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

Writing a eulogy for your manager can feel strange and heavy all at once. You might be processing shock, grief, paperwork, and the weirdness of mourning in an office context. This guide gives you a clear, friendly framework plus real examples and fill in the blank templates you can use right away. We explain any workplace terms you might see and cover in person and virtual delivery. Read through, pick a template, and start drafting with confidence.

Who this guide is for

This article is for anyone who has been asked to speak about their manager at a funeral, memorial, celebration of life, or an internal company remembering event. Maybe you were the direct report who was closest, maybe you were the person who ran weekly one on ones, or maybe you were asked because you can stand up and tell a story without turning it into a long HR meeting. Whatever your relationship, there are scripts here for short tributes, more formal remarks, and honest but appropriate reflections.

What is a eulogy

A eulogy is a short speech that honors a person who has died. It is usually part of a funeral or memorial service. A eulogy is not the same thing as an obituary. An obituary is a written notice that gives basic facts like birth date, survivors, and service information. A eulogy is personal and often delivered aloud. It tells a story about the person and what they meant to the people around them.

Common workplace terms and acronyms explained

• Obituary A published notice about a death that usually includes biographical details and service arrangements.
• Order of service The schedule for a funeral or memorial, listing the sequence of readings, music, and speakers. Think of it as the program for the event.
• Officiant The person leading the memorial or funeral. They might be religious, secular, or a company leader running a brief remembrance.
• HR Short for human resources. This is the team that often coordinates company responses to employee deaths, such as notifications, benefits, and memorial logistics.
• RSVP An abbreviation that asks guests to please respond to an invitation so organizers can plan numbers and logistics.
• Coworker Someone who worked with the deceased. Use coworker instead of co worker if you prefer a single word.
• Remote or hybrid Terms describing where employees worked. Remote means mostly from home. Hybrid means some days in office and some remote.

How long should a eulogy for a manager be

Short and clear is better than long and vague. Aim for three to seven minutes. For most audiences that is about 400 to 800 spoken words. If multiple people are speaking coordinate with whoever is running the service so you do not overlap. A concise, well chosen story will land more than a long list of accomplishments.

Before you start writing

Take a few practical steps before you begin drafting.

• Check logistics Confirm with HR or the family how long you should speak and where your remarks fit in the order of service. Ask whether the gathering is public, private, or virtual.
• Decide the tone Is the event formal, casual, or mostly a work meeting with a moment of remembrance? Tone matters in a corporate environment. Check with HR or the family to align.
• Gather input Ask teammates for one memory or one adjective that describes the manager. Three to five quick contributions help you pick a focus.
• Choose three focus points Pick three things you want the audience to remember. That could be leadership style, a key story, and what they taught the team. Three items give your speech structure.
• Respect privacy Avoid bringing up confidential performance issues, personnel conflicts, or anything the family would not want shared.

Structure that actually works

Use a simple shape to keep you grounded and help listeners follow.

• Opening Say who you are and why you are speaking. Offer one line that sets the tone.
• Life sketch A brief overview of the manager s role in the company and a small personal detail.
• One to two anecdotes Tell one or two short work stories that show character. Keep them specific.
• What they taught us Summarize the lessons or values they modeled.
• Closing Offer a goodbye line, an invitation to remember, or a short quote. End with a simple thank you.

Writing the opening

Start simple. Say your name and your role in relation to the manager. Then say one sentence about what the day is for. That buys you a breath and centers the audience.

Opening examples

• Good morning. I am Alex and I was Jamie s product manager. We are here to remember Jamie and the way they made complicated projects feel possible.
• Hi everyone. My name is Priya and I led the design team under Marcus. Today we are pausing to honor Marcus and to be together as a team.
• Hello. I am Daniel. I worked with Lila for nine years. I want to say one short thing about how she believed in people before plans.

How to write the life sketch for a workplace eulogy

The life sketch is not a full biography. Focus on the managerial roles that mattered and one or two small personal details that humanize the person. Mention tenure, teams led, and a few highlights without reciting an entire resume.

Quick templates for a work life sketch

• [Name] joined [Company] in [year] as a [role]. They led [team or department] and were involved in [project or initiative]. They loved [hobby or small personal detail] and were known for [character trait].
• [Name] spent [years] building the [team name]. They pushed for fairness in promotions and they were the person you called when a project got stuck. Outside of work they loved [interest].

Anecdotes that work for a manager

Work stories are powerful when they are specific and short. Good anecdotes reveal how a manager behaved under pressure, how they supported someone, or a moment that captures their leadership style.

Examples of workplace anecdotes

• On the night before a big launch the servers crashed. While everyone panicked, Sam walked through the room with coffee and a one liner that made people laugh and then handed out tasks until the issue was fixed. That calm was a gift.
• When I was promoted, Maya wrote me a note that was mostly about the mistakes she expected me to make and why they would matter. She turned feedback into a form of trust.
• During our team retreat, Jordan organized a scavenger hunt that ended with everyone admitting one professional fear. That small exercise made our team safer to speak up in meetings.

Addressing complex relationships with a manager

Many relationships with managers are complicated. You might have admired their work and also felt frustrated. You can speak honestly without airing office grievances. Focus on what you learned, moments of reconciliation, or the impact they had on your work life.

Examples for complex relationships

• Working for Nina could be a challenge. She pushed hard and she pushed people to be better. I learned to accept direct feedback and to use it. That lesson is part of my career now.
• There were times I disagreed with Thomas. We argued about process. In the end Thomas taught me how to argue for clarity and how to care deeply about outcomes. I appreciate that now.

Using humor in a manager eulogy

Humor can be a relief in a grieving room. Use small, earned jokes not shock value. Keep it kind. A joke about their coffee habit or their obsession with meeting agendas can land well if it feels true and affectionate.

Safe humor examples

• She believed in three things. Plan, execute, and never let anyone steal her parking spot. If you used her parking spot you got a polite email and a follow up coffee.
• Ben had a weekly ritual. If your slide deck had more than five bullet points he would call you to reduce. He called it mercy editing and we ask for mercy now.

What to avoid in a eulogy for a manager

• Avoid confidential or HR related details. Do not mention ongoing investigations or personnel issues.
• Avoid gossip or naming people involved in disputes. This is not the place to reassign blame.
• Avoid long lists of job tasks without a story. People want to hear how the person was, not a job description.
• Avoid inside jokes that exclude most of the audience. If the joke needs context skip it.

Full eulogy examples you can adapt

Below are complete examples for different tones. Replace bracketed text with your details and edit for your voice. Each follows the structure above.

Example 1: Formal corporate eulogy three to five minutes

Good morning. I am Elena and I was Marcus s operations lead for six years. Marcus joined our company in 2012 and built the operations team from a group of five to a global unit supporting three regions. He was rigorous about process and soft with people.

One small story captures Marcus perfectly. Two years ago during our busiest quarter a vendor outage threatened our supply chain. Marcus did not panic. He set up a war room, brought in cross functional partners, and stayed until we had a temporary fix. At three in the morning he walked past the conference room with a stack of donuts and said thank you to everyone. That motion of care kept people going.

Marcus taught us that systems matter and that systems are built by people who feel respected. He invested in junior staff who are now leaders across the company. He will be remembered for his clarity, his patience, and the way he showed up for others when it mattered.

Thank you for being here and for supporting Marcus s family. If you would like to share a memory with the team email HR and we will collect messages for the family.

Example 2: Short modern eulogy under two minutes for an internal meeting

Hi everyone. I am Theo and I was Lila s product designer. Lila loved messy prototypes and weird metaphors that somehow made roadmaps feel human. She taught me to say I do not know when I did not know and to always test an idea with a real person. We will miss her curiosity and her terrible puns. Thank you for listening.

Example 3: Warm and lightly funny tribute for a smaller team

Hello. I am Priya and I led the account team under Raj. Raj had two rules. Rule one was treat the client like a partner. Rule two was always bring snacks for long calls. He kept a drawer of mystery granola bars that somehow saved us during late nights. More seriously Raj believed that work is harder and better when people trust each other. He built trust by listening and by making time. We will miss his calm and his snacks and we will try to carry forward the kind of leadership he modeled. Please join me in a moment of silence and then share a short memory if you would like.

Example 4: For a remote manager with distributed team

Hi all. I am Marcus and I was on the sales team with Avery. Avery was a remote manager who made the whole world feel one office. She started every Monday with a five minute check in that felt like a real hello and not a to do list. During the pandemic she organized shipping care packages, virtual lunches, and an honest open channel for hard days. Her leadership was constant presence even when we were physically distant. Thank you, Avery, for making a remote team into a real team.

Fill in the blank templates

Use these templates to draft. Read aloud and trim anything that sounds forced.

Template A: Classic short workplace tribute

My name is [Your Name]. I reported to [Manager s Name] for [years]. [Manager s Name] joined [Company] as [role]. They were known for [one character trait]. One moment that shows who they were is [brief story]. They taught me [lesson]. Thank you for being here and for supporting [family or team].

Template B: For complicated relationships

My name is [Your Name]. Working for [Manager s Name] was not always easy. We disagreed about [work example]. Over time I learned [lesson or skill]. In the end [Manager s Name] helped me grow by [specific action]. If I could say one thing to them now it would be [short line you want to say].

Template C: Short and personal for a small team

Hi. I am [Your Name]. To know [Manager s Name] was to know they loved [quirky habit]. They also made sure we had each other s backs. My favorite memory is [fun story]. We will miss their [trait] and the way they made work feel like something worth doing together.

Practical tips for delivery at a company event

• Ask about the setting Is it a private service, a public funeral, or a company town hall with a moment of silence? Adjust content and tone accordingly.
• Coordinate If multiple people are speaking, confirm order and time limits with HR or the organizer so the event flows.
• Print your speech Use large font. Paper is easier to handle than a phone in an emotional moment.
• Use cue cards Short index cards with one line each reduce the chance of losing your place.
• Mark pauses Put a bracket where you want to breathe or where a quiet laugh may happen. Pauses give you time to regroup.
• Practice out loud Read to a friend or into your phone. Practice tells your throat what to expect.
• Mic technique Keep the microphone a few inches from your mouth and speak at a steady pace. If the event is virtual check audio and mute settings.
• Plan for emotion It is OK to pause. If you cannot continue ask a colleague to finish a sentence for you. Many people pre arrange a signal for this.

How to include company rituals or tributes

Companies sometimes include slideshows, a moment of silence, or a memory book. Ask HR if you can collect stories for a shared document or a digital memory wall. If the family has requested privacy follow their wishes. If donations are being collected to a memorial fund include one line in your closing about how to contribute.

After the eulogy

People may request a copy of your remarks. Offer to email it or place it in a shared drive. If you record the speech get permission before posting publicly. HR may collect notes to pass to the family. If colleagues want to write cards consider organizing a single point of contact to avoid multiple deliveries to the family.

Glossary of useful terms and acronyms

• Eulogy A speech given at a funeral or memorial 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 or memorial listing the sequence of events.
• Officiant The person leading the memorial or funeral.
• HR Human resources. The team that handles employee matters including support after a death.
• RSVP Short for the French phrase respond s il vous plait which asks guests to confirm attendance.
• Memory book A physical or digital collection of notes, photos, and memories compiled for the family.

Frequently asked questions

How do I start a eulogy for my manager if I am nervous

Start with your name and your role. A short opening such as Hello my name is [Your Name] and I worked with [Manager s Name] gives context and buys you a breath. Then say one simple true sentence about them. Practicing this opening will steady you at the microphone.

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 cannot continue have a designated colleague ready to finish a line. A short handover line like I am going to take a breath and ask [Colleague s Name] to finish is perfectly fine.

Can I mention company projects or numbers in the eulogy

Yes but use numbers sparingly and always tie them to people. For example say They led a product that helped a million users and then follow with a story about how they celebrated the team. Stories make stats human.

Should I include jokes about their management style

Small, kind jokes that most people will understand are OK. Avoid anything that might embarrass the family or single out current employees. Keep humor affectionate and brief.

How long should a eulogy for a manager be

Three to seven minutes is a good target. Shorter is often more memorable at a company event where people are also processing other tasks and meetings.

Who should I check with before delivering the eulogy

Check with HR and the family or the person coordinating the service. Confirm time limits, tone, and whether certain topics are off limits. This avoids surprises and shows respect.