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

Saying a few words about someone who guided your path can feel huge and fragile at the same time. Your mentor shaped your career or creative life or the way you show up in the world. This guide gives you clear steps, sample scripts, and templates you can adapt. We explain terms you might not know and give delivery tips that actually help when emotions show up. Read through, pick a template, and start writing with less anxiety and more honesty.

Who this guide is for

This article is for anyone who has been asked to speak about a mentor at a funeral, memorial, celebration of life, workplace remembrance, or academic service. Maybe you were their mentee, a colleague who learned from them, or a friend who benefited from their advice. Maybe your relationship was formal and professional or messy and meaningful. There are examples for short remarks, full length tributes, witty remembrances, and complicated relationships.

What is a eulogy

A eulogy is a short speech that honors a person who has died. It is a personal reflection often delivered at a funeral or memorial. A eulogy is different from an obituary. An obituary is a written announcement that lists facts like birth date, survivors, and service details. A eulogy is a story. It is allowed to be imperfect and real.

Terms you might see

• Mentor Someone who provides guidance advice and support in a professional or personal area over time.
• Mentee The person who receives guidance from a mentor.
• Obituary A published notice of a death including biographical facts and service information.
• Order of service The planned sequence of events at a funeral or memorial such as readings music and speakers.
• Celebration of life A less formal gathering that usually focuses on stories photos and memories rather than rituals.
• Hospice Care that focuses on comfort for people nearing the end of life. It can be delivered at home or in a facility.
• RSVP A note on invitations that asks people to confirm attendance. It stands for the French phrase respond s il vous plait which means please respond.

How long should a eulogy for a mentor be

Aim for three to seven minutes for a single speaker. That is roughly four hundred to eight hundred spoken words. If you are the only speaker and the audience is primarily colleagues you could go up to ten minutes. If there are many speakers keep it under five minutes so the service stays on schedule. Short focused remarks often feel more honest than long wandering tributes.

Before you start writing

Preparation reduces pressure and helps your words land. Use this quick plan.

• Ask about time Confirm how long you are expected to speak and where your remarks fit in the order of service.
• Check tone Ask the family or the event organizer if the service should be formal reflective celebratory or a mix.
• Collect memories Reach out to other mentees colleagues or friends and ask for one short memory each.
• Pick three things to focus on Choose three qualities lessons or moments you want people to leave remembering. Three is small and effective.
• Decide whether to use notes Practice with a printed copy or index cards. If you think you will cry a lot consider a brief note someone else can read if needed.

Structure that works

Good structure gives shape to emotion. Use this simple template.

• Opening Say your name and your relationship to the mentor. Offer one sentence that sets the tone.
• Life sketch Give a brief overview of their roles such as teacher leader artist or manager. Keep it short and human.
• Anecdotes Tell one or two short stories that reveal who they were as a guide mentor and person.
• Lessons and impact Explain what they taught you and what the audience can take forward.
• Closing Offer a final goodbye a quote a short poem excerpt or a call to action like mentoring someone else in their honor.

Choosing tone for a mentor tribute

Your mentor might have been formal funny blunt warm or eccentric. Match the tone to who they were and to the group in the room. If you are unsure check with a close colleague. You can blend humor with sincerity but always anchor the humor in a clear memory so it feels earned.

Writing the opening

Keep the opening simple. It helps everyone settle into the moment including you.

Opening examples

• Good morning. I am Ana and I was Sam s mentee for seven years. Sam taught me how to ask better questions and to trust early drafts.
• Hello. My name is Marcus. I worked with Priya on the design team. Today I want to share a small story about how she turned chaos into ideas.
• Hi everyone. I am Taylor. I first met Jordan in a dimly lit classroom and he remained the person who pushed me hardest and believed in me most.

How to write the life sketch

The life sketch is not a list of resume entries. Pick a few roles and facts that help the listener understand the arc of their life as a mentor. Mention where they worked or taught and a sentence about the kind of mentor they were.

Life sketch templates

• [Name] taught at [institution] for [years]. They led projects at [company] and mentored dozens of people in design and leadership. They believed in clear feedback and messy creativity.
• [Name] started as a junior researcher and became a lab director who always left time to troubleshoot experiments and encourage curiosity. Outside work they loved [hobby] and hosted dinner conversations that lasted late into the night.

Anecdotes that matter

People remember stories. Choose short sensory moments with a small payoff. A story should set a scene show an action and end with why it mattered.

Examples of short mentor anecdotes

• When I bombed my first presentation they pulled me aside and said we will fix the slides together. They stayed until midnight and then sent a message at six in the morning that said bring it and we will make it clearer. That message taught me what real support looks like.
• They had a habit of asking one impossible question during every review. It felt aggressive but the question always exposed a better idea. It taught our team to be braver with our work.
• On a retreat they handed me a worn notebook and said you will need this for bad ideas and for good ones that feel embarrassing. That notebook became my map of progress and failure and I still carry one today.

How to talk about professional achievements without sounding like a resume

Turn accomplishments into stories about impact. Instead of listing awards say how those accomplishments affected people you worked with or the community the mentor served. Name a specific project a person helped and explain why it mattered.

Example

Rather than saying they led a major project say they led a project that cut processing time in half which let clinicians spend thirty more minutes each day with patients. That detail shows human impact.

Addressing complex mentor relationships

Not every mentor relationship is tidy. Some mentors are brilliant and difficult. Some relationships started formal and turned personal and messy. You can be honest and kind. Acknowledge complexity without airing private grievances.

Examples for complicated relationships

• They were exacting and sometimes blunt. That could sting. It also shaped how I learned to stand by my work and to take criticism as a tool rather than a verdict. I am grateful for that hard lesson.
• We had disagreements about direction. Over time I understood the why behind their push and it made me a clearer thinker. We did not always agree but we always talked it through.
• They could be absent while chasing work. When they returned they showed up fully. Those returns mattered to me and to many of us.

Using humor the right way

Humor can give the room a moment of breath. Keep jokes small earned and never mean. Humor that reveals character usually works best.

Safe humor examples

• They had a signature mug that read world s best overachiever and they used it daily as if the mug anchored their power.
• They wore socks that never matched and said it was to remind us that perfection is optional. We all started mismatching ours in solidarity.

What to avoid in a mentor eulogy

• Avoid long lists of awards without context. People connect to stories more than titles.
• Avoid confidential work details or sensitive information that should not be public.
• Avoid jokes that single out individuals in the audience or make light of painful situations.
• Avoid turning the speech into a personal therapy session. Keep the focus on the mentor and their influence.

Full eulogy examples you can adapt

Below are complete examples you can copy and personalize. Replace bracketed text with your own details and edit to sound natural.

Example 1: Professional and heartfelt, four to six minutes

Hello. My name is Priya and I was Nina s project lead for the research group. Nina joined our lab ten years ago and quickly set a tone where curiosity mattered more than credentials. She was the person who asked the hard question and then made time to sit down and help you answer it.

I remember one winter afternoon when our grant review felt like a defeat. She packed two thermoses of tea and said let s walk the river and talk it through. She listened as much as she coached and by the end of the walk we had a plan that led to a stronger application. That was her superpower. She did not swoop in with answers. She made room for ideas to become better.

She taught me to care for the people behind projects and to write clearly even when the results were messy. Her influence is visible in the way our team treats each other in meetings and in the fact that we still start reviews with a check in about how people are doing. She changed how we work and how we lead. Thank you Nina for your patience for your challenge and for your generosity. We will carry your standards with us.

Example 2: Short modern eulogy under two minutes

Hi everyone. I am Jordan and I used to be Maya s mentee. Maya taught me two things. One, never send anything to a client without a line that explains why it matters. Two, bring snacks to tough meetings. The first made me a better consultant. The second made me more likable in small rooms. We will miss her sharp mind and her snack drawer. Thank you for being here.

Example 3: Creative mentor with humor and warmth

Good afternoon. I am Leo and I worked in the studio with Ana for five years. Ana had the habit of sketching with her non dominant hand when she wanted to surprise herself. She said it kept her open to accidents that became breakthroughs. She also had an impressive collection of novelty pencils that she swapped with interns like some form of creative currency.

She challenged us to think bigger and to stay messy in the middle of projects. Her studio was a place where failed ideas were trophies and where critique came with cookies. She made space for joy in the messy parts of creative work. I will miss her laughter and her stubborn belief that ideas can change how people see the world.

Example 4: Complicated relationship with gratitude

Hello. I am Devon. My relationship with Martin was not simple. He pushed and he pushed hard. There were times I left his office feeling like I had been run through a storm. He expected excellence and sometimes he forgot to give credit for hard work. Still I learned discipline from him in a way that made me dependable and steady. When he praised something it meant the work had been refined to its bones. For that I am grateful. Thank you Martin for the rigor and for the brief smiles that told us you cared deeply.

Fill in the blank templates

Use these templates and then edit so they sound like you. Read them out loud and trim anything that feels forced.

Template A: Classic short

My name is [Your Name]. I worked with [Mentor s Name] for [time period] as [role]. [Mentor s Name] was known for [quality]. One memory that shows who they were is [short story]. They taught me [lesson]. We will miss [what people will miss]. Thank you for being here and for honoring their memory.

Template B: For complicated mentor relationships

My name is [Your Name]. My relationship with [Mentor s Name] was complicated. They demanded a lot and sometimes it felt unfair. Over time I came to see that their demands pushed me to grow. If I could say one thing to them now it would be [short line you want to say].

Template C: For a creative mentor with humor

Hi. I am [Your Name]. To know [Mentor s Name] was to know that they loved [quirky habit]. They also insisted on [creative practice]. My favorite memory is [funny creative story]. They taught me to keep a bit of play in all work. Thank you for that permission.

Practical tips for delivery

Speaking while grieving or while nerves are high is hard. These tactical tips help you stay steady.

• Print your speech Use a large font so you can read easily. Paper is less likely to fail than a phone at a critical moment.
• Use cue cards Write one or two lines per card to help you find checkpoints. Cards are easy to manage if you tear up.
• Mark pauses Put a bracket where you want to breathe for a laugh or to let a point land. Pauses give you control and create space for listeners to react.
• Practice out loud Read the eulogy to a friend to hear how long it is and to test any jokes or unusual phrasing.
• Bring tissues and water They help if your throat tightens or your voice shakes.
• Plan a backup If you think you might not finish have a trusted colleague ready to step in with a sentence such as I will finish for them and then read a closing line you agree on.
• Mic technique Keep the microphone a few inches from your mouth and speak normally. If there is no mic project calmly and slowly.

When you want to cry while reading

If you get emotional pause and breathe. Look down at your notes or take a sip of water. Slow down and say fewer words with more intention. The audience expects emotion and will hold the space for you. If you cannot continue arrange beforehand for someone to finish a prepared closing line so you can step away without pressure.

How to include readings quotes and music

Short excerpts work best. A two to four line poem excerpt or a single quote that your mentor loved can be powerful. If music is used choose a short clip that was meaningful or that creates space between speakers. Confirm details with the officiant and provide printed text for the program if possible.

Logistics and who to tell

• Tell the event organizer if you need a microphone or a place to stand.
• Confirm how long you may speak and where you fit into the order of service.
• Give a copy of your remarks to whoever is running the program so they have a backup and can include it in a memory book if requested.

After the eulogy

People often want a copy. Offer to email your remarks or print a few copies. Some families ask to include the eulogy in a printed program or memory book. You can also record the audio and share it privately for those who could not attend. Always check with the family before posting any recording online.

Checklist before you step up to speak

• Confirm your time limit with the family or organizer.
• Print your speech and bring a backup copy.
• Practice at least three times out loud.
• Mark emotional beats and pauses.
• Bring tissues and a water bottle.
• Arrange a signal with a friend if you might need help finishing.

Glossary of useful terms and acronyms

• Mentor A person who provides guidance advice and support over time in a professional or personal area.
• Mentee The person who receives mentoring.
• Obituary A published notice of a death that often includes service details.
• Order of service The list and sequence of events at a funeral or memorial.
• Celebration of life A gathering that focuses on stories photos and memories rather than rituals.
• Hospice Care focused on comfort and quality of life for those nearing the end of life.
• RSVP An invitation note asking guests to confirm attendance. It stands for respond s il vous plait which means please respond in French.

Frequently asked questions

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

Begin with your name and your relationship to the mentor. A simple sentence like Hello I am [Your Name] and I worked with [Mentor s Name] for [time] gives the room context and gives you a stable opening. Practice that opening until it feels familiar. It will help you breathe and focus when you begin.

What if I forget my place or start crying

Pause and breathe. Look at your notes. If you need a moment take it. People will wait. If you cannot continue have a trusted colleague ready to step in with a prepared closing sentence. Many speakers find it helpful to rehearse a fail safe line with someone ahead of time.

Can I use humor in a tribute for my mentor

Yes. Small earned humor is often appreciated. Keep it kind and grounded in a real memory. Avoid jokes that could embarrass the deceased or offend people in the audience. After a joke follow with a sincere line to reconnect the tone.

How do I handle mentioning work achievements without breaching confidentiality

Focus on impact rather than confidential specifics. Talk about how a project changed people s lives or how a process they created improved the team. Avoid naming proprietary details. If in doubt ask a close colleague for guidance.

Is it appropriate to ask attendees to honor the mentor by mentoring others

Yes. A call to action such as mentoring someone else in the mentor s memory is a meaningful tribute. Phrase it gently and offer practical ways people can get involved such as volunteering time or joining a mentoring program.

Should I give a copy of the eulogy to the family or the funeral home

Yes. Providing a copy helps the family and the person running the service. The text can be included in a program memory book or archived for the family. It also acts as a backup in case you need assistance during the service.