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

You have been asked to speak for someone from work and your stomach turned into a knot. This happens a lot. At work people are the version of someone you saw every day for coffee runs, stand up meetings, projector fights, and inside jokes. They might not have been family but they mattered. This guide gives you the structure, the language, and the examples you need to write a eulogy that feels honest, fitting, and not painfully formal.

Everything here is written for busy people who want to do it well without overcooking it. You will find a clear structure to follow, guidance on tone when the vibe could be complicated, real world examples you can use or adapt, and delivery tips so you do not feel like you are reading a script from a different life. We will also explain relevant terms like HR and RSVP so everything is simple and useful.

Why a Work Eulogy Matters

Work relationships are real relationships. They are built on shared deadlines, tiny rituals, and mutual rescue missions on bad days. Saying something at a funeral or memorial is both a kindness to the person who died and to the people who are grieving. It gives a living thread that connects the good parts of their life to the people who loved them at work.

When you speak you do a few things at once. You name what was lost. You give permission for other people to feel. You archive a memory for everyone who will not remember the small, human details. You also show the family that their person mattered beyond home and hobbies.

Get Clear on the Logistics Before You Write

• Ask about format Is this a funeral, a memorial, a celebration of life, or a company gathering? Funerals usually have a more traditional tone. Memorials and celebrations of life can be more informal and story driven.
• Ask about length Typical eulogies from coworkers run between three and seven minutes. If you were given a time slot, lean shorter. People appreciate sharp and meaningful over long and wandering.
• Confirm order Will you speak first or after others? That changes how you open. If you speak after someone who already told family stories, you can be more focused on workplace memory.
• Check tech Will you need a microphone or slides? If it is virtual, test your connection, camera, and sound ahead of time.
• Respect company policy Sometimes HR or the family will request specific language or ask to avoid certain topics. Ask and follow those wishes.

How to Structure a Work Eulogy

A simple reliable structure keeps you from rambling and makes it easy for listeners to follow. Use this framework and you can adapt tone and content to match the situation.

• Opening Say who you are and how you knew the person. Keep it short and grounding.
• A memory that shows who they were Pick one or two specific stories from work that reveal character. Use sensory detail and action.
• What they gave to the team Mention contributions. This is not a resume. Focus on human impact like mentorship, humor, calm in a crisis, or an obsessive love of snacks.
• What you will miss Name the feeling. Honest statements like I will miss their morning grin are clearer than vague praise.
• Message to the family or team Offer thanks, recognition, or a brief wish. Keep it sincere.
• Short closing End with a line people can hold. A wish, a short quote, or a memory repeated once works well.

How to Pick Stories That Land

Not every memory belongs in a eulogy. The best stories are small scenes that show who the person was. Think like a filmmaker. Put hands and objects in the frame. Use sensory detail. Avoid long backstory that reads like a CV. Here are three types of stories that work especially well for work friends.

The Rescue Story

Example idea. The deadline was impossible. The server crashed. They stayed late, brewed terrible office coffee, and came back with a fix at 2 a.m. That shows dedication and calm under pressure.

The Ritual Story

Example idea. They never took lunch without a playlist queued. Every meeting started with one line of a certain song. That shows personality and routine that people miss.

The Tiny Habit Story

Example idea. They labeled every meeting recording with emojis or left sticky notes on your monitor. Those little things are often the most human reminders.

Tone and Humor: How Much is Too Much

Work friends brought many versions of themselves to the office. Your job is to be truthful and kind without being tone deaf. Here are some rules of thumb.

• Use gentle humor If the person joked a lot at work, a light funny memory is appropriate. Avoid sarcastic or mean jokes. If you are not sure how a joke will land with the family, leave it out.
• Avoid gossip and controversy This is not the time for airing complaints or insider drama. Keep any tension out of the speech.
• Be specific about kindness Concrete examples of helpful behavior feel more real than bland praise.
• Honor complexity People are complicated. It is fine to say they could be blunt and that you loved them for that. Framing complexity lovingly is honest and human.

Language and Phrases That Work

Use short sentences. Use plain language. Avoid elaborate formality unless that is the family preference. Here are sentence starters and phrases that are practical and human.

• I am [name] and I worked with [person].
• They were the colleague you could call at midnight and they would answer.
• One thing I will always remember is...
• They made the team better by...
• To their family, thank you for sharing them with us.
• If you ever find yourself in a Tuesday crisis think of how they...

Length Guidelines

Keep it short enough to be digestible and long enough to be meaningful. Aim for three to five minutes when possible. That usually translates to 400 to 700 words when read slowly. If you have a strict time limit reduce to two minutes. If you are unsure, practice your draft out loud and time it.

Examples You Can Use or Adapt

Below are examples at different tones and lengths. You can copy, tweak, or use these as templates. Replace bracketed parts with your details. Each example includes context so you know when it works best.

Short and Simple Example for a Team Meeting

Good afternoon. I am Jamie and I worked with Alex on product. Alex had a way of making the most stressful timelines feel smaller. When the server crashed the week before launch they sat with us until dawn debugging and ordering pizza. Alex made us laugh while fixing things and somehow made the late nights feel like a team victory. To Alexs family, thank you for sharing them with us. We will miss their weird jokes, their care, and the quiet way they kept everything moving.

Medium Length Example with Gentle Humor for a Memorial

Hi. Im Sam and I was a project manager who worked with Maria for seven years. Maria had two superpowers. She could spot a bug in thirty lines of code faster than anyone and she could make the worst PowerPoint feel like theater. She arrived every morning with hand painted mugs and an opinion on the podcast of the week. Her desk was a museum of novelty pens and a succulent that survived her black thumb because she refused to admit she killed plants. One afternoon when our demo blew up in front of the client Maria calmly closed the laptop put on a playlist and said lets tell them what we can do next. Her calm in crisis taught the team how to hold composure and keep moving. To Marias partner and kids thank you. We saw how much love you gave and how proud she was. We will miss her laugh in the hallway and the way she kept us all honest and human.

Longer Example with More Personal Reflection for a Funeral

Hello everyone. My name is Pri and I worked with Daniel for nearly a decade starting when we were both the new kids in the office. Daniel was the person who volunteered to test the messy parts of projects so the rest of us could pretend we were organized. He had an endless appetite for learning and an embarrassing number of plain sweaters that somehow looked like a uniform for problem solving. There is one scene I keep returning to. We were four hours into a deployment that went sideways. The room was quiet and people were panicking. Daniel walked to the whiteboard drew a silly stick figure labeled Plan B and then started assigning small tasks with a calm that was almost contagious. By the end of the night we had a fix and a terrible stick figure comic taped above the server rack that made everyone laugh the next morning. Daniel taught us how to separate the problem from the person. He taught us to aim for curiosity instead of blame. He mentored three of our engineers who are now leading projects of their own. To Daniels family thank you for sharing him with this chaotic bunch. We saw his kindness in every pull request note and every late night that he stayed to answer a question from someone who was too embarrassed to ask. I will miss his annual bad sweater contest and the way he made me try to be more patient. Rest well Daniel. We will carry your calm and your comic stick figures with us.

Templates You Can Fill In

Use these templates to assemble your own speech quickly. Pick a template and insert details.

Template 1 Short

Hi Im [name]. I worked with [person] on [team]. One thing I will always remember is [specific memory]. [Person] made our work better by [how they helped the team]. To their family thank you for sharing them. We will miss [one sentence about what you will miss].

Template 2 Medium

Hello Im [name] and I was [job title] who worked with [person] for [time period]. [Person] had a signature [habit or item] and they used it to [what that habit showed about them]. My favorite memory is [short story]. That story shows how they were [two adjectives]. They taught me and the team to [lesson]. Thank you to the family for sharing them. We will remember [four word image or line] whenever we think of them.

Template 3 Longer with Personal Reflection

Good [morning/afternoon]. Im [name]. Ive been on the team with [person] for [time]. When I think of [person] the first thing that comes to mind is [image]. One day [short story that reveals character]. That moment changed how I think about [work ethic, kindness, mentorship]. They were not perfect. They argued about [minor quirk] and that made them real to us. The biggest gift they gave the team was [gift]. To the family we want to say thank you. You gave us a person who cheered on our small successes and showed up in the hard ones. We will miss [closing memory or short wish].

What Not to Say

Avoid the following. These are common traps that derail a speech.

• Do not air office politics or grudges. This is not the moment for workplace scoring.
• Do not use inside jokes that exclude most of the audience. If a joke needs explanation skip it.
• Do not invent stories or exaggerate details. Honest small truths are stronger than grand lies.
• Avoid telling the family about any sensitive personal details they would not want shared. If you are unsure ask a family member or HR.

Reading vs Speaking From Memory

Both are fine. Reading keeps you steady. Speaking from memory can feel more intimate. If you choose memory write short bullet points on a single index card so you do not lose your thread.

• If reading Print the speech in a clear font. Mark where to breathe. Practice once or twice aloud so you are not surprised by pronunciation or emotion.
• If speaking from memory Use the structure we gave and practice until the story feels natural. Have the text ready in case you need it.

Handling Emotions While Speaking

Emotional moments are normal. The audience expects tears. Here are practical tips for managing tears without stopping the flow.

• Slow down. When you feel your voice tighten take a breath and pause for a beat. Pauses make the moment feel real.
• Have water handy. A sip can reset your throat and give you a beat to regroup.
• If you cannot continue say a simple sentence like I need a moment and then breathe. The audience will give you time.
• Bring a good friend. Ask someone to step in and finish reading if you feel you cannot continue.

Virtual Memorials and Asynchronous Tributes

If the event is virtual or you record a message for a company channel adapt slightly. Keep messages shorter and more conversational. Look into the camera like you are talking to a person. If you plan to share slides with photos use them sparingly and make sure you have permission to share images.

Legal and HR Things to Know

Sometimes companies have policies about public statements, memorial funds, or how to direct condolences. HR stands for Human Resources. They manage employee matters. Check with HR if you are unsure about what can be shared. If there is a request from the family about private details respect it. If funds or donations are being collected the family or HR will usually provide a link or instructions. If someone says RSVP that is short for a French phrase meaning please reply. RSVP in this context means tell the organizer if you can attend so they plan seating and logistics.

After the Speech: What You Can Do

• Follow up with the family with a short note. A text or card that says I am thinking of you and sharing one memory is meaningful.
• Share the speech if the family is comfortable. Some families want copies of what was said. Ask first.
• Offer practical help such as delivering a meal, covering shifts, or helping with logistics. Small deeds matter.
• Check on colleagues. Grief at work is communal. Simple check ins help people who may be carrying a lot.

Glossary of Common Terms and Acronyms

We explain a few terms you might see so nothing feels confusing.

• HR Human Resources. The company department that handles people issues, bereavement policies, and workplace logistics.
• PTO Paid Time Off. Company time that employees can use for vacation or sick days. Sometimes companies offer bereavement PTO for funerals.
• RSVP Please reply. Used by organizers to know how many people will attend.
• Memorial A gathering to remember someone that may happen after the funeral or instead of one. These can be less formal and story oriented.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a eulogy for a coworker be

Aim for three to five minutes. That usually equals 400 to 700 words read at a calm pace. Shorter is fine if you have multiple speakers. Practice and time yourself so you match the event flow.

What if I did not know the person well

That is okay. Focus on what you do know. Even small observations are meaningful like how they treated others, their reliable presence, or a polite exchange that stuck with you. You can also read a short prepared quote and offer a sentence about why it feels right.

Can I include humor in a work eulogy

Yes, as long as it honors the person and does not alienate family or colleagues. Gentle, specific humor about a known quirk usually lands well. Avoid sarcasm and inside jokes that require explanation.

What if I get emotional and cannot finish

Pause and breathe. If you need someone to step in arrange ahead of time for a friend or supervisor to finish reading. The audience expects tears and will be supportive.

Should I consult the family before speaking

It is considerate to check with a close family member about tone and any sensitive topics. Some families prefer only positive memories. Others are okay with honest complexity. A quick question can prevent discomfort.

How do I handle controversial topics at work while speaking

Avoid controversy. This is not the moment for workplace battles. Focus on human qualities and brief positive contributions. If you feel compelled to address something complex ask the family beforehand or discuss with HR.