12 guides
Eulogies & Obituaries
Writing about someone you love is hard to start and harder to finish. These guides give you structures, examples and practical tips for eulogies, obituaries, readings and thank-you notes.
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Opening Words for a Funeral: What to Say and ExamplesWhat to say at the start of a funeral or memorial service: a simple four-part structure, sample welcomes for religious, secular and livestreamed services. 7 min readEulogy Delivery Tips: How to Speak at a FuneralHow to deliver a eulogy: how long to speak, script or notes, a practice plan, what to do if you cry, and ways to steady your nerves on the day. 6 min readFunny Funeral Speech: How to Write a Humorous EulogyHow to write a funny funeral speech that honors the person: when humor fits, the rules to follow, three sample passages and how to deliver them. 5 min read
Every eulogies guide
- Closing Words for a Funeral: What to Say and ExamplesWhat to say to close a funeral or end a eulogy: five ways to end a tribute, a closing script for the officiant, committal wording and practical announcements.
- Eulogy Delivery Tips: How to Speak at a FuneralHow to deliver a eulogy: how long to speak, script or notes, a practice plan, what to do if you cry, and ways to steady your nerves on the day.
- Eulogy for a Father: How to Write a Tribute to Your DadHow to write a eulogy for your father: memory prompts, three simple structures, sample wording, joint tributes with siblings, and difficult relationships.
- Funny Funeral Speech: How to Write a Humorous EulogyHow to write a funny funeral speech that honors the person: when humor fits, the rules to follow, three sample passages and how to deliver them.
- How Long Should an Obituary Be? Length, Format and LayoutHow long an obituary should be in print and online, what order to put the details in, what to leave out for safety, and when to publish it.
- How Much Does an Obituary Cost? Print and Online PricesWhat a newspaper or online obituary costs in 2026, why prices vary by city, length and photo, and practical ways to pay less without leaving anyone out.
- How to Write an Obituary: What to Include, Costs and Where to PublishHow to write an obituary step by step, what to include and leave out, what newspapers charge, where to publish, and how to keep the family safe from scams.
- Obituary Templates: Free Fill-in-the-Blank Examples and DownloadsCopy-and-paste obituary templates for a short notice, a full obituary and a life-story tribute, plus where to find free downloadable obituary templates.
- Obituary vs Death Notice: What's the Difference and Which to UseA death notice is a short paid announcement of a death and service details. An obituary tells the person's life story. See how they differ and when to use each.
- Online Obituary Platforms: Where to Post an Obituary OnlineWhere to publish an obituary online, from Legacy.com and newspaper sites to free memorial pages, what each costs, and what to leave out for safety.
- Opening Words for a Funeral: What to Say and ExamplesWhat to say at the start of a funeral or memorial service: a simple four-part structure, sample welcomes for religious, secular and livestreamed services.
- Short Eulogy Examples: Brief Funeral Tributes You Can AdaptShort eulogy examples for one, two, three and five minutes, with word counts, a fill-in structure and tips for parents, friends and difficult relationships.