts without checking accuracy.
• Avoid starting with lengthy apologies for being nervous. A short note about emotion is fine but do not spend your time apologizing in a way that dilutes the tribute.

Complete eulogy examples you can adapt

Below are full examples you can personalize. Replace bracketed text with your details and trim for time.

Example 1: Warm and short great grandparent tribute, two to three minutes

Hello. My name is Anna. I am the great granddaughter of Helen. Helen was born in a small town by the sea and moved to our city in her twenties. She worked as a seamstress and later opened a small alterations shop where she could always be found with a measuring tape draped over her shoulder.

One small memory that captures Helen is how she gave each of us a little cloth bag on our first visit. Inside there was always a tiny clover she had pressed between pages of her Bible. She said the clover was a promise of luck and of being loved. That tiny ritual made all of us feel held.

She taught us patience, how to mend both fabric and moods, and that small acts can make a big difference. Today we thank her for the quiet work she did to stitch our family together. Please join me in holding her memory close and sharing one small act of kindness in her name this week. Thank you.

Example 2: Longer narrative for a life of resilience, five to seven minutes

Good morning. I am Mark and I am the eldest great grandson of Joseph. Joseph grew up during hard times and he told stories of building a radio from spare parts so the family would have news. He served in the community garden projects and worked as a mechanic who could fix almost anything.

One story I love is the time he drove three hours to pick up a crate of peaches for my grandmother because she had been craving them. The peaches were bruised and a little soft by the time he arrived. He handed them over with a grin and said they were perfect because they were picked with intention. That is how he moved through life. He believed in the value of showing up, even if things were imperfect.

He taught us to lean into curiosity and to make the best of what we have. He built a bench in the backyard that became a place where everyone gathered for birthdays and tough conversations. That bench holds his fingerprints and our memories. We will miss his whistle and his ability to make any problem feel solvable. Thank you for being here and for carrying his story onward.

Example 3: Funny and affectionate, light celebration of life

Hi everyone. I am Leila. If you met Great Aunt Rosie you knew two things right away. One, she loved big earrings. Two, she believed any problem could be solved with tea and a carefully chosen proverb. She once tried to convince my cousin that wearing socks with sandals was the next fashion move. She failed at that mission, but she always tried to make style choices fun.

Her laugh filled rooms and her stories got better with each retelling. She would wink when she told a tall tale and then add a small truth at the end. Today we laugh because she taught us how to take life seriously without forgetting how to smile. Please laugh with us as we remember her wild earrings and wiser heart.

Fill in the blank templates

Use these templates to start writing. Fill in the brackets and then edit so it sounds like you.

Template A: Short and simple

My name is [Your Name]. I am [great grandchild or relation] of [Name]. [Name] was born in [place or year] and was known for [short trait or hobby]. One memory that shows who they were is [brief story]. They taught me [lesson]. We will miss [what people will miss]. Thank you for being here.

Template B: For a life of service and resilience

Hello, I am [Your Name]. [Name] lived through [historical detail] and spent their life doing [work or calling]. They believed in [value]. A small example of that is [short story]. That example taught me [lesson]. I am grateful for their example and I hope to carry forward [value or habit].

Template C: For a relationship that was distant or complicated

My name is [Your Name]. I did not know [Name] as well as I wish I had. Still, there are things I learned from stories and from the handful of visits I had. One memory is [short story]. Even with our distance, I can say [honest sentence about what you learned or feel].

Delivery tips when you are emotional

Speaking while grieving is hard. Here are practical tactics that help you stay steady.

• Print your speech Use large font. Paper is easier to manage than a small phone screen when emotions run high.
• Use cue cards Index cards with a few lines each help you keep your place and reduce the chance of getting lost.
• Mark pauses Put a bracket or a dot where you want to breathe or where the audience will laugh. Pauses give you time to collect yourself.
• Practice out loud Read your remarks to a friend or record yourself. Practicing helps your voice and throat know what to expect.
• Bring tissues and water Keep a glass of water nearby. Small sips can steady your voice.
• Arrange a backup If you fear you might not finish, arrange for someone to introduce you and to step in if needed.
• Keep it short if you need to A heartfelt minute can be more powerful than ten unfocused minutes.

Including readings, poems, or music

Short works are best. A two to four line poem excerpt or a short song can support your words. Confirm with the officiant and provide a printed copy for the program if possible. If you plan to play a recorded song, check with the venue about technical setup ahead of time.

Music ideas

• Pick songs your great grandparent loved or songs that match the tone of the event.
• Place music where it supports the speech such as a brief interlude after a moving story.
• If live music is not possible, ask the venue about playing a short recorded track between speakers.

Practical logistics

• Tell the funeral director if you will need a microphone or if you plan to hand out printed copies of your speech.
• Confirm with the officiant where you will stand and how long you should speak.
• Give a copy of your speech to the person running the order of service so they can include it in a program or memory book if requested.
• If family members want copies afterwards, offer to email it or include it in a family chat group.

How to preserve the eulogy and memories

Many families create a legacy project. Consider recording your eulogy audio and placing it in a shared drive or family archive with photos and letters. Ask before posting recordings on social media since some relatives may prefer privacy. A recorded version can be a comfort to relatives who could not attend.

Glossary of useful terms and acronyms

• Eulogy A speech given at a funeral to honor the person who has died.
• Obituary A written notice that announces a death and usually includes service details.
• Order of service The plan for the funeral listing the sequence of events and speakers.
• Pallbearer A person chosen to help carry the casket. They are usually close relatives or friends.
• Celebration of life A less formal gathering that often focuses on stories, photos, and memory.
• Reception A gathering after the service where people eat, talk, and share memories.
• Legacy project A collection of memories, photos, recordings, or documents saved to preserve a person s story.
• RSVP This stands for the French phrase respond s il vous plait which means please respond. It is used on invitations to ask people to confirm attendance.

Frequently asked questions

How do I start a eulogy if I am nervous

Begin with your name and your relationship to the great grandparent. A short opening like Hello, I am [Your Name] and I am [Name] great grandchild gives the audience context and buys you a breath to settle. Practice that opening until it feels familiar. It will steady you when you begin.

What if I forget my place or start crying

Pause, breathe, and look at your notes. If you need a moment take it. People will wait. If you truly cannot continue have a designated family member ready to step in. Short rehearsed notes someone else can read from make this easier.

Should I include old family stories even if they are not entirely accurate

Use stories that are meaningful and clearly framed as family memory. If a detail might be contested keep the focus on what the story reveals rather than the exact factual claim. Honesty about memory is okay and often more human than pretending everything is perfect.

Can children speak about a great grandparent

Yes. Children can give very moving short tributes such as telling a single memory or reading a short line. Keep it brief so children do not feel overwhelmed. Practice and a comfortable adult nearby help a lot.

What do I do if many people want to speak

Coordinate with the family or officiant. Suggest a time limit for each speaker such as two to four minutes. Consider collecting written memories to include in a memory book or program so everyone s voice can be preserved without extending the service too long.

Should I mention the person s age or cause of death in the eulogy

You can mention age if it is meaningful. Cause of death is private for some families and not for others. Check with close relatives before including it. Focus more on the life and the stories people carry.