Sample Eulogy for a Child

For those who may not know me, I am [NAME] uncle. The fact that someone had to sit down and write a eulogy for a child seems unjust. To us, there is nothing quite as unfair as the death of a child. But here we are, gathered together to say goodbye to someone who was here so briefly.  As I prepared to write a eulogy for our beautiful [NAME], I thought of my sister and her husband.

At first, I thought of the pain of their loss. Soon, however, my thoughts turned to the first time I saw them all together. I thought of how happy that baby made my sister and her husband. The joy that [NAME] brought to each of us is something that should be looked upon as a gift.

Was she taken from us much too soon? Absolutely, but truly how much time would have been enough? Anytime we are forced to live through the death of a loved one, we long for one more chance to talk to them, or one more chance to hold them.

The truth is that when we love someone, it is never enough time and being separated from those we love will always seem unfair.

There was something about [NAME] that brought a smile to the faces of all who knew her. She had such a friendly, bubbly and outgoing personality. She could strike up a conversation with a lady in the grocery line or the lunch lady at her school. She knew no strangers and she truly did touch the hearts of each of us who were blessed to have her in our lives for just a brief moment.

We say goodbye to the earthly version of [NAME] today, but not to her spirit. That will live on in every smile brought on by her memory and in the hearts of all of us who will love her until we go on to meet her in the next life.

There is no easy way to say goodbye to a child. There is no way to make it seem right, just, fair or easy. What we all must try to do during this difficult time is to focus on the joy she brought and on the gift that she was and realize that we wouldn’t trade those memories to relieve ourselves of the pain that we feel today at her loss.

We will miss much about her, but we know that she is now winning the hearts of the angels as she strikes up conversations with them while she waits for us to join her in that beautiful place.
photo credit: quinn.anya

Using Samples to Help You Write a Eulogy

As you prepare to write a eulogy, one tool that you might find useful are sample eulogies. While these samples are not intended for readers to use word for word, they can provide some much needed inspiration.

Where to Find Samples

There are many sources of sample eulogies, but some are better than others. When you read the sample, consider how it makes you feel. If it fails to inspire any type of emotion in you, then it is probably not the sample that you want to use for inspiration.

How to Use Samples

Once you have found some quality eulogy samples, you can then decide how to use them. Because a eulogy should be personal, it is not a good idea to copy a sample eulogy word for word. You can, however, take key points or themes and then customize them to suit your own needs.

Look at the layout of the sample. What is the first line? What is the closing? What key points are included? Based on those layout points, you can create an outline that will help you when writing a eulogy.

Another useful bit of information you will find in many sample eulogies are quotes and scriptures. You can certainly use such items when writing a eulogy.

In addition to the layout of a sample eulogy, you can also draw inspiration from the theme. Some samples will be quite poignant while others will be more lighthearted. Decide which type of eulogy you want to create and then use samples that are similar in tone. You will be able to see how the desired mood was created and then apply those techniques to the eulogy you are writing.

While, as mentioned earlier, each eulogy should be personal, if there is a line in a sample eulogy that really grabs you, it is fine to include it in your eulogy. This, however, should be kept to a minimum.

It is best to gather several samples that you find appealing and then try to learn how the writer created the mood or tone that you want to replicate. By doing so, you will be able to create a eulogy that is 100% original while using some of the skills and techniques used by the write who created the samples.

Perusing several samples is an important part of preparing when writing a eulogy. You will gain inspiration and that will help you to write a meaningful and appropriate eulogy.
photo credit: simon_cocks

Sample Eulogy for a Mother

For those who may not know me, I am the youngest daughter of [NAME]. While it may be a bit difficult to get through this, it was important to me to honor my mother with a eulogy.

My mother was the type of person that always put others needs ahead of her own. It was of the utmost importance to her that those around her be happy and comfortable before she gave her own comfort any thought.

Any who had the pleasure of visiting her home can testify to the fact that you would be offered a veritable buffet of food choices. You can also likely testify that you weren’t going to get out there without eating something. My mom loved to see people enjoying her wonderful cooking, and often had enough leftovers to drop off a pan or two at the local homeless shelter.

She always seemed to find time to lend a hand and to reach out to someone who really needed it. She raised four children, and was an amazing mother. We never felt like we were a bother. Instead, we knew we were her priority, and she always managed to make us feel like the most important people in her world.

I remember when her mother died. She was crying and I put my hand on her shoulder and said, “Don’t be sad, Mommy.” She pulled me onto her lap and spoke words that I’ll never forget and that bring me great comfort on this day. She said, “I’m not sad for Grandma. I’m sad for me. Grandma is in a better place, but I will miss her. Still, I know that one day we’ll all be together again.”

The same faith that my grandmother instilled in my mom was instilled in me. I am sad today, but I am not sad for my mom. I am sad for each of us who grew so accustomed to her big smile, kind words and good cooking.

I am sad for all of the tomorrows in which she will not be an active participant, but that sadness is tempered with the belief that we will all be together again. That she is right now with her own mother, making plans for the day that they will greet each of us with a smile, a hug and the offer to sit around their banquet table for a bite to eat.

I look forward to that day, but for now will be satisfied with the many wonderful memories that I have of the most loving, caring woman that I have ever known.  I know the loss will be difficult to bear some days, so I want to close with a promise found in the scriptures.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. . . . For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. –Isaiah 41:10, 13
photo credit: dorothy.voorhees

Sample Eulogy for a Friend

I have known [NAME] for more than 30 years. I know some of his deepest secrets and his most wonderful accomplishments. I also know that the day that he died, the world lost a very special man. He was the type that was more concerned about doing the right thing than he was about doing the easy thing. That, unfortunately, is a trait that grows increasingly rarer with every year that passes.

Such was his desire and drive to do the right thing that failing to do so expediently was unacceptable to him. If he got a traffic ticket, he paid it the next day. If he owed taxes, he mailed a check early to be sure it would arrive on time. His sense of values was clear and unflinching.

In addition to being a generally good person, he was also a wonderful friend. He was the type of person that you knew you could call with a need, but that often beat you to the punch. When I broke my leg, I looked out my window to see him there, trimming my bushes and mowing my lawn. I hadn’t asked for any assistance, but he saw a need and he acted on it.

As deeply as he will be missed by friends, the loss is even greater for his family. His love for his wife and children was made obvious in the way he spoke of them, and bragged about their every accomplishment. Through his actions, he showed me how to be a better husband, father and friend.

Today, as we gather to say goodbye, it is clear that while he will not physically be with us anymore, that his spirit will live on as long as each of us are alive. A famous quote reminded me of the importance of keeping his memory alive.

Samuel Butler said, “To die completely, a person must not only forget but be forgotten, and he who is not forgotten is not dead.” With that in mind, I can say with confidence that our friend, father and husband is not gone completely.

We now have the opportunity to live the rest of our lives in ways that will bring honor to a man who spent his life showing us how to be our best. Let’s never forget the lessons we learned from him. Let’s choose to be better for having known him.

Our hearts are heavy at the loss of a special man, but we can also rejoice in the way that he chose to live and in the knowledge that he did not squander the time he was given on this earth.
photo credit: erictitcombe