Eulogy Examples: What a Great Eulogy Actually Looks Like
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Sometimes the hardest part of writing a eulogy is not knowing what a good one actually sounds like.
You sit down with the best intentions, and nothing comes. Or something comes, but it feels flat — like it could be about anyone, not the specific, irreplaceable person you lost.
The difference between a forgettable eulogy and one people talk about for years almost always comes down to one thing: specificity. The details. The stories. The moments that were so particular to that person that hearing them makes the whole room feel like they knew them a little better.
Here are two real eulogies created with TreulogyAI — and a breakdown of what makes each one work.
Example 1 — William: The Professor Who Loved to Talk
Written by his son. William was a business professor, a debater, a nature lover, and a man who once bought a rototiller for a garden he never had.
“William was, without a doubt, a man who loved to talk. Those who knew him best would tell you he was outgoing, sociable, and could hold a conversation for hours — especially if it involved politics, history, or education. I remember sitting with him, captivated, as he shared his favourite stories, weaving in wit and wisdom with a smooth, cheerful voice that made every word feel like a gift. He was long-winded for sure, but you never minded because you knew you were hearing something special.”
What makes this work
- It names the quirk honestly. “He was long-winded for sure” — and then immediately reframes it as something you loved. That honesty makes it real.
- It uses his own world. Politics, history, education — these aren’t generic. They tell you exactly who William was.
- It puts you in the room. “Sitting with him, captivated” — you can picture it.
“I have to smile when I think of the large rototiller he once bought for a garden he never had — a sign of his hopeful vision for a future where family and friends could gather.”
Why the rototiller matters
This is the detail everyone will remember. It is funny, it is tender, and it tells you everything about a man who dreamed bigger than he lived — in the best possible way. One specific object carries more emotional weight than a paragraph of adjectives.
Example 2 — Margaret: The Quiet Strength of Nana
Written by her family. Margaret was a homemaker, a farmer’s wife, a devoted grandmother, and a lifelong fan of Clark Gable.
“Her favourite chair was a reclining armchair where she often dozed off watching her favourite shows. Nana was proud and practical, always well-groomed and put together, never wanting to be caught unprepared. She took great satisfaction in her daily routines — from early mornings tending to chores, to baking homemade treats and knitting blankets for her grandchildren in their favourite colours.”
What makes this work
- The chair. Everyone who loved her knows that chair. Details like this are what make people cry — not because they are sad, but because they are so precisely true.
- It honours her values without being preachy. “Proud and practical” says more than “she was a hard worker” ever could.
- The blankets in their favourite colours. That one detail shows she paid attention to each grandchild as an individual. That is love made visible.
“One of the lighter memories many of us hold is Nana’s fondness for Clark Gable in Gone with the Wind. The family often teased her about her crush — a reminder of the simple joys she embraced so warmly.”
Why humour belongs in a eulogy
People often worry that being funny at a funeral is disrespectful. The opposite is usually true. A moment of genuine laughter — especially one that captures exactly who someone was — is one of the most loving things you can offer a room full of grieving people. Margaret’s Clark Gable poster is funny because it is real. That is all humour in a eulogy ever needs to be.
The pattern: what every great eulogy has in common
Looking at both eulogies, the formula becomes clear:
- A specific object or habit — the rototiller, the armchair, the blankets
- An honest character description — long-winded but worth it; proud and practical
- One moment of lightness — something that makes people smile through their tears
- A closing that lands — something true, something earned, something they will remember
You do not need to be a writer to hit all four. You just need to remember clearly — and have somewhere to put those memories.
A note on how these eulogies were written
Both William’s and Margaret’s eulogies were created using TreulogyAI. The son who wrote William’s eulogy answered questions about his father — his personality, his quirks, his stories, his voice. The family who wrote Margaret’s did the same. TreulogyAI took those answers and shaped them into something they were proud to deliver.
No writing experience required. Just memories — and the willingness to share them.
