How to Write a Eulogy for Your Work Friend - Eulogy Examples & Tips

Writing a eulogy for a coworker or work friend can feel strange and heavy and right at the same time. You shared coffee breaks, deadlines, and inside jokes. You want to honor them in a way that feels true to the person without making the service awkward for colleagues or the family. This guide walks you through practical steps, relatable examples you can adapt, and real world tips for delivery whether the service is in person or online.

Who this guide is for

This article is for anyone asked to speak about a work friend at a funeral, memorial, celebration of life, office gathering, or virtual remembrance. Maybe you were desk neighbors, a mentor and mentee, the person who sat next to them in meetings, or the manager asked to represent the team. This guide includes short and longer scripts plus templates for funny, tender, and mixed tone tributes.

What is a eulogy and how is it different from other notices

A eulogy is a short speech that honors someone who has died. It focuses on memories, personality, and what the person meant to others. It is meant to be spoken at a funeral, memorial, or workplace gathering. An obituary is a written notice that gives factual details like birth date, survivors, and service information. A condolence message is a note you send to the family offering sympathy. An order of service is the schedule for the memorial event. If you see any unfamiliar words in workplace emails or programs we explain them below so everything is clear.

Terms you might see

• Eulogy A spoken tribute that shares memories and reflections about the person who died.
• Obituary A written announcement about a death that usually lists biographical facts and service details.
• Order of service The plan or program for the memorial listing readings, music, and speakers.
• Celebration of life A less formal gathering that highlights stories, photos, and the person s personality.
• HR Human resources. This team handles company policies, communications, and employee support after a death.
• EAP Employee assistance program. These are workplace services that offer grief counseling and practical support to staff.

How long should a eulogy for a work friend be

Short and focused is usually best for workplace related tributes. Aim for two to five minutes. That is roughly 300 to 700 spoken words. If multiple people are speaking coordinate with HR or the event organizer so the total time fits the program. If you have to speak at a company meeting keep it under two minutes unless you were specifically scheduled for more time.

Before you start writing

Take a breath and follow a simple plan so your words hit the right note.

• Check with family Ask the family if they are comfortable with workplace stories. Sometimes families prefer a private service and ask coworkers to keep public remarks brief or to wait for a workplace memorial.
• Talk to HR or the event organizer Confirm time limits, whether the company will record or stream the event, and if there are any legal or privacy guidelines.
• Decide the tone Do you want the tribute to be funny, solemn, celebratory, or a mix? Workplaces vary so check with colleagues who knew the person well.
• Gather specific memories Ask two or three coworkers for a quick memory each. Short stories with sensory detail work best.
• Pick two or three focus points Choose the few things you want people to remember about this person. Three points give shape and keep the talk tight.

Structure that works for a workplace eulogy

Use this simple structure. It helps the audience follow and keeps you from rambling.

• Opening Introduce yourself and your connection to the person. State one line about why you are speaking.
• Work life sketch Give a quick overview of their role and impact at work. Avoid a long resume list. Highlight what mattered to their colleagues.
• Anecdotes Share one or two short stories that show character. Keep them appropriate for family and coworkers.
• Traits and lessons Mention the things the person taught others or the qualities everyone will miss.
• Closing End with a goodbye line, a quote, or an invitation for others to share memories.

How to write the opening

Keep the first lines clear and ordinary. That gives you a moment to settle into the room or the camera.

Opening examples

• Hello. I am Jordan and I worked with Sam on the product team. I am grateful to say a few words about a brilliant problem solver and an even better friend.
• Hi everyone. I am Priya from marketing. I want to share one small story that shows why our team is missing Alex already.
• Good afternoon. I am Marcus and I managed Lisa for three years. She taught us how to ask hard questions with kindness.

Writing the work life sketch

Keep it short and human. Focus on roles and ways the person showed up for others rather than listing every job duty.

Work sketch templates

• [Name] joined [Company] in [year] as a [role]. They were known for [skill or habit]. They mentored teammates and made time for anyone who needed help during a sprint.
• [Name] was our go to person for [task]. They fixed problems, made us laugh, and reminded us to take lunch away from our desks.

Anecdotes that land at work

Work stories can be funny or tender. Keep them short and focused. The best ones have a small setup and a meaningful payoff.

Examples of short anecdotes

• One Friday we had a server outage and everyone panicked. [Name] calmly ordered pizza and told us to step away from the keyboards. Two hours later the system was back and we had learned how to breathe during chaos.
• She had a ritual of leaving sticky notes with jokes on our monitors. On rough days we found one and laughed even if the joke was terrible. It was a small way she held the team together.
• He kept a vintage mug on his desk that had a crack. He never replaced it because he said it had character just like the team. We all eventually found mugs with more cracks than we admitted.

Addressing complex workplace relationships

Not every workplace bond is simple. Maybe you had a difficult manager or a colleague with whom you disagreed. You can still speak honestly while staying professional. Focus on what you learned, on reconciliation if there was any, or on the ways the person challenged the team in useful ways.

Examples for complicated situations

• We did not always agree with Maria s approach. She pushed hard and that sometimes ruffled people. She also pushed us to be better designers and to defend our work with evidence. I respect that about her.
• My relationship with Tom was mostly constructive disagreement. We argued about metrics and then went for coffee and solved problems. That kind of working trust mattered more than the arguments themselves.

Using humor at work memorials

Humor can be a lifeline. Use small, earned jokes that the family will find appropriate. Avoid inside only jokes that exclude most people or that might embarrass the family.

Safe humor examples

• If you ever got a calendar invite from Jamie it came with five bullet points and a schedule for a schedule. He ran meetings like a tiny friendly dictator and we loved him for it.
• She was the kind of person who labeled the freezer with a Sharpie so clearly that it felt personal. I promise we will keep the label game alive in her honor.

What to avoid when speaking about a work friend

• Avoid gossip, disciplinary details, or anything private that could harm the family or hurt colleagues.
• Avoid excessive technical detail or long lists of accomplishments without a human story to go with them.
• Avoid company internal politics. This is not the place to air grievances.
• Avoid jokes that single out someone in the audience or reveal embarrassing details.

Full eulogy examples you can adapt

Below are complete examples for different tones and situations. Replace bracketed text with your details and read them out loud before the event.

Example 1: Short friendly tribute for a team stand up

Hi everyone. I am Maya from the data team. I worked with Ben for four years and sat near him for two of those. Ben had a ridiculous ability to make a spreadsheet sing and an even better ability to bring snacks when deadlines loomed. One small memory is how he would quietly leave half a cookie at your desk if he thought you needed a pick me up. He taught us to laugh at our mistakes and to ask for help when we were stuck. We will miss his practical jokes and his calm voice in a crisis. Please take a moment today to share one quick memory of Ben in our team chat so we can keep those small stories alive.

Example 2: Three to five minute eulogy for a memorial

Hello. I am Omar and I led the engineering team. I want to say a few words about Priya who was a brilliant engineer and an even more generous teammate. Priya joined the company six years ago and quickly became the person we called on for hard technical problems. She also organized our annual charity run and convinced at least ten developers to show up in neon shirts. One story that captures Priya was during a major launch when everything that could go wrong did. She stayed late, coached a junior engineer through a fix, and then made tea for the whole ops crew at three in the morning. She did not need recognition. She just wanted to make things better for whoever was around her. Her work mattered and so did her small acts of care. When I think of her I remember quiet competence and big generosity. Thank you for being here and for carrying her memory forward in the way you do your work.

Example 3: Funny and tender for a celebration of life

Hi. I am Leah from customer success. If you met Mark you know that he had a plan for everything except for where he left his keys. He made precise onboarding docs and left his phone in the fridge at least three times. He loved bad puns and he was the only person who could make a clinical call sound like stand up. My favorite memory is a Tuesday when the whole office was tired and Mark did an impromptu karaoke during lunch. It was messy and perfect and reminded us to have fun even when the backlog was long. He taught us to bring humor into hard work and to celebrate small wins. We will miss his laugh and his ridiculous playlists. Thank you Mark for making work feel less like work.

Example 4: For a remote colleague

Hello. I am Nish and I worked with Eva across time zones. We never sat in the same office but we shared daily stand ups, memes, and a rule about not scheduling meetings before nine am her time. Eva had a way of showing up in Slack with solutions and a gif that made Monday lighter. One small memory was how she always started messages with Hello team and ended them with a little check in Are you okay today. That was her way of making remote feel personal. We will miss her thoughtful notes and her uncanny timing of sending the perfect article. If you have a memory of Eva please share it in the channel so our global team can read what she meant to you.

Fill in the blank templates

Use these templates to get started. Fill in the brackets and edit so the language sounds like you.

Template A: Short workplace tribute

Hi. I am [Your Name] from [Team]. I worked with [Name] for [years]. [Name] was known for [skill or habit]. One memory I have is [brief story]. They taught me [lesson or trait]. We will miss [what people will miss]. Thank you for being here.

Template B: Manager or team lead tribute

Hello. I am [Your Name], [Position]. [Name] joined us in [year] as a [role]. They helped the team by [example]. A moment that shows who they were is [brief story]. They pushed us to [value or result]. Please join me in remembering [Name] and sharing one quick memory after this.

Template C: Remote colleague

Hi everyone. I am [Your Name] and I worked with [Name] remotely. Even across time zones they made the team feel connected by [habit]. My favorite memory is [short story]. They reminded us that kindness travels well even when offices do not. Thank you.

Delivery tips for workplace settings

Speaking after a death at work can be emotional and stressful. These practical tips help you stay steady and professional while being human.

• Confirm logistics Check with HR about time, whether the event is recorded, and who else is speaking.
• Print or use large cue cards If you are nervous, printed notes with big font are easier than a phone screen.
• Mark emotional beats Put a bracket where you want to pause to breathe or where laughter is expected.
• Practice out loud Run your words with a friend or record yourself. Practice helps manage shakiness.
• Keep work jargon minimal Explain any technical terms so family and friends who are not in the field understand the impact.
• Be mindful of the camera For virtual services look into the lens, not the screen. Dress plainly and remove distracting background items.
• Have a plan if you cannot continue Arrange a signal with a colleague who can step up to finish a line if you get too emotional.

Company communications and HR notes

Many companies issue internal messages after a death. If you are asked to write or review an internal note keep it factual, respectful, and brief. Confirm with the family before sharing photos or personal stories. If the company offers EAP services mention them in the communication so employees know where to seek support.

What to say to the family

Keep your message simple and heartfelt. A short note or email that says I am so sorry for your loss. [Name] was a wonderful colleague and friend here at [Company] is enough. Offer specific ways you can help such as relaying messages or coordinating a memory book. Ask whether the family is comfortable with photos or stories being shared internally.

Recording and sharing the eulogy

Always ask the family before posting audio or video publicly. If the family agrees you can share links privately with colleagues. Tagging the person in public posts without permission can cause distress. If the company records the memorial for staff who cannot attend confirm who has access and how long the recording will be kept.

Glossary of useful terms and acronyms

• Eulogy A spoken tribute that honors someone who has died.
• Obituary A written death announcement that lists biographical facts and service details.
• Order of service The program or schedule for a memorial event.
• Celebration of life A less formal event that focuses on stories, photos, and the person s personality.
• HR Human resources. The company team that manages policies and support after an employee s death.
• EAP Employee assistance program. A workplace resource that can include grief counseling and referral services.
• Condolence An expression of sympathy to the family or friends of the deceased.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a eulogy for a work friend be

Aim for two to five minutes in a memorial or roughly 300 to 700 spoken words. For a workplace meeting keep it under two minutes unless you were scheduled for more time. Short and specific is usually more meaningful than long and general.

Can I include workplace stories and humor

Yes but keep stories appropriate for family in the room. Use earned humor that underlines character. Avoid jokes that single out or embarrass colleagues or disclose private details.

Who should approve the eulogy or workplace message

Check with the family first. Then coordinate with HR or the event organizer about timing, recording, and any company policies. If you are unsure about a story ask a trusted colleague to review it.

What if I had a complicated relationship with the person

You can be honest without being hurtful. Acknowledge complexity, mention any reconciliation, or focus on what you learned from them. Keep the tone respectful and brief.

How do I speak at a virtual memorial

Find a quiet spot with good lighting. Use a stable internet connection and a headset if available. Look into the camera when speaking and keep your notes nearby. Mute notifications and practice with the platform beforehand.

Is it okay to write a short internal announcement at work

Yes. Keep it factual, respectful, and brief. Include information about EAP resources and any memorial arrangements that the family approves for sharing. Ask HR to review the message before sending.

What should I avoid in a workplace eulogy

Avoid airing internal disputes, revealing legal or medical details, or using heavy technical jargon. Avoid anything that might cause the family or colleagues distress.