re: I was just asked to write/deliver my grandfathers eulogy

You could ask a few people close to him/you to write out a memory and read that as part of your eulogy.

I woke up the morning of my Dad's funeral and decided I wasn't going to let a preacher that didn't really know him do it.

Funny thing is that I talked for almost an hour but I barely remember a word of it. I just remember my uncle grabbing me when I walked off the stage telling me how proud he was of me. I guess it was good because there wasn't a dry eye in the house.


You'll be glad you did. Remind people who he was, what he stood for and what that legacy means to those he influenced.

Personally, I could never get through it. I get way too choked up when I'm feeling sentimental. It was hard enough just giving a bestman speech.

I like what some of the posters said about getting some feedback from others. Perhaps start off by acknowledging some of the different "hats" he wore. Then go into who he was to you. Tell a short humorous story, and end with a few kind words.

I did my grandad's back in the early 2000's. You will be glad you did it.

Just find a couple of anecdotes and play off of those. One I used was a note I found that he had saved. It was an informal job reference from when he had come back from WW2 and was trying to get a job and get settled. It was just a hand written note that said "(Insert his name) will make a good man for you" followed by a signature. I built everything around that for the eulogy and made it the theme.

Just come up with a couple of stories or something that exemplify him and them just work around those for a theme.

quote:

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I woke up the morning of my Dad's funeral and decided I wasn't going to let a preacher that didn't really know him do it.

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This. I've made my wife swear that if I get cleaned out by a train or something she won't let my funeral be me laid out while the pastor of the church I grew up in does a sermon.

That horrifies me more than the thought of the train.

Always make eulogies light heated but tell a story that will make people cry.
I've given three eulogies in my life and went up to speak a half dozen other times at services.

I like to be candid. You want a laugh then hit them with the feels. Be honest, I'm sure you have great stories with your gramps.

I did my Mom's last November 11th. My other 6 siblings were in attendance as well as many friends of hers. I spoke of her accomplishments in life and what she would be happy about the other siblings accomplishments in life.

I have unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it done quite a few. I always start with humor and then end with why they will be missed the most. Speak from the heart and you can't go wrong. So sorry for your loss

I am sorry for your loss. I've done two, for both of my grandmothers. I was asked to do the first and volunteered for the second. I look back on it very fondly, even though it was not about me.

I would suggest throwing in a little bit of light humor in the form of a funny story you may recall, but mainly speak from the heart. It is also good to mention close family members, such as sons, daughters, grandchildren, and others in the eulogy.

I did my grandmothers. Here is how it went. I hope that if can help you with thoughts on how to handle it. If I can make a suggestion id say read it and read it a lot before. You'll choke up initially. When I actually read it in the church I was honored. A sense of comfort came to me. Possibly find a couple people in the crowd that you do not know that you can scan to when you look up at those in attendance. I do not suggest looking at parents or siblings. They will be overwhelmed with what you are saying as they are hearing it for the first time.
Also, write it. Possibly give that copy to the next closest live family member.

Good luck, you'll do fine and will feel great doing it.




Good morning

I've have to tell you that I don't "do" emotion well. I normally try to use humor to avoid showing emotions, but I'm not sure how that will work today. Please bear with me.

I'll begin with this:

(Her name); daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother.... great great grandmother. I call her grandma.
She isn't famous. She isn't a millionaire. Their aren't any books written about her. They are not any bridges that have been named after her, but she is a great example of how to live an amazingly; truly full filling; impact full life.

Let me tell you a few things about her: She is strong and silent. She never complains. She's private and prideful and would never burden anyone with her problems. She is steady and true and such a great example of honesty. What you see is what you get. She is a woman of integrity and loves God with all of her heart. She is the epitome of a beautiful woman.

She is all of those things. I find myself having trouble changing the tense from IS to WAS when talking about her. Where the IS comes into all of this is in the impact that she will leave behind on all of us. In some way or another she has had a positive impact on everyone that she has met through the values that I previously mentioned. This is where she will continue to live on because of the example that she set for all of us. We'll talk about her and tell all of the stories that we have about her and think silently to ourselves how we wish we could have just one more conversation with her. Through this she will continue to live on.

Finally, here are three things that I know for sure:
First, All of her grandchildren and great grandchildren have a lasting memory of learning how to swim in a #2 tub in her garage.
Second, As we sit here she is probably enjoying a plate of boiled crabs. Her favorite. (All of us know that she is definitely not enjoying fish)
Last, I envision her comfortably sitting in a rocking chair with grandpa by her side; patiently waiting on 2pm so she can serve dessert and coffee.