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

Writing a eulogy for your nonna can feel like trying to put a whole kitchen of memories into a single pot. She might have been the person who taught you how to make sauce, who smoothed your hair when you were sick, or who corrected your manners at the dinner table. This guide gives you a simple structure, real examples you can adapt, and practical tips for delivering something honest and loving when you are grieving. We explain any terms you might see and offer templates to get words on the page fast.

Who this guide is for

This article is for anyone asked to speak about their nonna at a funeral, memorial, celebration of life, graveside service, or family gathering. Maybe you are the grandchild who always called her first, maybe you are the one who lived closest, or maybe you had a complicated relationship. There are sample scripts for tender, funny, short, and honest needs. If your family mixes English and Italian in conversation you will find bilingual options too.

What is a eulogy

A eulogy is a short speech that honors a person who has died. It is usually given at a funeral or memorial service. A eulogy is different from an obituary. An obituary is a written notice that shares facts about the person and funeral details. A eulogy is personal. It is a story. It is allowed to be imperfect.

Terms you might see

• Obituary A published notice about a death that includes biographical details and service information.
• Order of service The schedule for a funeral or memorial listing the sequence of readings, music, and speakers.
• Pallbearer A person who helps carry the casket. These are usually close family members or friends.
• Celebration of life A less formal event that focuses on stories, photos, and memory sharing rather than ritual.
• Hospice Care that focuses on comfort and quality of life for someone nearing the end of life. It can be provided at home or in a facility.
• Nonna Italian for grandmother. Nonna often implies a figure who holds family recipes, stories, and rituals.

How long should a eulogy for your nonna be

Short and clear usually works best. Aim for three to seven minutes. That equals about 400 to 800 spoken words. If you are nervous about crying, a two to three minute tribute can be more powerful than a long rambling speech. If several people are speaking, coordinate times so the service stays on schedule.

Before you start writing

Preparation saves time and calms nerves. 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.
• Decide the tone Will the tribute be tender, funny, celebratory, or a mix? Check with close relatives so the tone fits the family and the person you are honoring.
• Gather material Collect nicknames, recipes, favorite sayings, habits, and two or three short stories. Ask cousins for one memory each.
• Pick three focus points Choose three things you want people to remember about your nonna. Three gives shape and keeps the speech simple.

Structure that works

Use a simple structure that your voice can carry even if you are emotional. This shape gives listeners something to hold on to.

• Opening Say who you are and why you are speaking. Offer one clear sentence that sets the tone.
• Life sketch Give a brief overview of your nonna s life. Mention birthplace, important roles, and any migration story if relevant.
• Anecdotes Tell one or two short stories that reveal character. Keep them sensory and specific.
• Lessons and traits Summarize values she passed down or the things people will miss.
• Closing Offer a short goodbye line, a favorite quote, a short poem, or an invitation for others to share memories.

Writing the opening

The opening is where you set the scene. Start with your name and your relationship. Then say one sentence about what your nonna meant to you or to the family.

Opening examples

• Hello, my name is Rosa and I am Nonna Lucia s granddaughter. Today we are here to remember the woman who taught us that Sundays are for sauce and talk.
• Buongiorno. I am Marco, her grandson. Nonna always had a pocket sized sage ready and a story for every scraped knee.
• Hi everyone. I am Sofia, one of her many nieces. My nonna could turn a dozen tomatoes into a celebration. That is the kind of magic we are remembering today.

How to write the life sketch

The life sketch is not a full biography. Pick the facts that support the story you are telling. Focus on roles such as immigrant, mother, gardener, seamstress, baker, or community helper. Use plain language and avoid listing only jobs.

Life sketch templates

• [Name] was born in [place] and came to [city] in [year] with a suitcase, a recipe book, and a stubborn laugh. She worked as [job] and later loved being surrounded by grandchildren at her kitchen table.
• She loved gardening, folding laundry like an art form, and telling the same joke until everyone finally laughed. She was a daughter, a sister, a mother, and the heart of her family.

Anecdotes that matter

Stories are how people remember someone. Keep anecdotes short, sensory, and complete. A setup, small action, and a line that explains why it matters is enough.

Example anecdotes you can adapt

• When I was seven she taught me to make gnocchi by touch. She would close her eyes and say if the dough felt right. To this day I test dough the way she taught me and it feels like a hug.
• She had a rule that anyone who left shoes by the door had to sing for their supper. It was a trick to get us off the couch and into the kitchen and it worked every time.
• Even in the hospital she carried a small jar of olive oil in her bag. She believed a good drizzle could fix many things.

Addressing a complicated relationship

Not every relationship with a nonna is simple. If your relationship was strained, you can still speak honestly and with dignity. Acknowledge complexity without airing grievances. Offer truth and intention.

Examples for complicated relationships

• My relationship with Nonna Anna was not always easy. We argued and we learned. In the last few years we found a quieter way to be together. I am grateful for those repaired moments.
• She could be strict and stubborn. She also taught me resilience and how to stand up for myself. Those lessons were hard but useful.
• We had different ways of showing love. Even when it felt distant, I always felt her presence at the table. That mattered.

Using humor the right way

Humor can give the room permission to breathe. Use small earned jokes that come from real memories. Avoid anything that might embarrass the deceased or single out someone in the audience.

Safe humor examples

• She had two speeds, slow and faster than you. If you were late she would already have started the sauce and corrected your life choices with a wink.
• Nonna believed in strong coffee and stronger opinions. She could silence a room with a look and refill it with a story.

What to avoid in a eulogy

• Avoid using the eulogy as a place to settle family disputes.
• Avoid unfiltered gossip or private secrets that could hurt those present.
• Avoid reading long lists of accomplishments without stories that make them human.
• Avoid cliches unless you immediately give a specific detail that makes the phrase true.

Full eulogy examples you can adapt

Example 1: Traditional nonna, 3 to 4 minute version

Hello. I am Lucia, her granddaughter. It is an honor to say a few words about my nonna, Maria.

Maria was born in a small village outside Naples. She came to this country with a suitcase, a picture of her mother, and a handwritten recipe for tomato sauce. She worked long days and came home to teach us that food is love said out loud.

One small story that captures her is about Christmas Eve. She believed in simple decorations and an elaborate table. She would start cooking at dawn and never let anyone wash a dish without singing. Her songs were sometimes off key and always loud. That music filled our home and still does when I make sauce.

She taught us patience, how to taste properly, and how to apologize with a plate of biscotti. Her generosity was small and steady. She knitted scarves for neighbors, brought soup when someone was sick, and insisted we called each other after dinner. We will miss the smell of garlic in the morning and the way she made space at her table for anyone who needed it. Thank you for being here and for holding her memory with us.

Example 2: Short modern eulogy under two minutes

Hi everyone. I am Marco, Nonna Rosa s grandson. My nonna loved Sunday sauce, loud laughter, and a well timed piece of advice. She taught me how to roll pasta with my hands and how to laugh at myself when I messed up. We will miss her food and her rules about wearing clean socks to dinner. Thank you for being here to remember her.

Example 3: Complicated relationship, honest and respectful

My name is Elena. My nonna, Sofia, and I had a complicated relationship. She was not always easy to please. We clashed and we healed. In her later years we found a softer rhythm of visits and small understandings. She gave me a love for small rituals and a stubborn sense of pride. I am grateful for the final months we spent sharing stories and tea. I will miss her presence and the way she kept our family stories safe.

Example 4: Celebration of life tone with humor

Hello. I am Nico, her grandson. If you met Nonna Gina, you learned two things fast. First, never show up hungry. Second, never argue about the right amount of oregano. She had a drawer full of opinions and a jar full of extra sauce. We are here to laugh at her jokes, to fight over her biscotti recipe, and to celebrate her messy, loving way of keeping us together. Eat something in her honor and tell the loudest story you know about her. She would expect no less.

Fill in the blank templates

Pick a template and personalize it. Read it aloud and trim anything that sounds forced.

Template A: Classic short

My name is [Your Name]. I am [Nonna s Name] grandchild. [Nonna s Name] was born in [place] and later moved to [city]. She loved [hobby or food], she worked as [job or role], and she was the person we called when [small task or habit]. One memory that shows the kind of person she was is [brief story]. She taught me [value or lesson]. We will miss [what people will miss]. Thank you for being here.

Template B: Bilingual and warm

Buongiorno. I am [Your Name], the grandson granddaughter of [Nonna s Name]. She always said that famiglia means everything. She taught us to make pasta by hand and to say I love you in small acts every day. One memory I will keep is [story]. Grazie Nonna for the recipes, the stories, and the stubborn love.

Template C: For complicated relationships

My name is [Your Name]. My relationship with [Nonna s Name] was not simple. We had disagreements about [small example]. Over time I came to appreciate [something positive]. In the last [months years] we [reconciled spent time together found peace]. If I could say one thing to her now it would be [short line you want to say].

Template D: Short and funny

Hi. I am [Your Name]. To know [Nonna s Name] was to know that the garlic level could always be higher. She also made sure we understood the importance of clean shoes and quick apologies. My favorite memory is [funny small story]. I will miss her laugh and her insistence that food fixes everything.

Practical tips for delivery

Speaking while grieving is hard. These tactics keep you steady.

• Print your speech Use large font. Paper is less distracting than a bright phone screen.
• Use cue cards Small index cards with one or two lines per card help you keep your place.
• Mark pauses Put a bracket where you want to breathe or where the room may laugh. Pauses help you collect yourself.
• Practice out loud Read the eulogy to a friend or to the mirror. Practice teaches your voice what to expect.
• Bring tissues Or a handkerchief. If you stop, breathe, swallow, and continue. The audience will wait.
• Ask for help If you think you might not finish, arrange for someone to introduce you and to step in if needed.
• Microphone technique Keep the mic a few inches from your mouth and speak naturally. If there is no mic, project slowly and clearly.

When you want to cry while reading

Tears are normal. Pause and breathe. Look down at your notes. Take a sip of water. Slow down your words. Saying fewer words more slowly is often more powerful. If you cannot continue, have a short goodbye line that a friend can finish for you.

How to include readings, poems, and music

Short readings work best. If you include a poem pick a two to four line excerpt rather than reading a long piece. Readings can be religious or secular. Check with the officiant before including anything that might surprise the family.

Music ideas for a nonna

• Classic Italian songs like O Sole Mio or Volare for a nostalgic tone.
• Faith based hymns if your nonna was religious.
• A recording of her singing or a song she loved as a quiet interlude.

Logistics and who to tell

• Tell the funeral director if you need a microphone or plan to hand out printed copies.
• Confirm with the officiant where you will stand and how long you may speak.
• Give a copy of your speech to the person running the order of service if they need to include it in a program or memory book.

Recording the eulogy and sharing it

Ask permission before posting a recording online. Some families want privacy. If sharing is approved include a brief note about where people can send condolences or donations if the family requested that. A recording can be a comfort to relatives who could not attend.

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 typically includes service details.
• Order of service The plan for the funeral or memorial that lists the sequence of events.
• Pallbearer Someone chosen to carry a casket. Usually family or close friends.
• Celebration of life A less formal gathering that focuses on stories and memories rather than ritual.
• Hospice Care that focuses on comfort and dignity for people near the end of life. Hospice care can be provided at home or in a facility.
• Nonna Italian word for grandmother. Nonna often implies warmth, food, and family traditions.
• RSVP Short 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 your nonna. A short opening like Hello my name is [Your Name] and I am [Nonna s Name] grandchild gives the audience context and buys you a breath to settle. Practice that opening until it feels familiar. It 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 ask a designated family member or friend to finish for you. Having a short note someone else can pick up helps in this scenario.

Should I include prayers if the family is not religious

Only include religious language if it was meaningful to your nonna or to the family. If religion was not central choose a secular reading or a short poem instead. You can include a blessing that feels cultural rather than strictly religious such as a wish for peace and comfort.

How do I balance humor and respect

Use humor that is rooted in real stories. Avoid jokes that could embarrass the deceased or upset listeners. Follow a joke with a sincere line to reconnect the tone. Humor can open hearts when it is gentle and earned.

Can I read the eulogy from my phone

Yes you can. Make sure the device will not ring and that the screen brightness is suitable for the venue. Many people prefer paper or index cards because they are easier to handle when emotions are high.

How long should a eulogy for a nonna be

Three to seven minutes is a good target. Short speeches are often more memorable. If multiple people are speaking coordinate times so the event stays within the planned schedule.