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

Writing a eulogy for your great niece is one of the hardest things you may be asked to do. You want to honor a life that felt small and huge at the same time. You might be grieving for a child, a teen, or a young adult. This guide gives a clear path to creating something true and useful. We explain terms you might not know and offer relatable example eulogies you can adapt. Read, pick a template, and start with one honest sentence.

Who this guide is for

This is for anyone asked to speak about a great niece. Maybe you are an aunt or uncle who was close and wants to say something that matters. Maybe you are a cousin, a grandparent, or a family friend asked to share a memory. Maybe the family wants a short tribute and you feel unsure what to say. These examples and templates will work whether the child was a toddler or a young adult.

What is a eulogy

A eulogy is a short speech that honors someone who has died. It appears during a funeral, memorial, graveside service, or celebration of life. A eulogy is different from an obituary which is a written public notice with basic facts like dates and service details. A eulogy is personal. It is okay if it is imperfect.

Terms you might see

• Obituary A published notice about a death that usually lists biographical details and service information.
• Order of service The schedule for a funeral or memorial, listing songs, readings, and speakers. Think of it as the event program.
• Celebration of life A less formal gathering that often focuses on stories, photos, and personal memories.
• Hospice A care approach that focuses on comfort for people nearing the end of life. Pediatric hospice is hospice care for children.
• Pediatric hospice Specialized hospice care for infants, children, and teens. It focuses on comfort and support for the child and family.
• Grief counseling Professional support to help people cope after a death.

How long should a eulogy for a great niece be

Keep it short and focused. Aim for three to five minutes which is about four hundred to six hundred spoken words. A shorter heartfelt tribute can be more meaningful than a long speech that loses focus. If multiple people will speak, check with the family about time limits first.

Before you start writing

Preparation keeps things steady. Use this quick plan.

• Ask about time and tone Confirm how long you may speak and whether the family wants a solemn, celebratory, or mixed tone.
• Talk to parents or primary caregivers Check if there are things to avoid saying and ask what they want people to remember.
• Gather small details Collect a handful of memories, nicknames, favorite songs, and hobbies. Ask two or three others for one memory each.
• Pick two or three focus points Choose the few things you want listeners to remember. Two to three details give shape to a short speech.

Simple structure that works

A compact structure gives you permission to be honest. Use this shape.

• Opening Say who you are and why you are speaking. Offer one clear sentence about what the child meant to you.
• Life sketch Give a brief overview that captures personality and roles like daughter niece or student.
• Anecdotes Share one or two short stories that reveal character. Keep them specific and sensory.
• Meaning Say what you learned from them or how they will be remembered.
• Closing Offer a goodbye line, a short quote, or a small call to action like sharing a memory with the family.

Writing the opening

The opening sets your tone. Keep it simple. State your name and your relationship. Then say one honest sentence that sums up what your great niece meant to you.

Opening examples

• Hi, I am Jess, her aunt. Lila made everyone around her feel like they were the favorite person in the room.
• Hello. I am Marcus, Sam s uncle. Sam loved dinosaurs and dance parties at bedtime and he taught me to take life less seriously.
• Good afternoon. I am Priya, a cousin. Tenley had a laugh that was loud and ruined no one s day.

How to write the life sketch for a child or young person

For a child the life sketch is not a list of milestones. Focus on personality and small routines that show who they were. Mention favorite toys activities and the roles they played in the family.

Life sketch templates

• [Name] was born in [place or year]. They loved [toy or activity] and had a nickname [nickname]. They were a student at [school] and they made friends easily because they were [trait].
• [Name] lit up every dinner with a silly story. They collected [interest] and had a habit of [quirk] that made us all laugh.

Anecdotes that matter

Stories are what people remember. Choose moments that show the child s heart. Keep them short and finish with why the moment mattered.

Good anecdote shape

• Setup. A sentence that sets the scene.
• Action. The small event that tells the character.
• Meaning. One line that ties the story to what you want people to remember.

Example anecdotes

• When Mia was four she insisted on wearing her superhero cape to school. She said capes help you be brave. That is exactly how she lived.
• One summer Sam taught the neighbor s dog to sit with a cookie. He cheered like it was the greatest feat and we all cheered back. He could make small things feel huge and joyful.
• Tenley had a ritual of leaving one purple crayon in every new coloring book so someone else would find it later. That was how she thought about sharing even things she loved.

Addressing the age of the child

How you speak will change based on the child s age. If the child was very young focus on personality family connections and the loss the family endures now. If the child was a teen or young adult you can include friendships school interests and goals that were interrupted.

Talking about a baby or toddler

• It is okay to say the life was brief and it mattered deeply.
• Focus on small rituals like feeding times or favorite songs that show relationship and care.
• Avoid trying to list achievements; instead share the ways the child made people love differently.

Talking about a teen or young adult

• Talk about personality passions and what they were building toward.
• Include a friend s perspective if possible. Teen friendships often carry huge meaning.
• Be honest about grief and about the family s plans to honor their memory.

When the death was sudden

If the death was unexpected you may feel raw in the room. Short is powerful. Say a clear true sentence and one memory. People will understand that words can be small right now. Invite people to remember a story with you after the service.

When the death was after illness

If the child was sick for a long time acknowledge the strength of the family and the ways care changed daily life. Mention helpers and hospital staff if the family wants. Balance gratitude with honesty about loss.

Using humor with children

Humor can be a breath for the room. Use small kind jokes that the family will recognize as true to the child s spirit. Avoid sarcasm that could be misread. Follow humor with a sincere line to keep tone anchored.

Safe humor examples

• She believed that socks were treasure and that everyone should have glitter on their breakfast. Yes glitter got everywhere and the kitchen still sparkles.
• He declared himself the official family DJ at age five and only ever played two songs. We all learned those songs better than anyone else.

Full eulogy examples you can adapt

Below are complete examples for different ages and tones. Replace bracketed text with your details and read out loud once or twice before the service.

Example 1: Short and tender for a toddler three to four minutes

Hello. I am Ana, her aunt. Little June loved chasing shadows and declaring them monsters to be befriended. She had a serious face that would dissolve into the biggest giggle whenever someone stuck out their tongue at her.

June was two years old and she taught us something important in a short time. She reminded us that the small things deserve celebration. Every puddle became a parade and every snack was a shared victory. She had a favorite blanket that had a missing corner now patched with invisible stitches from songs and hugs.

I will remember her curl when she slept and the way she would grab my finger in her whole hand. That grip made me feel like the person most important in the world for a minute. Please keep that minute with you today. If you have a memory of June bring it forward to the family or send a quick message. Thank you.

Example 2: Playful and loving for an elementary school child

Hi everyone. I am Marcus, his uncle. Lucas loved magnets more than most boys love baseball. He put magnets on his shoes for a week to see if he could walk on the fridge. Spoiler, he could not but he told us all about the science anyway.

Lucas made homework feel like an experiment and dinner like a show. He wanted to be an astronaut and an inventor and mostly he wanted to make us laugh. When you hear an odd thump in the garage now think of his earnest attempts at engineering. That is how I want to remember him. Loud with good intentions and with tools everywhere.

When you leave today tell one small ridiculous story about Lucas to a neighbor. Let us keep his spirit a bit chaotic and a lot joyful.

Example 3: Honest and respectful for a teen

Good afternoon. I am Leila, her cousin. Emma was fifteen and she loved online art and late night texts about nothing of consequence. She had a playlist for every small mood and she would share it with anyone who asked. She had a way of making you feel like your problems mattered because she listened with her full attention.

She was also complicated in the best ways. She pushed boundaries and she fought for friends. She taught me how to apologize without collapsing and to leave a note when things were heavy. In the last months she was brave in ways that did not always look brave on the surface. She planned a mural that will be painted at school in her memory. If you feel like honoring her, help with a paint day or donate paint to the project.

Emma believed art could fix a bad day and sometimes it did. Today we hold her art and her laugh and the songs she loved close to us. Thank you for being here to hold that with us.

Example 4: Short adult style for a young adult great niece

Hello. I am Robin, an aunt. Mia was twenty three and she had an old soul who loved plant care and vintage movies. She had a job she adored and friends who became chosen family. Mia taught me how to slow down and how to be deliberate about the people we keep close.

One memory I have is of a long drive where we only listened to radio shows and ate bad diner pie. She explained a movie plot to me like it was a vital lesson and then gave me advice about being kinder to myself. I will remember that quiet generosity and the small choices she made toward goodness every day.

If you want to remember Mia please consider a small living gift to her favorite local charity or plant a tree in her name. Thank you for being here for her family.

Fill in the blank templates you can use

Fill in and edit to make it sound like you. Read it out loud and cut anything that feels forced.

Template A: Tender short

My name is [Your Name]. I am [relationship]. [Child s name] loved [favorite thing]. One memory that shows who they were is [brief story]. They taught me [lesson]. We will miss [what people will miss]. Thank you for holding us today.

Template B: Playful and personal

Hello. I am [Your Name]. If you knew [child s name] you knew they believed [quirky belief]. They also could not resist [fun habit]. My favorite thing about them was [small detail]. Let us remember them when we see [related object or song].

Template C: For teens and young adults

Hi. I am [Your Name]. [Name] was [age] and they loved [passion]. One story that speaks to who they were is [short story]. They taught us [value]. If you can, honor them by [suggestion]. Thank you.

Practical delivery tips

• Print your speech Use a large font and bring a backup copy. Paper is easier to handle when emotions run high.
• Use cue cards One or two lines per card helps if you need to look down without losing your place.
• Mark pauses Put a note where you want to breathe or let the audience react. Pauses give you time to regroup.
• Practice out loud Read to a friend or to yourself. Practice helps your throat know the pace and it reduces surprises.
• Bring tissues and water Small comforts matter in the moment.
• Ask for a signal If you think you might need help have a family member ready to step in or finish a line for you.

What to avoid saying

• Avoid weighing into family disputes. A eulogy is not the place for long explanations.
• Avoid untested jokes that might embarrass the parents or friends.
• Avoid speculation about cause of death unless the family has asked you to mention it.
• Avoid long lists of statistics or achievements without a story to humanize them.

Including poems prayers and music

Short excerpts work best. If you include a poem pick a two to four line passage rather than a long piece. If the family is religious check their comfort level first. For music choose songs that reflect the child s personality. Keep recorded tracks short and place them where they support the speech like before or after a memory.

Who to check with before you speak

• Talk to the child s parents or primary caregivers about tone and content.
• Confirm your time limit with the officiant or person running the service.
• Let the funeral director know if you need a microphone or printed copies for the program.

After the eulogy

People often ask for a copy. Offer to email the text to guests or to include it in a memory book. Some families will post the speech on a private memorial page. Ask permission before posting audio or video online. If you do share ask who to contact for questions and clarifications.

Glossary of useful terms

• Eulogy A speech given at a funeral or memorial to honor the person who died.
• Obituary Written notice that announces a death and often includes service details.
• Order of service The plan for the funeral listing the sequence of events and speakers.
• Celebration of life A less formal event focused on stories photos and shared memories.
• Pediatric hospice Hospice care adapted for infants children and teens focusing on comfort and family support.
• Grief counseling Professional support to help people process and cope after a death.

Frequently asked questions

How do I start a eulogy if I am nervous

Begin with your name and your relationship to the child. A short opening like Hello my name is [Your Name] and I am [Child s Name] aunt gives you a breath and grounds the room. Practice that opening until it feels familiar. It will steady you at the microphone.

What if I cry and cannot finish

Pause and breathe. Look at your notes and take a moment. If you cannot continue have a designated person ready to finish your last line. Many people find a short prepared closing line they can hand over to someone else if needed.

Should I mention the cause of death

Only if the family wants it included. Causes can be sensitive. Check with the parents or guardians before mentioning details. Focus on memory and meaning rather than medical specifics unless asked.

Can I use humor

Yes small earned humor is welcome. Use jokes that reflect the child s personality and avoid anything that could embarrass or upset the family. Follow humor with a sincere line to keep the tone balanced.

What if I am not close to the child but I am asked to speak

It is okay to say you were a family friend or relative with a brief memory. Share one honest observation and one short story that shows warmth. Being concise is fine and often appreciated.

How long should a eulogy for a great niece be

Aim for three to five minutes. That tends to be long enough to tell a clear memory or two and short enough to keep the service moving and to respect the family s wishes.

Can I read from my phone

Yes but only if the screen brightness is high and your device will not ring. Many people prefer printed paper or index cards because they are easier to manage when upset.

Should I give a copy to the family or funeral home

Yes. Providing a copy helps the person running the service and makes it easy to include the text in a memory book or program. Ask the family how they prefer to receive it.