Openings and Closings
Speaking with honour, respect and remembrance
Eulogy Openings and Closings: Examples to inspire you
When you sit down to write a eulogy, the first and last lines can feel the hardest.
The opening has to help you begin.
The closing has to help you say goodbye.
That can feel like a lot of pressure.
But eulogy openings and closings do not need to be perfect. They only need to feel sincere, respectful, and true to the person you are remembering.
Start small.
Write one possible opening.
Then write one possible closing.
You can shape the middle later.
Often, once the first words are on the page, the rest begins to follow.
Why eulogy openings and closings matter
The opening sets the tone.
It helps the people listening settle into the moment. It also gives you somewhere steady to begin when your emotions are close to the surface.
The closing offers a final note of love, gratitude, peace, or remembrance.
It does not need to be dramatic.
Sometimes the simplest words are the ones people remember most.
How to begin a eulogy
A good eulogy opening usually does one of three things:
- introduces who you are
- thanks people for being there
- begins with a memory, feeling, or simple truth
You do not have to start with a quote.
You do not have to sound formal.
You can begin as if you are speaking gently to the people in the room.
Opening examples
1: Eulogy opening example - simple & heartfelt
For those who do not know me, I’m Sarah, John’s daughter.
Today, I want to share a few words about my dad. Not because I can capture his whole life in a few minutes, but because I want to honor the love, strength, and memories he leaves behind.
2: Eulogy opening example - warm & personal
Thank you all for being here today.
It means so much to see family, friends, neighbors, and loved ones gathered together to remember someone who meant so much to all of us.
Mom had a way of making people feel welcome. And today, I think she would be deeply touched to see everyone here.
3: Eulogy opening example - start with a memory
One of my favorite memories of Dad is hearing him whistle in the kitchen on Sunday mornings.
It was such a small thing. But now, it feels like one of the sounds of home.
That is what grief does. It turns ordinary moments into treasures.
4: Eulogy opening example - beloved partner
Every day, I thanked life for giving me someone like James.
He was my partner, my closest friend, and the person who made ordinary days feel steady and safe.
No words can fully express how much I will miss him, but today I want to honor the love we shared and the life he lived.
5: Eulogy opening example - short & gentle
oday is a hard day.
But it is also a day to remember, to give thanks, and to hold close the moments that made this life meaningful.
So I will begin simply, with love.
Closings
How to close a eulogy
The closing is your final goodbye.
It may include:
- a thank you
- a blessing
- a promise to remember
- a final message
- a favorite phrase
- a peaceful farewell
You do not have to say everything.
A few honest words can be enough.
One: Eulogy closing example - loving & simple
Dad, thank you for your love, your guidance, your humor, and the quiet ways you showed up for us.
We will miss you deeply.
We will carry you with us always.
Rest in peace.
Two: Eulogy closing example - warm & hopeful
Mom, your love lives on in the stories we tell, the meals we share, the kindness we offer, and the way we care for one another.
You gave us more than you knew.
We love you.
And we will remember you always.
Three: Eulogy closing example - for a partner
My dearest Angie, I will miss you in every ordinary moment.
In the quiet mornings.
In the empty chair.
In the memories that still make me smile.
Thank you for loving me.
Until we meet again, rest gently, my darling girl.
Four: Eulogy closing example - peaceful & respectful
As we say goodbye today, may we remember the life lived, the love shared, and the memories that remain.
May those memories bring comfort in the days ahead.
Rest in peace.
Five: Eulogy closing example - short & steady
Your life mattered.
Your love remains.
And your memory will stay with us.
Goodbye, with all our love.
Need help shaping the whole eulogy?
Openings and closings can give you a strong place to begin and end.
But you may still need help with the middle.
Our How to Write a Eulogy in 7 Steps guide walks you through the process gently, from gathering memories to shaping your tribute and preparing to read it aloud.
Want to hear how real eulogies sound?
Reading examples can help you write.
Watching real eulogies can help you understand tone, pacing, emotion, pauses, humor, and delivery.
Our Eulogy YouTube Examples page shares moving real-life eulogies and explains what you can learn from each one.
Writing for a difficult relationship?
Not every goodbye is simple.
If the person you are remembering was difficult, distant, critical, controlling, or complicated, ordinary eulogy examples may not feel right.
You may not want to speak harshly.
But you may not want to pretend either.
How to Write a Eulogy for a Difficult Loved One was created for this kind of goodbye.
It offers examples, templates, and wording for situations where love, grief, anger, guilt, and unfinished business may all sit together.
You do not have to explain everything.
You do not have to rewrite the past.
You only need to find words that are honest enough to live with and respectful enough to say aloud.
