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

Writing a eulogy for your great great grandmother can feel like holding both history and family in your hands. Maybe you never met her or maybe you remember a slow laugh and a cookie jar that always had something strange inside. Either way you want to honor a life that helped shape your family story. This guide gives you practical steps to pull together memories, handle gaps in knowledge, and speak in a way that is honest and warm. We explain terms you might not know and provide ready to use examples and templates so you can pick a style and make it yours.

Who this guide is for

This article is for anyone tasked with speaking about a great great grandmother at a funeral memorial celebration of life or family gathering. You might be a great grandchild a genealogist in the family or a millennial who wants to stitch together older stories into something that feels true. You may have lots of photos oral histories and faded letters or you may have only a few memories passed down in anecdotes. Both are fine. This guide helps you shape what you have into a speech people will remember.

What is a eulogy

A eulogy is a short speech that honors a person who has died. It sits beside other funeral components like readings music and prayers. A eulogy is personal. It is allowed to be imperfect. It is not the same thing as an obituary. An obituary is a written notice with dates and service details. A eulogy is a story about who the person was and what they meant.

Terms and acronyms you might see

• Obituary A public notice of a death that usually includes basic facts such as birth date survivors and service information.
• Order of service The sequence of events at a funeral or memorial. Think of it as the event program.
• Celebration of life A less formal event that emphasizes memories photos and stories rather than ritual.
• Legacy The long term impact of a person s life on family community and values.
• Oral history Stories and memories passed down verbally across generations often filled with small details that do not appear in official records.

Why writing for a great great grandmother is different

Great great grandparents lived in different eras. That can mean gaps in memory fewer photos and family stories that have changed over time. It also means you have an opportunity to connect big history to small personal moments. People will listen for the threads that link the past to the present. You do not need to be a historian. You need to be a good listener and a clear teller.

Before you start writing

Gathering material first makes writing faster and less emotional when you get to the microphone. Use these steps.

• Talk to older relatives Ask a grandparent or great aunt or uncle for two concrete memories like a favorite recipe a saying or a habit. Record them on your phone with permission.
• Scan photos and possessions Photos, a recipe card, a letter or a small memento can spark a story. Ask what memory the object triggers for a family member.
• Check public records Old newspapers census data and local history pages can provide dates jobs and context. You do not have to recite facts but they can help place anecdotes in time.
• Decide the tone Choose whether you want the speech to feel gentle matter of fact celebratory or funny. Check with close family so your tone matches the event.
• Choose three focus points Pick three ideas people should leave remembering such as resilience humor generosity or a signature habit. Three points keep your speech tight.

Simple structure that works

Use a shape that is easy to remember and easy for listeners to follow.

• Opening Say who you are and why you are speaking. Offer one line that sets the tone.
• Life sketch Give a brief overview of her life in clear strokes. Mention place of birth key roles and any notable era like wartime migration or farming life.
• Anecdotes Tell one or two short stories that reveal character. These can be funny or tender. Keep them specific.
• Meaning Summarize what she taught others or the legacy she left.
• Closing End with a goodbye line a short poem a quote or a suggested way to remember her such as baking a recipe lighting a candle or sharing a story.

Writing the opening

The opening does heavy lifting. Keep it simple.

Examples

• Hello. My name is Maya and I am the great grandchild of Helen. I am honored to say a few words about her quiet stubborn kindness.
• Hi. I am Jonah. I never met Ada but I know her by the stories my grandmother told when she wanted to teach us how to be tough and kind at once.
• Good afternoon. I am Lena one of the many people who learned to laugh because of Clara s terrible jokes and better pies.

How to write the life sketch

The life sketch is not a full biography. Pick the few facts that help the story you want to tell. For a great great grandmother dates can matter less than narrative touch points. Mention a birthplace a major life move an occupation or role and a hobby or habit that people remember.

Templates for a life sketch

• [Name] was born in [place] in [approximate year or era]. She moved to [place] when she was [stage of life]. She worked as [job or role] and was known for [habit or skill].
• [Name] grew up in [place] and lived through [event or era]. She loved [hobby], made [signature food], and collected [object]. To the family she was a [role such as anchor storyteller or maker].

Anecdotes that work across generations

Stories that travel through time have sensory detail and a small payoff. They do not need to be grand. Tiny rituals often show character best. Keep set up short and end with why the memory matters.

Examples

• My grandmother told me that when she was a child her mother taught her to mend socks by candlelight. That small skill became a symbol in our family for fixing what you can and carrying on.
• Aunt Rose always says that great great grandma Elsie hid extra jam jars under the bed in case of hard winters. It is funny and it also explains where our penchant for planning came from.
• When I asked my grandfather to describe her he said she had a laugh that started at the toes and made the dishware tremble. That laugh taught us how to find joy in small things.

What to do if you never met her

Not meeting the person you are eulogizing is common for deep generation gaps. Your job then is to stitch together voice from what you do have. Use quotes from relatives letters or newspaper pieces. Frame the speech as part memory part family portrait.

Example lines

• I did not have the chance to know Anna in person but I know her through the stories my grandmother told. Those stories describe a woman who mended fences and welcomed strangers like family.
• We do not have many photos but we do have recipes and a few letters. I will read a short excerpt because the way she signed her name tells you how she saw the world.

Addressing complicated family histories

Families carry messy histories. You can be honest without using the eulogy as a place to settle scores. Acknowledge complexity in one or two measured lines and move to what you can lift up or what you learned.

Examples for nuance

• Our great great grandmother had a tough life and made hard choices. We can honor her courage and also admit where she might have been wrong. Both things can be true.
• There were regrets. There were also repairs. What I want to remember is the small kindness she offered when it mattered most.

Using humor safely

Humor opens a room to breathe. Use small earned jokes that family members have already laughed at. Avoid surprises that might embarrass someone present.

Safe humor examples

• She had a special talent for over planting her garden. We called it botanical optimism and we benefited from it every summer.
• Her rules included one about never throwing away a perfectly good glass jar. We now own about one hundred glass jars and several unnecessary pickles.

Full eulogy examples you can adapt

Example 1 Classic warm story about a long life

Hello. I am Clara and I am one of the great grandchildren of Margaret. Margaret was born in a small town near the river during a year when winters were harder and neighbors depended on each other. She worked as a seamstress most of her life but her real work was the way she kept our family together. She saved letters she called them contracts of love. One story my father tells is about a winter when the roof leaked. While everyone worried she tied a tin pan under the drip and drummed out a song until the repairs could be made. The bandaged roof and the laughing singing are both her. She taught us how to face small disasters with calm and a cup of tea. Please join me now in remembering one small thing she did that made you feel safe.

Example 2 Short modern two minute version

Hi. I am Ezra. I never met Mabel but I grew up with her recipes and the smell of nutmeg that followed every holiday. She taught our family to celebrate imperfect pies and perfect conversations. I will miss the stories we still tell about her and the warmth she left in our kitchen.

Example 3 For a complicated history

My name is Rosa. Our great great grandmother lived a long life and made choices that we still debate. She could be stern and loving in the same breath. In her later years she reached out and offered an apology to a family member she had hurt. That simple act changed how we tried to live. I choose to remember both her faults and the repair because both are part of who she was.

Example 4 Celebration of life with humor

Hello. I am Ben. If you ever met Hattie you know she loved church pie sales and a stubborn recipe book. She had the ability to make six kinds of fruit into something edible. We are here to laugh about her cooking experiments and to remember that she made sure every person left with a full plate and maybe a lecture on thriftiness. Today we celebrate recipes that survived and jokes that became family lore.

Fill in the blank templates

Use these templates to get a draft down then edit for voice and truth.

Template A Classic short

My name is [Your Name]. I am the [relationship such as great grandchild] of [Name]. [Name] was born in [place or era]. She loved [one hobby or thing]. One memory that captures her is [brief story]. She taught me [value or lesson]. We will miss [what people will miss]. Thank you for being here to hold her memory.

Template B If you never met her

My name is [Your Name]. I did not have the chance to meet [Name] in person. I know her through stories photos and a few letters. From these I see a woman who [trait]. One story that shows this is [short anecdote]. That story tells me [what you take away].

Template C For a light celebration

Hi. I am [Your name]. To know [Name] meant knowing [quirky habit]. She also insisted on [family rule]. My favorite memory is [funny small moment]. Today we laugh and we remember the ways she filled our lives. Thank you for sharing in that.

Delivery tips for a nervous speaker

• Keep it short Aim for three to five minutes if possible. Short speeches are often more memorable.
• Print your remarks Use large font on paper or index cards. Paper is steadier than a phone when emotions run high.
• Mark pauses Put a bracket where you plan to breathe or where listeners may laugh. Pauses let emotion settle.
• Practice out loud Read the speech to a friend or record yourself. Hearing it helps you speak naturally.
• Bring water and tissues Simple comforts matter. Wet eyes are normal. If you need a moment take it.
• Have a backup Arrange for someone to introduce you or to finish a sentence if you need help. That is not failure it is planning.
• Use voice memory Memorize the opening line and the closing line. Those anchor you even if you rely on notes in between.

Logistics to check beforehand

• Confirm where you will stand and whether a microphone is available.
• Ask how long you are expected to speak and who follows you on the program.
• Provide a copy of your speech to the officiant if asked.
• Check whether recordings are permitted before you record or share audio or video.

What to avoid

• Avoid long lists of dates without stories. Facts matter but stories carry feeling.
• Avoid airing private family conflicts in public. Acknowledge complexity but do not weaponize it.
• Avoid assuming everyone knows family nicknames. Use full names and then nicknames if needed.
• Avoid trying to be funny at the expense of dignity. Gentle humor is better than shock value.

Glossary of useful terms

• Eulogy A speech given at a funeral or memorial to honor the person who died.
• Obituary A written announcement of a death with basic facts and service details.
• Order of service The schedule for the event listing readings music and speakers.
• Celebration of life A less formal remembrance that centers stories photos and personal memories.
• Oral history Memories and stories passed down by word of mouth often filling gaps in written records.
• Pallbearer A person chosen to help carry the casket usually a family member or close friend.

Frequently asked questions

What if I do not have many memories of her

That is okay. Use stories from relatives letters or photos. Even a single small anecdote like a phrase she used or a recipe she made can carry meaning. Frame the speech as a portrait built from family memory not as a first person memoir.

How long should a eulogy for a great great grandmother be

Three to five minutes is a good target. If people are sharing many speakers coordinate times so the event stays on schedule. Short and focused usually has more emotional impact than a long unfocused speech.

Can I read a poem or a short excerpt from a letter

Yes. Short excerpts work best. A two to four line poem or a short letter passage often supports your words without taking the room over. Confirm with the officiant and give printed text to include in the program if desired.

How do I include historical context without sounding like a lecture

Weave history into personal detail. Instead of a list of events mention how those events touched family life such as a move for work a rationing of food or the arrival of a radio that changed evenings. Use history to illuminate character not to dominate the speech.

What if family members disagree about what to say

Talk to a few trusted relatives and choose a tone that most can accept. If disagreements are sharp keep your remarks focused on a few universal traits like kindness or resilience. Offer to share drafts with close family if that helps ease tension.

Is it okay to say I did not know her well

Yes. Honesty is powerful. A simple line acknowledging the distance and then sharing what you do know or what you learned from family keeps the eulogy grounded and sincere.