Help me draft a eulogy for [PERSON’S NAME AND RELATIONSHIP] to be delivered at [SERVICE DETAILS]. Use only the memories, facts, and preferences I provide; do not invent achievements, quotations, religious beliefs, family relationships, causes of death, or details of their final days. My notes: [MEMORIES AND LIFE FACTS] Their qualities and values: [CHARACTER AND VALUES] People to acknowledge and boundaries: [ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND BOUNDARIES] Desired tone and length: [TONE AND LENGTH] Write a ready-to-deliver speech with a gentle opening, a brief picture of who they were, two or three specific memories, a section on what they gave to others, and a closing that gives the room a place to rest. Use conversational sentences that are easy to say aloud. Do not turn their life into a résumé, overuse adjectives, force humor, or make universal claims such as “everyone loved them.” Include names only as supplied. Output: first, the full eulogy; second, a short list of optional lines I can remove if I need to shorten it; third, a private fact-check list showing every specific claim drawn from my notes. Keep the speech within my requested delivery time. Before answering, check that the tone respects my boundaries and that each factual claim is supported by my notes. Ask up to three gentle clarifying questions only if a required input is missing.
Fill in
| Placeholder | What to enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| [PERSON’S NAME AND RELATIONSHIP] | Give the person’s name and how you knew them. | Eleanor “Ellie” Martin, my grandmother. |
| [SERVICE DETAILS] | State the type of service, audience, and any faith or cultural context to honor. | A Saturday memorial service at a community church, with family, neighbors, and former library colleagues present. |
| [MEMORIES AND LIFE FACTS] | Provide true memories, milestones, phrases, and details you want considered. | Born in Ohio in 1938; raised three children; worked 27 years at Maplewood Library; made Sunday cinnamon rolls; kept handwritten birthday cards. |
| [CHARACTER AND VALUES] | List the qualities, habits, and values that felt most true to the person. | Quietly generous, curious, patient with children, and serious about showing up for people. |
| [ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND BOUNDARIES] | State who to acknowledge and subjects, names, or details to avoid. | Thank her friend June and her caregivers; do not discuss the last year of illness or family disagreements. |
| [TONE AND LENGTH] | State the desired tone and approximate number of minutes. | Warm and simple, about five minutes, with one light memory but no jokes. |
How to use
- Gather a few true stories from relatives and write them as plain notes before pasting them in.
- State any names or subjects that should not be mentioned; this protects the family as much as tone instructions do.
- Read the draft aloud and cut sentences that sound unlike the speaker’s natural voice.
- Follow up with: “Keep the opening and closing, but make the middle 90 seconds shorter and use only the library and cinnamon-roll memories.”
Variations
Two-minute tribute
Use this for a short graveside or reception reading.
Write a two-minute spoken tribute for [PERSON AND RELATIONSHIP] at [SETTING]. Use these verified memories only: [MEMORIES]. The tone should be [TONE], and avoid [BOUNDARIES]. Structure it as an opening, one vivid memory, one sentence about their lasting influence, and a simple close. Use short sentences and natural pauses. Do not invent facts or quotes. After the speech, identify each personal detail you used so I can confirm it before delivery.
Family memory request
Use this before drafting to collect better stories.
Draft a message asking family and friends to share memories for a eulogy for [PERSON]. Mention the service date: [DATE]. Ask for one specific story, a small habit or saying, a value they lived by, and any name or detail that should be handled carefully. Keep it under 180 words and make clear that contributors can decline. Do not imply every submission will be read aloud. Include a response deadline of [DEADLINE].
Secular remembrance
Use this for a nonreligious service.
Draft a [LENGTH]-minute secular remembrance for [PERSON AND RELATIONSHIP]. Notes: [FACTS AND MEMORIES]. Include these people: [ACKNOWLEDGMENTS]. Avoid: [BOUNDARIES]. Build the speech around how they lived, the relationships they made, and two concrete memories; do not use religious language, claims of certainty about an afterlife, or invented quotations. Write for spoken delivery, then provide a factual-detail checklist so the family can confirm the draft.
Tips
- A specific habit, place, or recurring act of care is more moving than a list of adjectives.
- Ask each contributor for one scene they witnessed; it produces material a speaker can actually tell.
- Read the draft at a slower-than-normal pace and leave room for emotion; written timing often underestimates delivery time.
- Keep disputed family history and private medical details out unless the immediate family has explicitly agreed to include them.
FAQ
How long should a eulogy be?
Many are about three to seven minutes. The service format, number of speakers, and the speaker’s comfort matter more than filling a target length.
Can AI write about someone it never knew?
It can shape the memories you supply into a draft. Family members should fact-check it and decide if its voice and boundaries feel right.