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

Writing a eulogy for someone who did good work and brightened the office is hard, but you do not have to make it stiff or boring. You want something that honors the person, comforts coworkers, and reads true without sounding like a corporate memo. This guide gives you step by step help, smart structure, real world examples you can adapt, and practical tips for handling workplace realities like HR, memorial logistics, and remote teams.

Everything here is written for busy people who want to say the right thing. Expect clear templates, fill in the blank lines, and multiple example lengths so you can pick the tone that fits your workplace culture. We will also explain common terms such as HR. HR stands for Human Resources and that is the team that handles company policy, benefits, and sometimes bereavement time. We will cover what to run by them and what you do not need approval for.

Before You Start Writing

Pause for a second. If you are the person delivering the eulogy you may be grieving. That is okay. You can write in chunks and get help. Ask a trusted coworker to proofread or to stand with you at the service. If you are a manager, check with HR about any company announcements, the family contact, and whether the family prefers a private or public reading. If your company has an Employee Assistance Program or EAP that acronym means a support resource for employees who need counseling after a loss. Tell your team where to get help and mention EAP contacts in the internal message if HR wants that included.

Decide the Tone

Not all eulogies sound the same. Tone depends on the deceased, the family preferences, and your workplace culture. Pick one of these options before you write.

• Warm and professional for large audiences and when family wants a formal tone.
• Personal and conversational for teams where the person was a daily presence and colleagues shared jokes and rituals.
• Lightly humorous yet respectful when the person would have wanted laughter mixed with tears. Keep humor small and always family approved.

If you are unsure which tone to choose ask the family. If that is not possible, default to warm and professional with one small personal anecdote. That gives space for emotion without risking offense.

How Long Should the Eulogy Be

A good rule is three to seven minutes when spoken. That translates to roughly 400 to 900 words depending on your pace. Shorter is fine. Longer can work for small gatherings. If you are part of a service with multiple speakers check the program so you do not accidentally monopolize the time.

Structure That Works Every Time

Use a simple structure to keep your eulogy focused. It also makes it easier to edit when emotions run high.

• Opening Greet the room and state your relationship to the employee.
• Life and work snapshot Offer the essential facts such as role, how long they worked with the company, and notable achievements.
• Personal story Share one or two short, concrete anecdotes that reveal character.
• What they taught us Describe the lessons or qualities colleagues will remember.
• Closing Offer words of comfort to family and coworkers and a brief farewell.

How to Start Writing

Start with a single sentence that captures the person. Think of it like a headline. It does not have to be perfect. Examples: Jamie was the person who organized birthdays so well that even the copier felt celebrated. Marcus quietly simplified our most complex reports while making the room laugh. That single line will become the skin the rest of the eulogy is built around.

Next, list three facts and three memories. Facts give listeners context. Memories give the soul. Facts can be job title, years with the company, and key projects. Memories are small moments such as a lunch ritual, a nickname, a habit, or the way the person fixed a recurring annoyance. The contrast of facts and memory keeps the eulogy grounded.

What to Include and What to Avoid

Include

• How you knew the person.
• Concrete examples of their work or kindness.
• One or two brief stories that reveal personality.
• A nod to family if appropriate and approved by them.
• Information about memorial or donations if the family has requested that be shared.

Avoid

• Long lists of accomplishments without personal context.
• Private family details unless the family asked you to share them.
• Inside jokes that only a few understand.
• Speculation about cause of death. If the family wants you to mention the cause they will tell you. If not, say the loss and move on.
• Unnecessary corporate language that feels cold and distant.

Tone Examples for Different Workplace Situations

Here are tone suggestions you can copy depending on the context.

Small startup team where someone was a friend

Use second person warmth. Share small rituals. Keep it casual but sincere.

Large corporation with formal service

Use structured language, include role and achievements, and add a single personal note approved by family.

Remote team and virtual memorial

Call out the remote contributions. Read one or two chat or email excerpts that show personality. Keep timing tight so online attention does not drift.

Writing Templates You Can Use Right Now

Pick a template based on how long you want to speak. Replace bracketed text with simple personal details. Each template starts with a one sentence opener you can swap in.

Short template roughly one to two minutes

[Opener sentence about who the person was at work]. My name is [your name] and I was [their manager, colleague, or friend]. [Name] joined us in [year] as [role]. They were the kind of person who [concrete detail]. One memory I will always carry is [brief anecdote]. For those who did not know them, you should know they loved [hobby or habit]. We will miss their [quality]. Our thoughts are with [family names or family]. If you would like to honor their memory the family has asked that donations go to [charity] or that you wear [color] at the service. Thank you for being here to remember [name].

Medium template roughly three to four minutes

[Opener sentence]. I am [name]. I worked with [deceased] for [X] years as [role]. Right away they made an impression because [concrete work fact]. But the thing that mattered most was how they treated people. [Anecdote one]. That story shows their [trait]. Another time, [anecdote two]. It was typical of them to [small habitual detail]. They taught us [lesson or value]. To [family names], please know how much we admired them. The company will [mention memorial arrangements if approved by family]. Let us take a moment to remember [name] by [suggested action such as lighting a candle].

Longer template four to seven minutes

[Opener sentence]. Hello, my name is [name] and I led the [team or project] that [name] was part of. They joined us in [year] and quickly became the person people turned to for [skill or emotional support]. At work they were responsible for [project or achievement]. Their style was [descriptor]. Off the clock they did not shut off; they would [anecdote about hobbies or volunteer work]. I remember a day when [anecdote three]. That day taught me about [value]. We will carry their influence forward by doing [specific workplace practice or tribute]. To the family, we are here for you. The company will [practical info on donations or memorials]. Finally, I would like to read a brief note from [coworker or family member] and invite anyone who wants to share a memory to join after this talk. Goodbye [name]. You made our days better.

Real Example Eulogies You Can Adapt

Below are three adaptable example eulogies written in different tones. Use them as a starting point. Replace details in brackets. Read them aloud and change anything that does not sound like you.

Example 1 Manager at a small team medium length

Hello. I am Priya and I had the honor of managing Theo for five years. Theo joined us in 2018 and quickly became the person who made the impossible feel possible. When a deadline looked unmanageable Theo would sketch a path on a napkin, call a quick standup, and suddenly things moved. He loved analogies and once compared a product rollout to making bread. It was messy at first but worth the rise. More than his work, Theo had a habit of bringing leftover cookies from his grandmother every Friday. If you were having a rough day he would show up with a brown paper bag and a terrible pun. To his partner Alex and their family, we are so sorry for this loss. We will honor Theo by keeping the practice of small kindnesses alive. Thank you all for being here to celebrate him.

Example 2 Peer at a large company short and professional

Good afternoon. I am Marcus from the analytics team. Emilia was our lead analyst and worked with the company for seven years. She streamlined reporting so our teams could spend less time pulling numbers and more time using them. Emilia loved details and named spreadsheets with the kind of clarity that made the rest of us jealous. Off the clock she volunteered at the local library and adopted a retired greyhound named Bean. We will miss her precision and her warm presence. Our condolences go to her parents and sister. The family has asked for privacy and suggested donations to the library in lieu of flowers. Thank you.

Example 3 Coworker at a creative agency with gentle humor longer

Hi everyone. I am Rosa and I shared a desk wall with Malik for three years. Malik decorated that wall with postcards from places he planned to visit and drawings of ridiculous monsters. He would bring a strange mug every month and call it his inspiration vessel. Malik had a way of turning constraints into jokes and then into great work. Once the printing budget vanished and Malik figured out how to make a high impact direct mail piece on a shoestring. He taught me that creativity is less about big budgets and more about stubborn generosity. To his partner and parents, we cannot imagine the depth of your grief. We will honor Malik by creating a small scholarship for young designers and by keeping his playlist in the office. Malik, thank you for every laugh and for the weird mug you left behind. We will miss you deeply.

How to Use Humor Safely

Humor can be healing when used carefully. If you plan to include a funny story check with the family first. Keep jokes short and never make the deceased the butt of the joke. Prefer self depricating lines that show your own relationship to the memory and that make the room smile rather than cringe.

Reading the Eulogy Aloud Tips

• Practice out loud three times and time yourself.
• Mark the script for breaths. Put a line break where you plan to pause or take a sip of water.
• Bring a printed copy. Read from it rather than from a phone to avoid scrolling anxiety.
• Use a tissue and have someone on standby if you think you will need support. It is okay to stop and hand off. The room understands.
• Speak slowly. Grief compresses attention so give each sentence air.

Remote Delivery and Virtual Memorials

If the memorial is online you have extras to plan. Test your microphone and camera. Select a quiet background and good lighting. Keep the speech even slightly shorter because online attention is more fragile. Consider sharing a PDF or a short recording of the eulogy for those who cannot be present. If you plan to read messages from chat or email do so with permission and respect privacy.

Workplace Logistics to Think About

There are practical workplace steps that matter. Talk to HR about bereavement pay, time off, and whether the company will post an internal message. HR can also help with memorial funds or donation links if the family asked for that to be public. Acronym check EAP means Employee Assistance Program again and that resource can provide counseling referrals. PTO stands for paid time off and policies vary by company. If you are a manager giving your team time to attend the service or to process grief is meaningful and often necessary.

What If You Are Not Close But Must Speak

Sometimes a leader is asked to speak without having been close. That is okay. Focus on factual warmth and share one meaningful observation from the workplace. You do not need to invent closeness. Honesty about the limits of your relationship can itself be kind. For example say I did not know Maya outside the office but I knew that she made our mornings better and that is a loss we feel together.

Special Cases

Young employee or unexpected death

When the death is unexpected or the person was very young the temptation is to use grand statements. Instead focus on small, specific facts and simple rituals of memory. Light a candle together. Share one short story from the team. Offer concrete support to family through HR contact details and memorial information.

Death by suicide

If cause of death is suicide do not speculate. Families may ask to include that information. If not included, avoid mentioning it. If you must address the subject because it was public, be factual and include resources for support such as EAP or crisis lines. If someone uses the phrase crisis line they mean a phone or text service that can provide immediate mental health support. In the United States the national suicide prevention lifeline is available by dialing the number 988. If you are elsewhere check local resources.

High profile or publicized death

If the death is high profile coordinate carefully with PR and HR. The family usually controls personal details. Provide a neutral company statement and offer a private memorial for colleagues. Do not release internal messages publicly without consent.

Editing Checklist

Run this quick pass before printing the speech.

1. Check names and family spellings. Call someone if you are not sure.
2. Verify dates and job titles with HR.
3. Remove any private medical details unless the family asked you to include them.
4. Read out loud and cut anything that feels repetitive or long.
5. Limit inside jokes that exclude most of the audience.
6. Ensure the closing includes any memorial logistics the family requested to share.

How to Offer Help After the Service

Words are important. Action matters more. As a manager or colleague consider these practical gestures.

• Send a condolence card or a signed note from the team.
• Offer specific help such as dropping off meals or taking over a project task for a set period.
• Coordinate a memory book with photos and messages.
• Make a donation if the family requested it and communicate that respectfully.
• Keep checking in with teammates. Grief lasts, and ongoing support matters.

Common Questions People Ask

Can I mention cause of death

Only if the family has explicitly asked you to mention it. Otherwise say the loss or passing. Respect privacy and do not share medical details.

Should a manager suspend work for a memorial

It depends on the team and the role. For close knit teams a short pause or a half day can be meaningful. For essential operations stagger coverage so people can attend while maintaining necessary services. Coordinate with HR for paid time off policies and to be fair to all team members.

Who should approve what I say

Typically the family. If that is not possible ask HR for guidance. For large companies PR might need to review public statements. For internal team memorials a quick family check is best when possible.

Templates for Different Roles

Manager quick script

Hello. I am [name], [title]. [Name] joined us in [year] and led [project]. They had a quiet way of getting things done and cared about people. One example is [brief story]. We are holding a remembrance on [date] and the family has asked that donations go to [charity]. Our thoughts are with [family names].

Coworker quick script

Hi, I am [name], and I sat next to [colleague]. [Name] loved [small personal detail]. My favorite memory is [short anecdote]. I will miss their [trait]. If you want to share a memory after the service please join us in the break room or on the company chat channel.

Remote team script

Thanks for joining virtually. I am [name]. Though we worked apart, [name] was a central part of our Slack mornings and always replied with a GIF that made the day better. I will miss their messages and the way they celebrated wins. The team is creating a digital memory wall. Links will be shared in email after this call.

Sample Tribute: Email to Staff Template

Below is a sample internal message managers can use after coordinating with HR and family.

Subject line: Remembering [Name]

Team,

We are deeply saddened to share that [Name], who worked as [role], passed away on [date]. [Name] was with us for [years] and made important contributions including [example]. They were known for [personal quality]. Our thoughts are with [family]. The family has requested [privacy, or memorial info]. If you need support please contact HR or our Employee Assistance Program, EAP, at [contact]. We will share details about group remembrance soon.

Please be kind to one another. Grief can show up in unexpected ways and we want to support you.

[Your name]

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