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

Saying a few words about Papaw can feel heavy and confusing at the same time. You want to honor him, tell something real and maybe make people laugh a little. This guide gives you a clear plan, ready made examples you can adapt, and delivery tips that actually help when the throat tightens. We explain terms you might see and give short templates you can steal and make your own.

Who this guide is for

This article is for anyone asked to speak about their Papaw at a funeral, memorial or celebration of life. You might be the grandchild who spent summers on his lap. You might be the family member who is steady with a microphone. You might have had a complicated relationship and want to speak honestly and kindly. We have samples for short, funny, tender and complicated tones.

What is a eulogy

A eulogy is a short speech that honors someone who has died. It is personal and story driven. It is not an obituary. An obituary is a written announcement that includes basic facts like dates, survivors and service details. A eulogy is your chance to tell a memory, to name a trait and to share what made Papaw who he was.

Useful terms and acronyms

• Obituary A published notice of death that usually lists basic facts and funeral arrangements.
• Order of service The plan for the event that shows when people speak, when music plays and when readings happen.
• Pallbearer Someone who helps carry the casket. These are usually close family or friends.
• Celebration of life A less formal gathering that focuses on stories, photos and memory sharing.
• Hospice Care that focuses on comfort for people near the end of life. It can be provided at home or in a facility.
• VA The Department of Veterans Affairs. If Papaw served in the military this is the federal office that handles veteran benefits and records.
• RSVP Short for the French phrase respond s il vous plait which means please respond. It shows up on invitations when hosts need a head count.

How long should a eulogy for Papaw be

Short and clear usually lands better. Aim for three to seven minutes spoken time. That is roughly 400 to 800 words. If several people are speaking, check the total time allowed and aim for a shorter window so the program stays on track.

Before you write

Do a little prep and everything becomes simpler.

• Ask about logistics Check with the family or officiant how long you should speak and where you will stand.
• Decide the tone Do you want to be funny, solemn, casual or a mix? Run the tone by a close family member if you are unsure.
• Collect memories Ask siblings, cousins and friends for one memory each. Small concrete stories beat broad statements.
• Pick three focus points Choose three things you want people to remember. Examples are his laugh, his hands, and his habit of making the best pancakes.

Structure that works

A simple shape keeps you focused. Use this flow.

• Opening Say your name and how you are related to Papaw. Offer one line that sets the tone.
• Life sketch A brief overview of the life he led. Focus on roles like husband, veteran, mechanic, neighbor, granddad or gardener.
• Anecdotes Tell one or two short stories that reveal character. Keep them sensory and small.
• Traits and lessons Sum up the lessons he taught and the way people will miss him.
• Closing Offer a goodbye line, a short poem excerpt, or a simple request like share one memory after the service.

How to write the opening

Keep the opening calm. State your name and relationship. Then say one clear sentence about what you want people to leave remembering. Practice it three times and it will feel anchored at the microphone.

Opening examples

• Hello. I am James and I am Papaw s oldest grandson. Today I want to say one honest thing about how he made every backyard a classroom.
• Hi everyone. I am Maria, his granddaughter. Papaw had a laugh that started from his toes and reached everyone in the room. That is what I want to remember with you.
• Good afternoon. I am Tyler, his son. Papaw taught me how to fix a lawnmower and how to keep promises the same way he fixed things always with patience and a little grease under his nails.

Writing the life sketch

The life sketch is not a biography. Focus on the parts that shaped him and shaped you. Use plain language. Mention job or service if it was a big part of his identity. Names and short dates are optional.

Life sketch templates you can adapt

• Papaw was born in [place] and worked as a [job]. He married [name] and together they raised [number] kids. He retired after [years] but he never stopped tinkering in the garage.
• He served in the [branch of military] and told stories about [short topic]. He loved fishing, Friday night cards, and telling the same joke until someone finally laughed.

Anecdotes that land

People remember stories. Keep yours short and with a payoff. A good anecdote has a setup, action and a final line that explains why it mattered.

Short anecdote examples

• When I was eight he taught me to fish. He said the important part was the waiting and the talking. We did not catch much that morning but we walked home with two sandwiches and a plan for fixing my bike. That is how he taught patience and problem solving in the same sit down.
• Papaw had one rule about the grill. If you burned the burger you bought the next round. We burned a lot of burgers. He called it on purpose practice for humility.
• Every Sunday he brought donuts to church and counted them like they were small miracles. He would always say careful numbers are for the bank and glad numbers are for the table.

How to handle a complicated relationship

Not all relationships are tidy. If your relationship with Papaw had tension you can still speak with honesty and respect. You do not need to air grievances in public. Acknowledge complexity and point to lessons or small reconciliations.

Examples for honest, short remarks

• We did not always see eye to eye. He could be stubborn and so could I. In the last year we sat and talked and I learned a few things I will carry forward. I am glad for that time together.
• Papaw had rules I did not like. He also taught me how to show up when someone needs help. That lesson matters to me now more than ever.

Using humor the right way

Humor can give the room a breath. Keep jokes earned and kind. Test a line on a trusted family member. Avoid anything that might embarrass the deceased or single out a person in the crowd.

Safe humor examples

• He had a gardening method he called organized chaos. It worked mostly because he never stopped trying.
• Papaw loved old songs and he did not care if the words were right. He sang loud enough to correct the radio.

What to avoid

• Avoid making the speech a place for family arguments.
• Avoid private grievances that will hurt listeners who are grieving.
• Avoid long lists of achievements without stories to make them human.
• Avoid cliches unless you follow them with a specific detail that makes the phrase true.

Full eulogy examples for Papaw you can adapt

Each example follows the structure above. Replace bracketed text with your details. Read it out loud and edit until it sounds like you.

Example 1 Loving country Papaw three to four minute version

Hello. I am Claire, Papaw s granddaughter. Thank you for being here.

Papaw grew up two farms over from where we are now. He worked with his hands his whole life. He married Nana when they were both twenty one and they built a life that always had room at the table. He drove a truck for many years and he took pride in a job done well.

One small story that shows who he was happened last summer. The air conditioner in Nana s kitchen stopped working and he refused to call someone. He took the whole unit apart in the backyard until he found a squirrel s nest and a missing bolt. He spent the afternoon fixing it and then made lemonade. That afternoon was not about the air conditioner. It was about him showing up and making things right.

He taught us to work hard, to laugh loudly and to forgive quickly. We will miss the sound of his voice and the smell of his coffee in the morning. Thank you Papaw for giving us a map by how you lived. Please join me in a moment of silence and then in sharing one quick memory after the service.

Example 2 Short modern eulogy under two minutes

Hi everyone. I am Noah, his grandson. Papaw loved his lawn, his radio and a good story. He had two rules in life. Rule one be kind. Rule two never leave a friend without a cup of coffee. I will miss his stories and his steady hands. Thank you for coming and for remembering him with us.

Example 3 Funny and tender Papaw

Good afternoon. I am Jenna, his daughter. If you ever needed a laugh Papaw was the first call. He could make fun of himself before anyone else did and he loved a terrible pun. He also made the best pancakes and he did it without measuring because he said measurements were for cake bakers and not pancake makers. He taught us you can be serious about making people smile. Today we laugh as we cry and that is exactly how he would have wanted it.

Example 4 Veteran Papaw respectful and grounded

Hello. I am Mark, his son. Papaw served in the navy and he rarely talked about it without a purpose. When he did talk we listened. He taught us discipline and humility and that sometimes courage looks like showing up again. He liked quiet mornings and a clean toolbox. If I could say one thing to him now it would be thank you for keeping us steady. Rest easy Papaw.

Fill in the blank templates

Fill in the blanks and then edit to make it sound like your voice. Read it aloud and trim anything that feels too formal.

Template A classic short

My name is [Your Name]. I am Papaw s [grandson granddaughter son daughter]. Papaw was born in [place]. He worked as a [job]. He loved [hobby] and he was the person who always [small habit]. One memory that shows who he was is [brief story]. He taught me [lesson]. We will miss [what people will miss]. Thank you for being here.

Template B for a complicated relationship

My name is [Your Name]. My relationship with Papaw was not simple. We argued about [small example]. Over time I learned [something useful]. In the last [months years] we [spent time reconciled found peace]. If I could say one thing now it would be [short line you want to say].

Template C light and funny with sincerity

Hi. I am [Your Name]. To know Papaw was to know [quirky habit]. He also taught me to [practical skill]. My favorite memory is [funny small story]. He made the room warmer and the work lighter. I will miss his laugh and his exact way of folding a towel. Thank you.

Practical tips for delivery

Speaking while grieving is hard. These tactics will help you stay steady.

• Print your speech Use large font so you can see lines when your eyes are wet.
• Bring cue cards Small index cards with a few lines each help you keep your place and make pauses natural.
• Mark breaths Put a bracket or underline where you want to pause. Pauses give you time to regroup.
• Practice out loud Read your remarks to a friend or into your phone. Hearing it once or twice makes it feel familiar.
• Bring tissues and water A small glass of water helps your voice. Tissues help with inevitable tears.
• Ask for backup If you think you will not finish plan with a family member who can step in with a short closing line.
• Mic technique Keep the microphone a few inches from your mouth and speak slowly. If there is no mic project gently to the back of the room.

When you cry while reading

If you start crying that is okay. Pause. Breathe. Look down at your notes. Take as long as you need. The audience wants you to be human. If you cannot continue have a small card ready with a single closing sentence someone else can read.

Including songs, poems and prayers

Short pieces work best. If you include a poem pick a two to four line excerpt rather than a long reading. If you include a prayer check that the family and officiant are comfortable with the wording. Place music between speakers or after a powerful line to give people a moment.

Logistics and who to tell

• Tell the funeral director if you need a microphone stand or a table for notes.
• Confirm where you will stand and how long you have to speak.
• Give a copy of your speech to the person running the order of service so they can include it if needed.

Sharing the eulogy afterwards

People will ask for a copy. Offer to email it to family and friends. Some families include the text in the printed program or in a memory book. If you record the speech ask permission before posting online. Some family members prefer privacy.

Glossary of useful terms

• Eulogy A personal speech given to honor the person who has died.
• Obituary A written announcement of death that often lists basic facts and service details.
• Order of service The schedule for the event listing readings, music and speakers.
• Pallbearer People chosen to carry the casket usually close family or friends.
• Celebration of life A less formal gathering focused on memory sharing and photos.
• Hospice Care focused on comfort and quality of life for someone near the end of life.
• VA The Department of Veterans Affairs. This is relevant if Papaw served in the military and the family needs veteran records or benefits.
• RSVP Means please respond and appears on invitations when the host needs a head count.

Frequently asked questions

How do I start a eulogy if I am nervous

Begin with your name and relationship. A simple sentence like Hello my name is [Your Name] and I am Papaw s granddaughter gives context and buys you a breath to settle. Practice that opening until it feels familiar.

What if I forget my place or cannot continue

Pause and breathe. Look at your notes. If you need help arrange for a family member to finish a short closing line. Many people plan a backup sentence like Papaw taught us to keep showing up and that can be read by someone else.

Can I use humor in my Papaw s eulogy

Yes. Light earned humor often helps. Use jokes that come from real memories. Avoid jokes that might embarrass or upset family. Follow a joke with a sincere line to reconnect the tone.

How do I mention military service respectfully

If Papaw served in the military mention the branch, rank if it matters to the family, and any service details only if the family has agreed. You can also mention how service shaped his values like discipline or camaraderie. Avoid political statements and stick to personal impact.

Is it okay to read from my phone

Yes but make sure the screen stays on and will not ring. Many people prefer printed notes or index cards because they are easier to handle when emotions run high.

How long should a eulogy be

Three to seven minutes is a good target. Short targeted speeches are often more memorable than long unfocused ones.