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

Writing a eulogy for a secretary at work can feel tricky and important at the same time. You want to honor their contribution to daily life in the office, to acknowledge what they meant to colleagues, and to do so in a way that is professional and heartfelt. This guide gives you clear structure, real examples you can adapt, and delivery tips that actually work in an office or virtual memorial. We explain any terms you might not know and give fill in the blank templates you can use.

Who this guide is for

This article is for managers, coworkers, HR partners, or friends who have been asked to speak about a secretary at a funeral, memorial service, workplace gathering, or virtual tribute. Maybe you were asked because you were the direct supervisor. Maybe you were the person who shared a daily coffee break. Maybe you were the colleague who learned to trust that everything would be handled if you left it on that desk. The examples below cover formal tributes, casual celebration of life tones, short remarks for a staff meeting, and virtual Zoom eulogies.

What is a eulogy in a workplace context

A eulogy is a short speech that honors a person who has died. In a workplace setting the focus tends to include the person s professional contributions, the way they supported teammates, and the smaller human things that made the office feel like a community. A workplace eulogy is different from a standard obituary. An obituary lists facts like dates and service details. A eulogy tells stories. It makes an emotional connection. Keep it appropriate for the audience while still being honest and human.

Useful terms and acronyms explained

• HR Human resources. The department that handles employee welfare, benefits, time off, and workplace policies.
• Obituary A published notice about a death that includes basic facts and service information. This is usually posted online or in a newspaper.
• Order of service The schedule for a funeral or memorial listing readings, music, and speakers. Think of it as the program for the event.
• Bereavement leave Paid or unpaid time off employees can take after a death in the family. Check with HR for company policy and any state level rules.
• Celebration of life A less formal gathering focused on stories, photos, and shared memories instead of ritual.
• Condolence A message of sympathy to someone grieving. Condolence notes can be private cards or messages from the company signed by colleagues.

Before you start writing

Preparation is the thing that makes everything easier. Use this quick plan to get organized and respectful.

• Ask permission from the family Check with the deceased s family about what is okay to share publicly. They may want certain details private.
• Coordinate with HR HR can advise on company messaging, bereavement leave, and whether the company will host a memorial or collect donations.
• Confirm your role and time Ask how long you should speak and where your remarks will fit in the event. If there are multiple speakers, agree on a length to keep the program balanced.
• Decide the tone Will this be formal, celebratory, or casual? Match the tone to the person and to the audience.
• Gather material Collect 2 to 4 stories, favorite sayings, nicknames, and small details that reveal the person s character. Ask coworkers for one memory each so the tribute reflects the team.
• Respect confidentiality Do not share private information like medical details unless the family asked you to. Focus on personality, habits, and contributions.

How long should a workplace eulogy be

Short and focused is usually best in a workplace setting. Aim for two to five minutes for a staff tribute and three to seven minutes for a funeral or memorial where you are a primary speaker. That is about 300 to 800 spoken words depending on pace. If many people will speak, stick to the shorter side to keep the program manageable.

Structure that works

A simple structure gives the audience an easy path to follow and helps you stay on track. Use this shape.

• Opening State your name, your role, and your relationship to the secretary. Offer a one sentence line that sets the tone.
• Work life sketch Give a brief overview of their role, how long they worked with the company, and the responsibilities they held. Keep this concise and factual.
• Anecdotes Share one or two short stories that reveal character and show what they meant to the team.
• Impact Say what the office will miss and what the person taught coworkers, such as patience, precision, or kindness.
• Closing Offer a goodbye line, a short quote, or invite the team to a small ritual like sharing a memory or a moment of silence.

How to pick stories that matter

Workplace stories should be specific, brief, and relatable. Choose stories that highlight the person s strengths and the ways they made work better for others. Avoid gossip, private disputes, or anything that would embarrass coworkers or the family.

Good workplace story examples

• The time they covered for a team member without being asked and saved a deadline.
• Small rituals like the exact way they labeled files, their morning greeting, or the playlist they used on Fridays.
• How they supported new employees, taught processes, or remembered birthdays and anniversaries.

Examples you can adapt

Below are full example eulogies that follow the structure above. Replace bracketed text with your details and tweak the tone to match the event. Read them aloud and edit to sound like you.

Example 1: Short formal tribute for a staff meeting

Hello. My name is Daniel and I am the operations manager. I want to say a few words about Claire, our administrative secretary for the past eight years. Claire kept the front office running and somehow managed to make chaos look organized. She greeted everyone by name and she remembered small details that made people feel seen.

One small thing I will always remember is how she made sure new hires received handwritten welcome notes. It took her an extra five minutes but it changed the way people felt about joining our team. Claire taught us that small gestures are not small at all.

We will miss her calendar skills, her uncanny ability to find lost documents, and her laugh down the hallway. The HR team will share guidance about condolences and flowers. For now let us hold a moment of silence and then share a memory of Claire in the team chat so remote colleagues can read them. Thank you.

Example 2: Manager speaks at funeral, three to five minutes

Good afternoon. I am Priya, head of administration, and I had the honor of working with Maria for twelve years. Maria was more than our secretary. She anchored the office. Her title did not capture the way people came to her for advice, for a listening ear, or for a reality check that was always kind but honest.

I want to share one short story. Last winter during a department move our entire filing system seemed to vanish. I panicked. Maria calmly made tea, sat down at a desk, and within an hour she had not only found the files but suggested a new labeling system that saved us weeks of delay. She never liked being called a hero. She preferred the word helpful.

Maria taught us precision, patience, and the value of looking out for each other. She made our office warmer. I know the company will miss her steady presence. On behalf of everyone at the firm I want to thank her family for sharing Maria with us for so many years. Please join me in a moment of silence and then if you would like to share a memory come forward or email HR and we will include it in a memory book.

Example 3: Coworker friend, casual celebration of life tone

Hi. I am Alex from accounts payable and for five years I sat across from Jo. If you ever needed a piece of tape, a pep talk, or a playlist recommendation Jo had you covered. We joked that her desk was a safety net for lost lunch containers and mismatched socks. She made the office feel like home.

My favorite memory is about her birthday ritual. She brought cupcakes and insisted we all say one thing we appreciated about someone else. It was embarrassingly sappy and also exactly what the team needed. Jo taught me how to notice people in tiny ways. I will miss her mess of sticky notes and the way she made ordinary days feel nicer.

Thank you for being here. If you have a quick memory please add it to the card on the table so the family can read them later.

Example 4: Virtual team tribute for remote staff

Hello everyone. I am Morgan in product and I coordinated the remote onboarding alongside Sam who passed this week. Even though Sam worked from another state she made a point to know everyone s Zoom backgrounds and to send a welcome email that always included a silly gif. She scheduled 15 minute check ins with new hires so they would not feel alone.

One late night I emailed about a client issue and Sam replied with a calm checklist and the words We got this. Her messages were the kind you could feel steadier after reading. For remote teams the human connection matters and Sam made it real.

We will open the chat now for two minutes so people can type short memories. HR will collect these and pass them to Sam s family. Thank you for sharing your stories and for being a quiet part of Sam s work family.

Example 5: For a secretary who mentored others

Hello. I am Javier, coordinator of training, and I want to talk about Ellen who mentored dozens of administrative assistants over her twenty year career. Ellen had a gift for teaching. Her training sessions were practical and gentle. She believed in showing the how and the why.

One of her trainees told me that Ellen taught them how to walk into a tense meeting and not let panic take over. That lesson rippled through our department when that trainee later became a manager who then taught those same skills to others. Ellen s influence is quiet but wide. We are better as a team because she took the time to teach.

Let us honor Ellen by carrying forward a bit of her patience in the way we train and support each other.

Fill in the blank templates

Use these templates to draft your own remarks. Keep them simple and then personalize with details and stories.

Template A: Short staff meeting tribute

Hi. I am [Your Name] and I work in [Department]. [Secretary s Name] was our secretary for [years]. They handled [key responsibilities]. One memory that shows their character is [brief story]. We will miss [trait or habit]. Please join me in remembering them and sharing a memory in the chat or on the card at the table.

Template B: Manager at a funeral

Good [morning afternoon]. I am [Your Name], [Job Title]. [Secretary s Name] joined us in [year]. Over the years they became the person who kept everything together by doing the small things well. One example of their care was [short anecdote]. They taught us [value or skill]. On behalf of the company we extend our deepest condolences to the family.

Template C: Coworker friend

Hello. I am [Your Name] and I sat next to [Secretary s Name] for [years]. To know them was to know [quirky habit]. My favorite memory is [funny or tender story]. They made the office better by [what they did]. Thank you for being here and for holding their memory with us.

What to avoid

• Avoid sharing medical details unless the family gave permission.
• Avoid private workplace disputes or complaints. This is not the time to air grievances.
• Avoid jokes that could embarrass coworkers or the family.
• Avoid long lists of job duties without stories that make the person human.
• Avoid oversharing financial or HR related matters that could affect privacy.

Practical delivery tips

• Practice out loud Read your remarks to a friend or into your phone and time yourself.
• Bring a printed copy Large font makes it easier to breathe through emotional moments.
• Use cue cards One idea per card helps you keep your place if you look down.
• Mark pauses Put a mark where you want to breathe or allow the audience to react.
• Plan for emotion It is okay to cry. Pause, breathe, and continue when you can. Have a colleague ready to step in if you cannot finish.
• Microphone technique Keep the mic a few inches from your mouth and speak at a steady pace so everyone can hear.
• Coordinate with HR or the officiant So the transition between speakers is smooth and the timing works.

Logistics and post event steps

There are a few practical items to consider when preparing a workplace memorial.

• Check with HR about company announcements, condolence cards, and whether the company will collect donations or flowers.
• Decide how to share the eulogy text if colleagues request it. Email is common for remote teams and printed copies work for in person gatherings.
• Collect memories in a memory book or a digital document that can be sent to the family.
• Consider a small ritual at the office like a moment of silence, a shared photo board, or a memorial fund if the family requests it.

How to include coworkers who are remote

Remote colleagues will appreciate a way to contribute. Use a shared document, a chat thread, or a short Zoom segment where people can type memories. Record the virtual tribute if the family allows and send a copy to everyone who asks.

Glossary of useful terms

• Eulogy A speech given at a funeral or memorial to honor the person who died.
• Obituary A written notice that announces a death and usually includes service details.
• HR Human resources. The department that manages employee support and policies.
• Bereavement leave Time off for grieving. Policies vary by employer and by state.
• Condolence A message of sympathy offered to someone who is grieving.
• Order of service The program that lists the sequence of events for a funeral or memorial.

Frequently asked questions

How do I start a eulogy for a secretary if I am nervous

Start with your name and your relationship. A simple opening like Hello, I am [Your Name] and I supervised [Secretary s Name] gives the audience context and buys you a breath. Practice that line until it feels steady. From there share one short true sentence about what they did for the team.

What if I was not close to the secretary but was asked to speak

Focus on observable details and the impact on the team. Mention role, length of service, and one small workplace story you learned from coworkers. You do not need to invent intimacy. Honesty and respect are what people remember.

Can I include humor

Yes, if the humor is kind and earned. A small lighthearted memory that reflects the secretary s personality helps people breathe. Avoid jokes that single out or shame others or that might embarrass the family.

Should I check with HR before I give a eulogy

Yes. HR can confirm timing, appropriate language for company communications, and whether any privacy concerns exist. They can also advise how to share the eulogy with colleagues and the family.

How do I keep it professional while being personal

Balance includes mentioning job contributions and adding one or two personal anecdotes that are work appropriate. Keep stories brief and avoid private topics. Emphasize how the person made work easier or kinder for others.

What if I cry and cannot continue

Pause and take a breath. Look at your notes and continue when you can. If you feel you cannot finish, have a colleague ready to step up. Most audiences will be patient and understanding.