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How to Write a Eulogy for a Grandmother: Tips & Examples

Updated 5/10/2022

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Sarah Kessler

Contributing writer, editor.

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Grammy or Granny, Oma, or Abuela. No matter what you called her, your grandmother helped make you who you are today. And the loss of a beloved grandmother is often one of the first we experience. 

Jump ahead to these sections: 

1. take some time to reflect.

6. Turn to Family and Friends

10. Revise and Rewrite

11. memorize and practice, short example eulogies for a grandmother.

When you’re writing a eulogy for a grandmother, you may not know where or how to begin. If you shared a close bond with your grandmother, it could be even more difficult to express all of those feelings in one short speech. 

Below, we’ll outline some helpful tips for writing a eulogy for a grandmother. We’ll also provide some examples of eulogies for grandmothers to spark your inspiration.

If writing a eulogy is just one of your tasks after losing a grandmother, our post-loss checklist can help you and your family sort through it all. 

After any loss, it’s important to take time to reflect and grieve. You may only have a short time to compose a eulogy before the funeral, but you might be able to take a few hours away for yourself. 

Treat yourself to a relaxing bubble bath or some quiet reflection. Think about the time you spent with your grandmother while she was here, and allow yourself to grieve. 

2. Write Down Your Unedited Thoughts and Feelings 

Once the thoughts and emotions are freely flowing, grab paper and pen and begin to write. Don’t try to edit your writing at this point—write down whatever comes to you. 

Think about the answers to some of these questions, if you need some inspiration:

Do you know how you want to be remembered?

Let your loved ones know. Create a free Cake end-of-life planning profile and share your funeral, legacy, legal, and health choices instantly.

3. Find Out How Much Time You Have 

Composing a eulogy for a grandmother also involves some logistic considerations, like time limits. Your family is probably hosting the funeral, so you’ll have leeway when it comes to time. 

If another person is hosting the memorial, or if you’ll have a priest or funeral director leading the service, make sure to find out how much time you have to give a eulogy. 

You might also find out if other people will be giving eulogies at the funeral. If not, your speech will carry more weight. If several other people are preparing eulogies, you might speak with them and find out what they plan to say. 

4. Brainstorm Ideas for the Speech 

You already put your initial thoughts and feelings to paper in Step 2. Now, it’s time to create a more deliberate brainstorm, incorporating those ideas. 

Look at all of the anecdotes, personality traits, and memories you jotted down. Think of how you would phrase those ideas if you were sharing them with friends or family. The tone of your eulogy should be respectful but conversational, and ultimately positive in nature. 

If one story stands out to you as especially important, you can center your eulogy around it. If there’s a common theme amongst all of your ideas (i.e., your grandma’s loving attitude, sense of humor, etc.), you can use that theme to flesh out your speech.  

5. Create an Outline for Your Eulogy 

An organized and logical outline will make the writing process faster and smoother. It will help you create a eulogy for your grandmother than makes sense and pays tribute at the same time. 

For your outline, you’ll want to include the following: 

Introduction

Introduce yourself, if it’s a large audience with some attendants who might not know you. Let the attendees know that you’re the grandson or granddaughter of the deceased.

This part should take about 30 seconds or less. If you need more help, read our guide on how to start a eulogy .

Next is the body of your speech. This is where you’ll talk about your grandmother in more detail and share one or two memories. Organize the thoughts you put down in your brainstorm, either according to a theme or chronologically. 

Create 5 to 10 subpoints in this section—one for each talking point or brainstorm idea you want to touch upon. 

You’ll finish your eulogy by providing a final, short memory of your grandmother, or an all-encompassing depiction of her and her life.

You can close with what you’ll miss most about your grandmother and the things about her that you’ll most remember. You can also read our guide on how to end a eulogy for more tips.

You might need more ideas for your eulogy, or you might want feedback on what you have so far. Either way, input from family and friends can be highly valuable when composing a funeral speech . Especially when you’re writing a eulogy for a grandmother, hearing your family’s memories and feelings can help you put yours into words. 

Gather your family together to talk and reminisce about your grandmother. Ask them if they’ll be giving eulogies, and if not, if they’d like you to include anything on their behalf. 

7. Sit Down and Write 

Finally, it’s time to write your eulogy. You might be struggling with sadness and grief, but the sooner you put pen to paper and compose your eulogy, the better. 

Take the outline you created and your brainstorm, and flesh out the introduction, body, and conclusion. For the introduction, you can lead to your speech by giving the overarching theme of the stories you’ll tell. Or, you can simply introduce yourself and start talking about your grandmother and the life she led. 

In the body of your eulogy, you should include transitions from one story or explanation to another. Organize your thoughts along a logical timeline, and don’t try to fit in too much. 

Conclude your eulogy by showing appreciation to the funeral attendees. Share any last words you have for the audience or words that you’d like to share with your grandmother directly. 

8. Take Some Time Away 

After you’ve written your speech, it’s a good idea to set it aside for a short time. Leave the eulogy alone for a day, if you can, and come back to it with fresh eyes. This will allow you to experience your eulogy from the perspective of a listener. 

It may also help to have someone read your speech back to you or use the “Read Aloud” function on Microsoft Word to listen to your words. 

9. Consider the Tone of Your Eulogy 

When you re-read or listen to your speech, consider its tone. The tone of a eulogy should be respectful but generally casual. You can share feelings of grief—for example, “I was heartbroken when I found out my dear grandmother had passed.” However, the overall message of a eulogy should be uplifting and positive. 

Focus on how your grandmother impacted the world in a positive way while she was alive and how her legacy will live on. 

You might have to edit and rewrite your eulogy multiple times before it’s just right. It’s okay to create a rough draft, and then decide to start all over again. Getting the right tone and conveying your genuine feelings isn’t easy to do on the first try. 

Finally, decide how you’ll memorize your eulogy speech. Will you memorize the speech you wrote, word-for-word? That can take a great deal of time, and it often leads to an unnatural presentation. Alternatively, you can jot down the key points of your speech, and bring a notecard with you. 

You may also choose to read your eulogy, rather than memorizing it. If you read your speech, though, try to memorize it to some extent so that you can look up from the page periodically. 

Practice giving your eulogy multiple times until you feel comfortable. Public speaking is nerve-wracking for nearly everyone, and it’s okay to feel nervous. What’s important is that you pay your grandmother tribute with a heartfelt speech. 

Reading examples of eulogies can help you prepare your own. Below are some excerpts from eulogies for grandmothers to lend you inspiration. 

From a granddaughter

From a grandson

Writing a Eulogy for a Grandmother

Writing a eulogy for a grandmother can be an emotionally taxing experience. But it’s one that can help you through the initial grieving process. A heartfelt eulogy will also help those who hear your speech to look back on your grandmother’s life with fondness. 

The tips and examples above will help you feel confident with your eulogy speech. But above all, write your eulogy for a grandmother from the heart, using good memories and emotions.

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Eulogy for a grandmother

By lynne meredith golodner.

Our parents give us life.

Our grandparents give us a sense of who we are and where we came from.

This week, as we said goodbye to Grandma Sheila, it hit me how incredibly lucky I have been to have my lovely grandmother with me for 42 years. 

Not only with me, but an integral, close part of my life. 

It is rare for a grandparent-grandchild relationship to be so essential and so long-lasting, but then, Grandma Sheila was that exceptional kind of person every single day of her life.

Until the last couple of years, my grandmother had more energy and interest in life than anyone I’ve ever known. 

When I was living in Washington, D.C. in my 20s, she and Grandpa Artie came to visit. 

They must have been in their 70s at the time, and we went all over town—shopping, dinner, movies. 

After seeing a Hitchcock film that Saturday night, Grandma and Grandpa said, “Ok, where are we going now?”

I was so exhausted that I insisted it was time for bed.  They looked at me with surprise—and disappointment—because they would have gone for dessert, coffee, more living, more life.

My grandmother was an incredible matriarch.  Really, she was the regal leader in our family. 

She baked and cooked and babysat and took us shopping and saw our new clothes when we were little. 

She was always present, part of our everyday lives in such a tangible way. 

As a child, I had friends whose grandparents had retired to Florida and I remember feeling that while they were lucky enough to get a yearly trip to warmer weather, I was even luckier, because I had my grandparents all the time.

That constant loving presence really shapes a person. 

From our grandparents, we learn where we come from, we learn our history, we learn who we are.

Once, when I was 12, my grandmother took me for a day of shopping at Fairlane Mall. 

I was so excited to share with her my favourite music—early 1980s rap.  She agreed to play my radio station in her car as she drove us carefully down the Southfield Freeway. 

As we came up over a hill, we didn’t know there was a car stalled in the centre lane.

Grandma reacted quickly, extended her arm in front of me to protect me, and with the other arm, masterfully steered around the car, spinning out across the three freeway lanes onto the shoulder.  It was terrifying.  The first car accident I had ever been in. 

The car stopped, she checked to make sure we were both ok, then leaned over and shut off the radio.

I felt terrible that my music caused my grandmother to get in an accident. 

Of course, it didn’t, and she told me that later, but she never said a harsh word. 

She simply pulled back onto the road and took us quietly to the mall and we spent the afternoon shopping and talking as if nothing had happened.

What made my grandmother special?  So wonderful?  Her elegance.  She always looked the picture of perfection and grace. 

She knew everyone in Detroit, and everyone knew her.  Even better, no one ever had a bad word to say about my grandmother. 

She loved deeply and fully, all of us.  She was the kind of person who just had more love in her heart for the more people who joined our lives.

This story of my grandmother wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t pay homage to her incredible cooking.  It seemed anything she made was delicious—even my children thought her Campbell’s vegetable soup was amazing!

When I lived in New York, Grandma Sheila sent me Jacobson’s boxes full of her double-chocolate brownies and once, I made the mistake of bringing them to work—I barely got one for myself.

She taught me to make gefilte fish from scratch. 

I took this very seriously, as quite an honour, and showed up on a Sunday before Passover one year to help her chop the fish in her big wooden bowl, twice, so it came out extra fluffy. 

There were fish heads bobbing in a pot of boiling water and carrots cooking and so many steps in this assembly line process.

The apartment reeked of cooking fish and by the time we were done, so did I—my hair, my clothing, everything. 

I went home and showered to rid myself of the smell—but the next day at work, when I unzipped my purse that had been with me at Grandma’s apartment, out wafted the scent of fish.  For a week I carried that smell with me!

One year when I couldn’t make it home for Passover, I called Grandma Sheila for her matzo ball soup recipe. 

The secret, she said, was fresh dill. I wrote down everything she said and drove all over town looking for a whole pullet cut into eighths, parsnip, parsley root, everything she listed.

In my apartment, which I shared with one friend, I spent half a day cooking and when I finally sat down at our little table by myself with a steaming bowl in front of me, that first bite, full of dill, made me feel like I was at my grandparents’ Passover table, rather than alone in another city.

My grandparents were a large part of the reason I moved back to Michigan.  After all, what is life without family to support you, to love you unconditionally, to be at your side through good and through bad?

As I have shared the news this week of my grandmother’s state, friends and colleagues have mentioned how old they were when they lost their grandparents.  The oldest was late 20s.

I come back to this notion that for 42 years, my grandmother has been an influential and important part of my life.  Until this last week, I hadn’t realized how truly exceptional that is.  Many marriages never last that long!

She is so much a part of who I am that even though I knew she would one day leave us, I can’t quite believe she is gone.

Grandma Sheila—you impacted my life in so many ways. 

You shaped who I am.  You shaped who my children are.  You influenced all of us so greatly. 

I will always love you and save a special corner of my heart to keep you with me. 

And I know we will miss you every day of our lives.

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How to write a eulogy for a grandmother.

A grandmother’s eulogy is an excellent time to include all attendees in a brief remembrance of your grandmother’s life. Here’s steps on how to write a eulogy for a grandmother, including ideas on what to say, how to structure the eulogy, and what to do if you’re not comfortable writing a eulogy.

What is a eulogy?

A eulogy is a speech or short piece of writing that’s done in memory of someone who has passed away. Eulogies are typically read by members of the family or close friends who knew the deceased and are generally read at memorial services or funerals.

What’s the difference between a funeral tribute, a funeral speech, and a eulogy?

A funeral speech, a funeral tribute, and a eulogy are generally interchangeable terms for the same thing. At their core, these terms describe a speech that’s delivered at a memorial event or funeral event and are done in honor of the person who passed away.

Should a eulogy be serious?

Keep in mind that while a eulogy is shared at a typically somber event, it doesn’t necessarily mean the eulogy itself has to be somber and serious. You have the opportunity to write a funny eulogy for a grandmother or a serious one (or a mix of both), it depends entirely on your preferences and the tone you’d like to set for the event.

Do I have to write a formal eulogy?

Eulogies are not required at any funeral or memorial service, so you shouldn’t feel pressured to write a eulogy if you’re uncomfortable with doing so. However, you may still feel inclined to say something (even if it’s not a eulogy). If you’re wondering, “What do I say at my grandmother’s funeral?”, you’re not alone. Many people aren’t sure exactly what to say during their grandma’s funeral speech, even if they only want to say a few words. Speaking at any memorial event can feel daunting, but the key is to remain genuine and authentic in whatever you decide to say.

Is there specific information I should include in a eulogy about a grandmother compared to other eulogies?

A eulogy for a grandmother will generally contain much of the same content that a standard eulogy contains, so you can feel confident following a general guide on how to write a eulogy and know that you’ll be writing a beautiful eulogy for your grandmother. At the same time, there may be aspects of your grandmother’s life that you specifically want to tailor some of the eulogy around.

How to write a touching eulogy for a grandmother

Writing a funeral speech for a grandmother is a beautiful opportunity to share a little bit about the life of your grandmother, including your favorite memories, stories, anecdotes and lessons you may have learned from her. Even though a eulogy can be written and shared by anyone close to the deceased, a tribute to a grandmother from her grandchildren can ring especially heartwarming. To write a grandma’s funeral tribute, grandchildren can consider including the following content in their grandmother’s eulogy:

A eulogy for a grandma can also be personalized even further by including favorite poems, passages, readings, or prayers. This is a great option if you feel inspired by a poem or passage that you want to share or if your grandmother had a favorite reading, passage, or prayer she frequently referred to. Once you have your content down, you can view eulogy examples to get an idea of how you’d like to organize your thoughts and follow Ever Loved’s guide on writing a eulogy for easy to follow steps. Once you’ve completed the eulogy, ask a friend or family member to read over it for any grammatical or factual errors.

Considerations for a eulogy for a grandmother with Alzheimer's

Due to most grandmother’s age and the prevalence of Alzheimer’s and dementia in the elderly, it’s worth noting that you may feel inclined to address this or reference it in the eulogy. You may also be unsure how to craft a eulogy, especially if your grandmother struggled with dementia or Alzheimer’s later in life. Simply alluding to your grandmother’s dementia later in life may suffice for some, while others may find it beneficial to focus on memories from before Alzheimer’s set in. This is a personal choice and decision that you may want to take some time to think over.

How long do eulogies take to read?

Eulogies generally take around 3 - 10 minutes to read at a memorial event, though every eulogy is unique so there’s no hard guidelines on how long the speech should last. Generally, you’ll want to keep the eulogy short enough to keep everyone’s attention but long enough to share all the bits of information you find relevant and important.

I don’t feel comfortable writing a eulogy, what should I do?

Writing a eulogy is not a necessity and there are many reasons why someone can feel uncomfortable with writing and reading a eulogy. If you’re not comfortable writing a eulogy, you have a few options:

Ready to get started? Setting up a memorial website is an easy way to share memories, collect photos, raise donations, and share information on the life of your grandmother. When you’re ready, you can even post the eulogy you’ve written directly to the website. Ever Loved memorial websites are free, easy to use, and stay up for as long as you’d like them to.

Start a website

Create a memorial website

Get funeral quotes, save on funeral products, how to write a eulogy for a grandfather.

Writing a eulogy for the life of a grandfather is a wonderful opportunity to remember his life, their personality, and the impact his life had on those around him. If you’ve never written a eulogy before, these steps will help guide you and will help you feel more prepared to honor the life of your

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With the loss of a loved one comes the opportunity to remember their life, the impact they had on those around them, and to share their life story with others. Writing a eulogy is one of these opportunities and can help you let others know just how special the person who passed away was. What

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Eulogy Examples For Grandmother

How to prepare and write an eulogy for your grandmother.

Losing a grandparent, or anyone for that matter is a terrible experience. In the coming days you will relive some memorable times you have spent together, so use it as a reflective period to gather your thoughts and be truly grateful for the women you knew and the times you spend together. Easier said than done, I understand. As you prepare your eulogy, first know that the honour in doing this is really something to treasure. You were obviously a huge part of her life and no matter what you say or how the eulogy goes, you will have played a huge part in your grandmother’s life. The best way I can help you is by compiling some of the best examples of eulogies I have found online and their accompanying transcripts in the hope that it will provide some inspiration and ideas for you when writing the eulogy for your grandmother. I have also partnered with some professional writers to help give you some handy tips when it comes to the structure and tone of the speech as well as templates and a link to their service if you would like a helping hand during this experience. If I can be of anymore help, please reach out. With best wishes.

How To Write A Eulogy For Your Grandmother

A touching final tribute for grandmother from grandson.

This grandson’s eulogy for his grandma is a loving tribute to amazing grandmothers everywhere.

o we share memories … and I know grandson Cory would like to share when I sought advice on giving this eulogy today I learned three general rules: I was encouraged by my pastor to be broad and not just focus on my personal experiences with grandma. I keep it classy and don’t I don’t say bad words like ‘poop well’! I appreciate you guy’s feedback. I think you know that that eulogizing grandma I won’t be able to follow those rules. When I ask people about grandma, I was surprised. The consistency of the feedback I got almost unanimously people recalled her epic storytelling when adventurous tales told at bedtime or while washing her kids’ hair, grandkids’ hair, and neighbours ’kids’ hair. I hope you guys appreciate the incredible pressure of telling the story of the world’s greatest storyteller. I’m not half the storyteller she is or half the entertainer or presenter but as her. But I am certain her most favourite and most handsome grandson. Last night I wrote and today will deliver the greatest eulogy of all time. Perhaps the most difficult test the United States uses for recruiting and Special Forces soldiers has nothing to do with marksmanship or hand-to-hand combat. It’s just a simple race. Young men don full gear and report to the starting point early in the morning. Often sleep-deprived and hungry these recruits are nervous. They don’t know how long the course will be. They don’t know what terrain or what obstacles lie in their path. Some spring forward, others pace themselves, conserving energy in the hope of a longer race. Bonnie and Helen’s grandkids do these every time. Basically, everybody handles things in their own way. The physical exertion of the test is far or less demanding than the mental strain. It’s the pressure of not knowing the distance to the finish line that pushes many past their breaking point. It’s the fear of the unknown. This is similar to what many families go through. When a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness they’re told they’re entering a fight and little else they don’t know how long it will last how painful how stressful how expensive this is going to be. Ambiguous tasks like this are often the best way to reveal a person’s true character. I needed to speak today to commend my grandma my grandpa my mother my uncle and the rest of our family for facing our ambiguous tests with courage compassion and, of course, humour I’m not going to idealize my grandmother. She was a great person but she was far from perfect. She was a complainer. Somebody always ruined one of her holiday gatherings. As a matter of fact that somebody broke the coffee pot. So somebody’s responsible for that other funeral. I guess she could hold a grudge whenever there was a family disagreement. You’d better be sure to side with grandma! If you want good food, if she was happy, you got bacon eggs and French toast. If she was upset, you’d have often gotten lined in front of you some old people cereal. She could be a little redundant. During Christmas, our family would always play secret bets on how many times she would say that she had the receipt if the clothes didn’t fit. And never everyone remembers her trademark reaction after each present was opened. She could be a gossip most the time. She knew more about people’s life than they did. When I would ride along on their paper route in the mornings she would share gossip about each house I would drop the paper. She liked motor skills, only driving the car once. And I hear one time she tried to paddle the boat across the lake but dragged the anchor the entire way! So she wasn’t perfect, but it was those imperfections and quirky tendencies that made her so unforgettable to everybody that she met. The fight my grandma put up was honestly a little surprising. I didn’t think anyone would describe her as a physically tough lady. However, I do recall a few years backstopping to visit my grandparents. I walked in the door and did what you always did when you went to grandma’s: you open the fridge to check for food. Grandpa was watching TV and I noticed a handwritten note on the counter. Grandma loved handwritten personal letters. And this letter read like this: she went to the doctor earlier. She is severely ill with 105 degree temperature. I can’t breathe. I’ll be up and go pick up at 9:00. So maybe she was a little tougher than I thought but if you look up top of the dictionary you’ll see a picture of my grandpa. She loved her husband for obvious reasons. He’s a man among men. A loving husband. A skilled carpenter and the second best fisherman in the family behind me. I’m told he and grandma met at the lake. According to her, all the girls loved your abs and bulging muscles and then you could have picked up any of the girls there that day. But luckily, for us you picked little Judy Bower! If I recall, in your words, she was more buoyant than the others. So he made the right choice. During a recent home improvement project at my mom’s, I and my grandpa were putting in a hardwood floor. After my second miss measured cut he really started to say: “I told you so and should have done it my ways.” I got flustered at the time of it but I didn’t really get it. I get it more now grandpa only does things one way: the right way and I want you to know grandpa that the enduring love and devoted commitment you showed your wife and our grandma not only in her final days but throughout your entire 59 year marriage didn’t go unnoticed by your grandsons. So, we’re going to see maybe what got your attention but it’s no doubt her intelligence and sense of humour were what kept you around! You were always impressed with her skills. I was always impressed with her ability to turn boring into fun she was always the life of the party and one of the very few people I know that were capable and worthy of being the centre of attention. My uncle Jeff and my sister possessed those same abilities and are likely to be the ones responsible for filling that giant void as the family entertainer. Everyone knows of grandma’s intelligence but many don’t know about some of the times when us grandkids truly thought we witnessed her lose her mind one day after several helpings of hoboes and whatever other snacks we could grab, we got involved in some extra rowdy behaviour. After several use of usual verbal warnings of wait till grandpa gets home, she finally snapped, she screamed at us, like the way we never heard. Then she would line us up one by one on the couch and told us not to move. She left and quickly returned with the Himba shillelagh which was a wooden Irish club. She used to scare us one.

Heartwarming Funeral Speech For Grandmother

The following eulogy speech for a grandmother shares her life, values, truths, and experiences with a wide variety of people.

So my grandmother passed away the other day and I figured out I should let you all know because for those of you who have been watching my channel for a while you know that I frequently quote my grandmother. This is not going to be a sobbing video because if there’s anybody’s life that should be celebrated it’s my grandmother’s! She lived a hundred and three years. She was literally born on leap year in 1916 so technically actually that makes her only twenty-five and three-quarters she was born during World War I, lived through the Great Depression, lived through World War two, lived through the advent of all the technologies that we take for granted. She was the first on her side to be born in Canada she had two kids: my father and my aunt. From them, she had eight grandkids. From them, she had twenty-one great-grandkids and one great great-grandkid. When I say I want to celebrate my grandmother’s life, I want to put together now the things that she always used to say. One of which was ”You count money, you don’t count loved ones.” And when everyone used to ask her how many grandkids do you have she would say I don’t count grandkids, I can’t I count money. It was fantastic and it was consistent. Another thing she always said and not just said it, she lived by it is: “if you have nothing nice to say don’t say anything…” And I was trying to think of an example last night when I was awake, thinking as to when she may have ever not actually lived by that principle and I can’t think of one exception to when she actually said something bad about somebody as opposed to not saying anything, and it’s amazing. I mean she never saw Twitter. I don’t think she would have gotten Twitter even if she did see it, but Twitter might have shocked her in terms of that life philosophy and the amazing thing is she always remained optimistic throughout her life. Her husband, my grandfather, died when she was 60, and she lived another 38 years. Without her husband, she still lived 38 years. That could make some people bitter that could make some people angry but my grandmother never got bitter and she never got angry another thing she always used to say, “Birds of a feather flock together” which was in reference to my friends in high school. One of the other classic things she used to use was, “Great minds think alike, though fools seldom differ.” I never really understood how to take that. She used to tell me about life in Canada when she was growing up. How they would go to the St. Lawrence River and haul out cubes of ice to put in the fridge to keep things cool. I think during the winter or throughout the summer. She lived in this city before it was what it is. I used to show her the videos on YouTube and she didn’t really appreciate at that time in her life what a cellphone was and what these videos were. She lived an amazing life and everyone should be so fortunate to live to that age. She passed away relatively quickly but you know the last few years of her life at that age were not necessarily the best years of her life but she got pleasure out of life. She was surrounded by loved ones and friends and family. She just passed away, and the amazing thing about the process of death and I saw it with my father-in-law when it happened to him. I said it’s like my wife, when she gave birth I noticed that the body goes through a transformation during the delivery process during the whole birthing process and when I saw my father-in-law pass away and when I saw my grandmother passed away, it’s like the same sort of transition but in the exact opposite. So in some way, it’s not horrifying and it’s not shocking. It’s just you realizing that there’s transition into life which is what childbirth is and then there’s transition into death and the body just sort of transforms and changes and sort of gets ready to go back to where it came from, so to speak. It was peaceful and she was surrounded by people that she loved and you can’t ask for anything more than that and the other interesting thing that I just noticed about death as a phenomenon is that it’s generational. What happens in the ordinary course of things is, one person dies at a certain age and then you know the next generation gets to be that age and starts dying as well and this thing happens in life where people sort of getting separated as the years go by and then somebody dies and then people get reunited in that death and that’s sort. Of the process of death and life and reunification, we’re living it now. I say it’s always the hardest. I think it was Stephen Colbert who said when he came back after his mother died it’s not because someone gets really old that somehow it’s easier to deal with. The death, it’s almost like that. The aura is even bigger than it has just been extinguished and it’s you know hard to see how hard it is on other people and you know it is what it is life is going to go on. Life went on for my grandmother for the 38 years after my grandfather passed away. People are going to live with the good memories and people are going to live with the good lessons and that is pretty much my thoughts and my reflections on this time so that is my eulogy to my grandmother.

A Moving Eulogy For Grandmother

The below eulogy is an example of a teen grandson saying goodbye to his grandmother.

I’ve always compared my grandmother, Julie Andrews, to the fun-loving nature of Mary Poppins, the caring heart of Maria the sass of victor/victoria and the grace of Queen Clarisse Renaldi. But the biggest similarity between the two of them is the fact that they are both loved and admired by many people. You will never find a soul as kind as hers. It is as bright and warm as the mid-afternoon Sun. Though she may be gone in body, her spirit is still with us it remains in our memories and the stories we tell of her and the lessons she taught us. The lessons that she taught to her children and to their children and that we will continue to teach for generations to come. Lessons on how we should love ourselves, how we should love everything that we do or else what’s the point of doing it, lessons on how we should be kind to not let other people’s hatred get in the way of our niceness. She taught us to sing as loud as we dare even if our voices make our listeners cringe and to dance to whatever beat we see fit!   She taught us how to be strong. She showed us how to be strong. Some people might say she had the heart of a lion but I disagree. I think it’s Lions that had the heart of her! She gave these lessons to all her children but now seeing everyone here, I can tell she gave them to you too. Now it’s our turn. We all carry a bit of her spirit with us, kept in those memories and lessons. We need to pass it on to our children to our brothers and sisters to our friends, enemies, to strangers, in line at the coffee shop. Teach them how to love everyone unapologetically, especially themselves how to be kind above all else to be unique and vibrant to look every challenge in the eye and tell it we are going to do this my way. It is a promise. It is not a guarantee. Tomorrow is something that we make of it but we only have today to make it so if you were sad today and you can’t really deal with the emotions in your head you can just work on it. Fight it just a little bit today and then tomorrow. Maybe it’ll be a bit better and you can keep on fighting it. I can tell you for a fact that the sun will set tonight and if it rises in the morning then we’ll deal with it. Then we should all aspire to live like my grandmother. Now to finish out I’d like to recite a poem that I wrote in celebration of her: “You are my sunshine Those clouds of grey don’t mean a thing. Without you by my side Summer days are never hard to find You’re like a day at the beach Wrapped in a smile. Those early morning sunrises That stick with you for a while I’d love to follow your laughter and send it out To see a message for those bad days Saying open when you need me I wish we could just sing one last chorus As those cicadas hum, I’ll take the sweet Caroline’s and you’ll take the bump bump Um… if I can measure out my love for you On a track darlin’, I’d love you To the moon and back Life may think it can Take you away but my sunshine lives On in all our hearts for all our days! Hello welcome to the end screen The screen where we end things right now I just want to take a second To say grief is a really terrible The thing to go through And if you aren’t going through, Something like that is okay to be sad It’s okay to cry Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is just let it all out And cry and be sad Just know that you’re not alone That you were always going to Be surrounded by people that love you”

Writing can be a painful task, bother emotionally but also mentally when trying to think of what to write. We have partnered with professional writers to help you build a framework in the hope that it will help inspire your writing and give you some needed structure if you are struggling to get your thoughts onto paper.

how to write a funeral speech for nan

Total Time Needed:

Step 1 – reflect.

The first thing to do is reflect – think about your nan and how you would like the people who come to her funeral to think about her and her family. Think about the happy times that you spent with her and the things she enjoyed. The second thing to do is to realise that the eulogy does not have to be perfect. It does not have to be lengthy, and it does not have to be poetically beautiful, but it does need to be from the heart. Whether you are the grandson, or the deceased’s granddaughter (or one of her children) at least one of you will be called up to speak. Some grandchildren create a beautiful eulogy by speaking together, and perhaps sharing the eulogy will also make it easier to support each other. Next, realise that no one expects you to have completely perfect words. No one expects you to behave without emotion. Yes, it will be important to have some composure if you speak in front of a crowd. But if you tear up and your voice cracks, don’t let that bother you. It’s like Dr Seuss said, “ Those that matter, don’t mind, and those that mind, don’t matter. ”

Step 2 – An Example

There are many examples of eulogies online that people have used when speaking about their grandmother and her passing. You can certainly take one of those and re-write it and rearrange it to make it your own, adding specific details about your own nan. But what is likely to be more beautiful and meaningful would be a eulogy that you write entirely from scratch.  Whether given from a granddaughter or from a grandson, the eulogy is not the place to air grievances. No one is perfect, and even though there are things that may be left unsaid and unresolved, the funeral is not the place to bring those things up. There is no need to introduce any more emotional tension to the situation.

Step 3 – A Short Eulogy Is Fine

It is very normal to not want to speak in public about a lost relative. No one can or should try to force you to give a eulogy if you don’t wish to do so. But if you do not feel comfortable speaking for a long time, consider whether you could give a short speech. It is possible to create a lovely eulogy in just a few sentences. If you carefully wrote one out with that in mind, it may look something like the following: “ Thank you for joining us on this difficult day. My nan, as most of you will know, was a devoted and loving mother. She worked very hard her whole life; she worked outside the home for most of the last 30 years. She always checked in with us several times a day when we were children, and even as adults, she made it a point to contact us every day. She was faithful to her husband, family, workplace, and her friends. We all knew that we could depend on her to be there for us. Now we will honour her by being there for each other. ”

Step 4 – Add A Funny Story

If you were going to build on a short eulogy and make it longer, you might add a funny story; something like: “ Before nan and grandpa became a serious couple, grandpa asked nana to bake him a pie. She was up to her eyeballs with work and with helping out her parents and siblings. But nan already liked him a lot, so she told him yes, she would be glad to make him a pie, and she asked if he could come over in a few days to get it. The pie day came quickly, and she was too tired to bake, so she bought a pie from the local grocery store, put it in the oven, and told him she made it herself. He sang her praises to high heaven, and a few weeks later, they were engaged. Gramps did not know she bought the pie until today!”

Grandma_Eulogy_Example

Remeber. Your Best Is Fine

If you were lucky enough to have a Nan that was supportive and caring, she no doubt at some point in time told you that “Just doing your best is good enough.” If she could say to you that again as you considered her eulogy, she almost certainly would do so. Give yourself permission to say what is on your heart and mind and know that it truly is “enough.”

Grandmother_eulogy_example

Getnamenecklace Blog

Grandma Funeral Speech- Kind Words to Eulogize Your Grandmother

Grandma Funeral Speech- Kind Words to Eulogize Your Grandmother

Your grandma is probably your most precious asset, and you realize this when you lose her. Losing a grandma is an irreparable loss. You can never forget the love she gave you, the lessons she taught you, and the appreciation she showed you. All these memories urge you to write a eulogy for her. 

While writing the grandma’s funeral speech, you may get a bit emotional and find yourself stuck. Here we have written a good eulogy for grandma to help you write the one for your granny. 

Eulogy for grandma

Our parents introduced us to life.

Our grandparents introduced us to the loveliest way of living a life.

I was luckiest to have such a wonderful lady as my grandma, and I came across this incredible fact when I lost her. Bidding farewell to your loved ones is not easy at all. Today, I have to say goodbye to the most integral part of my life. It’s my most helpless moment as this goodbye is the most difficult.

My grandma was the kind of lady that no one would forget. She influenced every life she touched. Her way of cheering me up when I was down, the smell of her freshly baked cookies for me, and the prayers she used to send my way whenever I was going out. All these little things made my grandma stand out.

Some people leave a long-lasting impact on our lives. They leave, but they seem to have stayed with us forever. Their beautiful memories take the responsibility to cherish us whenever we are sad and wipe the tears of sadness from our eyes. My grandma was one of those people.

We get hurt when we care a lot. And my grandma was the person who cared for every person in the house. There were the things that hurt her and knocked her down. But regardless of the difficulties she had to face, she kept on loving and caring for us the most. She never ran out of love. My granny used to shower cascades of love on everyone; still, her love bank was full!

My grandma’s love was unconditional. Although she was not in favor of every step I took, she still encouraged me to do whatever I wanted. She never judged me, even when the whole world seemed judgmental to me. My actions and decisions had nothing to do with her love because her love was unconditional. She continued loving me no matter what the circumstances were. And I think she was the only person in my life who tolerated my every mistake and loved me unconditionally.

I remember once I made a big mistake in my life, and my parents scolded me. They showed their anger toward me, and I burst into tears when I put my head in my granny’s lap. My grandma taught me how to correct the things I messed up. She told me how to deal with the situation to make it better rather than giving up. And the day after that, I never ended up in tears after making a mistake. I looked for remedies instead and sorted out the matters. Thanks to the wisdom my grandma gifted me!

Politeness is the key to conquering hearts. And she had this key. I was once playing with a ball when it hit her favorite flowerpot. The pot broke, but she said: don’t worry. Its time was over. And I was shocked; how can someone be so polite and kind?

I never felt even a pinch of bitterness in her tone. Neither complaints nor pain, there was always contentment and love in her words. Now when she is not with us, I am amazed how someone could live life the way she lived it. I guess it was only her, and none of us could compete with her in this regard!

I remember the little things required to please her. Merely a phone call, a good night message, or a kiss before going to bed was enough to bring a cherished smile to her face. Her grandchildren were, I guess, closest to her. She loved us even more than her children.

It was a Saturday night when I came back home late. She was waiting for me as her eyes were stuck on the door. I entered her room, hugged her, and kissed her forehead for welcoming me at this hour of the night. And guess what I noticed in return? The smile on her face was genuine. The happiness in her eyes was shining like a star in the sky. From now onwards, no one will be so pleased with my hug. No one will be so excited about my coming back home because no grandma will be in my house now. 

People inherit property that may get ruined with time. The same is the case with money. But the things I inherited from my grandma will stay with me forever. Her memories will be a permanent source of love and happiness for me.

There will come times in life when we desperately need her. We will want to talk to her, need her suggestions, and want her words of encouragement. But we won’t be able to do anything because she has gone so far. She has gone where we can’t lean on her. But yes, she gave us her parts, and it’s when we can help each other find what we have lost. Our loss is irreparable, but we have to be strong and stick to the lessons our grandma taught her. 

I have no words to thank you, grandma, for everything. Today, I thank you for being so patient and polite, showering love on us, being our best companion, giving me suitable suggestions, being courageous and determined, and showing a great sense of humor. Today, I want to thank you for whatever you did for us, grandma. However, thank you is a word that is nothing in front of your great endeavors. 

After you, we are broken from inside and outside, my granny. The world seems shattered to us as no one is on our back to pat us now. I can’t explain in words how sad we are about losing you. Today we have lost a world of happiness and a universe of hope. 

The loss is not only for us but for the entire world. This planet has lost a wise and successful lady. However, I am happy she passed on some wisdom to me, so I will try my best to reflect her personality.

The bond I shared with her is extraordinary. She taught me what even the best educators fail to teach children. She knew how to tackle every situation. She coped with every matter so diligently that, at times, we were surprised how can someone be so genius. But she was!

Her prayers did miracles for me. She loved and prayed for everyone. It would not be wrong if I say that my grandmother lived her life for others. For her parents, her children, her grandchildren, and humanity. I never saw her doing something for herself. She was always up to doing everything for others because this is how great people live their lives. My grandma was indeed a great personality!

When I passed my exams, she gave me a box of chocolate because she knew I love chocolates. She always ensured that I got what I loved. she devoted herself to making our lives perfect. 

Every one of us has to leave this world one day. But I can’t believe my grandma has left. It’s uncertain, it’s unrealistic, and it’s painful. I spent years with her but wanted to spend centuries with her. We are helpless because it’s fate. We can’t erase what’s written to happen in our lives. I wish I could be able to spend some more precious time with my grandma!

Her passion for praying for others taught me how we could shape the lives of others by wishing them something good in every situation. 

The sense of her constant presence always comforted my heart. When someone becomes a tangible part of your life, it becomes extremely hard for you to say goodbye to them. You are going to another world, grandma, and it’s a painful reality for us. May you keep watching us from the skies. May you come to our dreams more often to let us feel your presence. Nothing can fill the space created in our lives due to your absence, granny. 

There is a special corner in my heart that is reserved for you. My heart will remember you the everyday hour, every hour, every minute, and every second. I love you, and I will keep on loving you!  

I hope this funeral speech for the grandmother helped you find the appropriate words to eulogize your grandmother. Only you can find what you exactly want to say to your grandmother. This eulogy was only meant to help you find true inspiration and write the words that will touch everyone’s hearts!

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This Grandson’s Eulogy for His Grandmother Will Touch Your Heart and Make You Long for Yours

Editors of Reminisce

"It didn’t take much to make her happy—a phone call, a card, a visit, or a kiss before saying good night. She lived to make our lives better and was proud of us."

Reminisce grandson says goodbye eulogy

Mary Foote of Harrison, Ohio, shared this heartfelt eulogy, which was delivered at the funeral of Vivian Rippy by Christopher Eckes, Mary’s nephew and one of Viv­ian’s grandsons. We include it here as a tribute to loving grandmothers everywhere.

It’s the little things that seem to stand out the most—her rolled up Kleenexes, her colorful muumuus, her iced tea and fried chicken, the aroma of her kitchen or a “yoo-hoo” from the other side of the door letting you know it was all right to come in.

I’ll remember her tapping her foot to Lawrence Welk or cheering for Johnny Bench (her favorite ball player). There are so many things that I can see and feel as if they had just happened.

The only way to get hurt in this life is to care. Grandma cared more than most, loved more than most and was made to suffer more than most because of just how much she cared.

But no matter how many times she was knocked down or made to endure things that no one should, she just kept coming back; caring more and loving more—opening herself up to even more pain. Yet there were never any complaints or bitterness—it was the only way she knew how to live.

The kind of love Grandma felt for us was a love without condition. She may not have approved of everything we did, may not have liked some of the decisions we made, but she didn’t lecture, she didn’t judge. She just kept loving us, letting us know that she was there and if we ever needed her, we could count on her to listen, to comfort, to help.

She lived a simple life. It didn’t take much to make her happy—a phone call, a card, a visit or a kiss before saying good night. We were the most important people in the world to her. She lived to make our lives better and was proud of us.

To think that someone like her felt that way about us should make us all feel more than just a little good. We can never forget that there is a part of her in each of us, something that she gave to us and asked nothing for in return.

Money can be squandered and property ruined, but what we inherited from her cannot be damaged, destroyed or lost. It is permanent, and it keeps her from becoming just a wonderful memory. It allows her in so many ways to remain just as alive as always—alive through us.

There have been and will be times in our lives when situations arise where we’ll want so much to talk to her, be with her or ask her just what we should do. I hope that, when those times come, we can begin to look to each other and find that part of her that she gave to each of us.

Maybe we can learn to lean on each other and rely on each other the way we always knew that we could with her. Maybe then she won’t seem quite so far away.

So, for your wisdom, your humor, tenderness and compassion, your understanding, your patience and your love; thank you, Grandma. After you, Grandma, the mold was indeed broken. Thank you so much. I love you.

MORE: Why You Should Always Go to the Funeral

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Published: May 26, 2021 by Elizabeth Shaw · 13 Comments

Example of a Eulogy

Eulogy Etiquette- A step by step guide to honoring those you loved and lost with honor, grace and peace. #writingaeulogy #eulogyetiquette

If you’re searching for where to start as you write your memories of your loved one down, this is the post for you. Not only will I provide tips for those who need a little help getting the words out, but I’ve also included an Example of a Eulogy for you to see as well. 

how to write a funeral speech for nan

What is in a eulogy?

First off, I want to start by saying I am so sorry you have to read this post in the first place. But, if you were like me as I tried to gather my thoughts I went searching for a little guidance.

Hopefully this post helps provide that for you and reminds you just how to honor that special someone. 

Eulogy etiquette as I’ve come to call it is essentially all the components to consider as you put the words in your mind to paper, ensuring your loved one is honored in the special way you desire them to be.

As I prepared to honor my late grandmother, I searched the internet to see if there was a specific “eulogy etiquette” I should follow when preparing my speech and then decided hell, no one online knows her like I do, this has got to come from the heart

Suffice it to say, after a few minutes I took to the old paper and pen and began writing down the memories that came to mind; those things that I never wanted to forget and that one day I too will share with my kids from her. 

I learned through this process that there is no right or wrong way to remember a loved one.

Some may choose to speak, some may choose to sit and listen, and some may cry tears of joy and pain mixed together.

At the end of the day, it’s important to honor your loved one in the fashion that speaks closest to you, your relationship, and your heart.

If you’re feeling lost, trust me I get it. I’m including an example of a eulogy below to help you gather your own thoughts hopefully too.

Tips to Remember for Eulogies:

Like I said, there’s no right or wrong way to write a eulogy. But, after speaking with numerous people who’ve had to write one as well, these are the four main tips we all decided on:

♥ Be honest.

♥ Be respectful.

♥ Be grateful.

♥ Be you!

What is the best way to write a eulogy?

Honestly, there is no specific formula here.

To show you how I choose to honor my grandmother, here is an example of a eulogy I wrote to honor my Grandma’s life.

An Eulogy Example

Good morning. Thank you all so much for coming today to celebrate the life of the wonderful Denise Barbarino, or, as I know her, Little Grandma.

As a kid my sisters and I gave the name “little” and “big” to our grandmas, which, in hindsight, was likely due to the distance they lived from us. Grandma Denise was just a short drive away.

Needless to say, that short drive and her eagerness to be present in our lives soon found her as my number one cheerleader. Sure, my mom and dad were there, but they also yelled.

Grandma was that safe zone, the one who waved her pompoms even when I missed the free throw, refused to eat the pizza or moved half way across the country to pursue nutrition.

It’s impossible to put into words what my Grandma meant to me. She was the best testament to what living a life full of love, grace and kindness truly means, and each and every day I strive to be half the woman she was.

I could go on for hours about the memories I have with Grandma.

The weekends she’d spend at our house when my mom and dad went away. The countless times she’d send me back upstairs to put socks on my feet. The hours we spent watching the Sandlot (or Speed), cuddled up with “goodies” we found in her secret snack drawer; and the infamous money egg she’d hide for us grandkids to find every Easter .

These as well as countless other memories I will forever treasure.

Grandma’s zest for life, her unconditional love and her kind spirit is what made her my hero.  I refuse to live life in a bubble because each and every day she taught me that life is a gift. She warned me that life moves too fast, to stop and enjoy the little moments more often. I promise Grandma, for you, I’m trying.

I must have written four drafts of this, unsure of what would represent Grandma the best. Then it hit me, Grandma is not the one I need to write this to. She and I have spoken on numerous occasions about how much she means to me.

We’ve exchanged countless letters and spent the most pleasant of Sundays chatting. The special bond we have is something that will never be broken.  I smile knowing she is looking down right now, enjoying her ice cream cone with that twinkle in her eye, nodding her head, assuring me that she’ll always be by my side.

So if this isn’t to Grandma, then who is this for?

Her other half, Grandpa.

Eulogy Etiquette - How to write a heartfelt praise for your loved one #eulogy #honoryourlovedones

Grandpa, you are the living testament to the beauty Grandma was. She radiates within you. Grandma always made sure before she ended any call to say, “Give that man of yours Liz a big hug and kiss for me, okay? Remember, we picked the good ones”.

We’d laugh, hang up the call and then immediately, I’d find my husband and give him a big kiss from her. Wayne would smile, knowing what a wonderful gift we’d been blessed with in having such a strong, compassionate couple as role models in our married life.

Grandpa, I wish I could take away the pain you feel from losing the Champagne Lady by your side.  

I know words can’t heal your wounds but I want you to know I promise you every day you will witness living examples of endless love in your life, made present only because of the tremendous model you and Grandma set for us.

As we lay her down to rest Grandpa, I want you to know this is merely a see you later.  I don’t believe in saying goodbye to her, for I know we will see her, feel her and hold her close in our hearts. Each time we see a 31 Flavors, lick an Ice Cream Cone, or simply hear someone say, “how’s the weather over there”, a smile will fill our face.

Grandpa, Little Grandma was a legend in all of our eyes, and as the Sandlot saying goes, “Legends never die”.

Sweet dreams Grandma, see you later.

Eulogy Etiquette- A tribute to grandma + fuel for mourning - @Shawsimpleswaps

What resources are available for dealing with grief?

As you celebrate the life of your loved one, it’s natural to feel a sea of mixed emotions. I recommend speaking with a grief counselor or therapist to help you through this time.

Local church groups also often have support meetings in which you may be able to find that one person who gets what you are going through if you are feeling alone.

Thinking of you during this time. If you found this Example of a Eulogy helpful, please feel free to share: Facebook ,  Instagram , or  Pinterest .

Reader Interactions

June 03, 2019 at 4:44 am

My grandma passed away a week ago. I was asked to do her eulogy since I’m the eldest grandchild. I am not good at words and I am thankful that you found them for me. Yours and mine had similarities and it made smile thinking that could become good friends in heaven. This made me wrote my eulogy easier. Thanks again.

Elizabeth Shaw says

June 03, 2019 at 8:29 pm

I am so sorry for your loss, sending you so much healing during this time. I love your sentiment, they surely are friends up in heaven. Best wishes as you celebrate and honor your grandma.

Amber @ Homemade Nutrition says

October 28, 2016 at 12:25 pm

Liz this eulogy is beautiful! I can tell that you have some amazing grandparents! I’m so sorry for your loss.

October 29, 2016 at 6:40 am

Amber you are the sweetest. Thank you so much for your prayers 🙂

Dietitian Jess says

October 24, 2016 at 6:05 am

This is so beautiful LIz- the wonderful person your grandma was definitely shines through <3 I gave the eulogy for my dad's funeral last year and I know speaking about him really helped me so I hope it did the same for you. Sending you lots of love and hugs <3

October 24, 2016 at 12:11 pm

Thanks so much Jess! I really appreciate your comment and am sending your big hugs too!

Jessica @ Nutritioulicious says

October 23, 2016 at 9:37 pm

Such a beautiful tribute to your grandma, Liz. The tear running down my cheek is one of boh sadness and joy. It’s never easy to lose a loved one, but the memories you carry on of your grandmother you will hold onto forever. And that’s something to be joyful about.

October 24, 2016 at 12:12 pm

Thank you so much Jess. It is so nice to have a face now when I read your comments and feel your love! I appreciate the read and am sending you big hugs!

October 23, 2016 at 6:19 pm

What a beautiful speech. Thinking of you and your family Liz ❤️

October 24, 2016 at 12:18 pm

Thank you Kim!

EA-The Spicy RD says

October 23, 2016 at 2:00 pm

Absolutely beautiful tribute Liz! P.S. Writing this with misty eyes 🙂

You are the best- thanks EA for sharing in my Grandma’s spirit with me!

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Eulogy for My Grandmother - Bertha

by Her Grandson Craig (Kamloops, BC)

Bertha Pernitsky

Bertha Pernitsky

Hello. My name is Craig and I am Bertha’s grandson. I want to thank you all for coming. Your attendance here speaks volumes about the impact that this wonderful woman had on all of us. Some of you knew her as Mom, Great Grandma, GG, and GG Bert or simply as Bertha. Some you may have even called her other names and I am thinking specifically of her children on this one. I am sure they called her many things over the years. To me and her 14 other grandchildren she was simply Grandma and to all of us, she was a pretty amazing lady. To highlight this, I reached out to my cousins and asked them a pretty simple and straightforward question: “What are the 3 words that you would use to describe Grandma?” Their responses, while simple, begin to paint a detailed portrait of the woman we all knew and loved. I will read them out to you and highlight a few of them. - Considerate - Loving - Selfless - Nurturing - Thoughtful - Generosity - Compassionate Grandma was unbelievably compassionate. Her heart and her generosity knew no bounds. Her door was always open - literally. She rarely locked it. You could just walk in and people often did. Neighbors, friends, immediate family and relatives, cousins 6 times removed all knew they had a place to stay for a few minutes, a few hours or for a few days, to enjoy her hospitality and her generosity and - her infamous uh...coffee... The door was always open and the food was always plentiful. Moreover, she donated much of her time to others. Knitting, crocheting, and working on her award winning liquid embroidery that she loved to do; the items she made and were often donated to organizations to support a charitable cause. She loved to give her time and her focus to others and was always willing to give just a little bit more. She was truly selfless. I particularly remember that she always made sure to send us her notes of love. At every birthday, every Christmas and each Valentine’s Day, Grandma made sure we received a note of her love. It was something that we all looked forward to and got excited about. Especially those home made valentine cards! - Fun - Painting Rocks - Games - Cards Grandma was fun! As children, we loved to go and visit her because we always had a good time. In fact, she was the epitome of fun. She loved to play games and was a phenomenal card and game player. As children, then as teenagers, and then as adults we always looked forward to and enjoyed playing those games: Canasta, Yates, Horse Racing, 65, 5 of a Kind, Connect 4, Around the World, Kings in the Corner, and so many others. Games were part of her life and many of those same games are now part of our lives. When the deck of cards, the bag of dice, the game board came out, or the call went out for a water fight, or a game of hide and seek, the outside world melted away. We became enthralled in the world of the game and in our grandmother who made it all possible. The icing on this “Fun” cake were the candies that were always plentiful. There were scotch mints, peanuts, humbugs, chicken bones, ju jubs, and jelly beans. It was like entering our very own Willy Wonka Candy Factory. She was fun! - Determined - Strong - Stubborn Now some of you would say that Grandmas was strong. Other might refer to her as determined. Some may even go as far as “Stubborn”. But if you asked her, she would say, “I am not stubborn, I am Independent!” And independent she was. If she had a viewpoint and a perspective on a given topic, nothing you could do or say would alter that. She would budge but only when she was good and ready, and on her terms. Pushing a point with Grandma was like swimming against a very strong current. The harder you swam, the more she opened up the floodgates for you! But in many respects she had to be independent. Raising her children after Grandpa Joe’s early passing forced her into a position where she had to fight for what she needed. And fight she did. She had to look out for the interests of her children. So we will give her a pass on this one. She was independent. - Gregarious - Creative - Resourceful - Inspirational - Warmth - Perfect She was perfect. Perfect in every respect. - Her laugh - Her smile - Her big kisses - Her hugs They were perfect and she was the perfect grandmother. And we are all a little closer to perfection to have had her in our lives. I love you grandma. You will be missed. With Craig's permission I've added the note he sent accompanying his lovely eulogy. Susan, My grandmother passed away at the beginning of June and I was asked to write her eulogy. I had no idea of where to start and so I reached out to the internet. I came across your site and found it extremely helpful in the tips and suggestions you provided, the examples of other people's eulogies I had access to, and in recognizing that the task I was going to undertake had been difficult for many others. The struggle I was having was near universal. I was looking for the "right" way to write a eulogy and realized after reading through material on your site that there is no right, or one, way. It is up to me and what I wanted for my eulogy. What I wrote should reflect my own style. As a thank you, I have submitted the eulogy I delivered in hope it might help others and give them the confidence they need to do this unbelievably difficult thing. So thank you. Regards, Craig

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This beautiful eulogy for her grandmother was written for us by her granddaughter Jelena.  It is a lovely memorial to an obviously very special person.  We hope it will help you as an example when you are writing a eulogy for your own granny.  

A Garden of Love Grows in a Grandmother's Heart.  Quote on background of a heart and roses.

For Sofia, from Jelena

I was Granny's firstborn grandchild, so I feel it is my duty to write these few lines in her honour. She would have approved or even given this task to me herself if she could, just to be sure it's done properly.

She always thought that I was talented for any kind of creative endeavour, from writing essays and poems to drawing portraits and animals. I was her little artist, she used to say. Only later we found out she kept all of my work to brag around the neighbourhood, and not just to “enjoy them every day when we're not around” as she was always telling everybody.

Sofia was a kind, happy and cheerful person, with a great sense of humour.  She was also very objective, reasonable and had very good judgement, even when she was stubbornly defending her own opinions.

She was an excellent cook, a great housewife, and a devoted wife and mother, and above all, the best grandmother ever.

Her life wasn't always easy, but let me start from very beginning.

She was born in 1936 in a very small village, near the Hungarian border. Her family was among the five richest in that area. Her grandfather and her father together had over 10 stables with strong working horses.

Her mother was very well educated.  She had studied French, German and Latin and gave piano lessons to young women. She was a real lady. The little girl they had, Sofia, was a beautiful, lively and curious child, with a know-it-all attitude. But, due to WW2, the family lost everything.

Her father was killed in a battle, and her mother, with her little Sofia, had to move to another, even smaller village, with just one suitcase of essential clothes. Sofia was 8-9 years old at the time, and  whenever we grandkids asked her to tell us stories about her earliest years, she would tell us she couldn't remember. The truth was, it was a very painful period of her life which she didn't want to remember.

When Sofia was 12, her mother remarried, and her stepfather, who was childless, took her in as his own. From that point, her life turned into fairy tale; she had everything she wanted. He bought her jewellery, clothes, dresses, candy, took her for long walks and horse-riding and spent every single free second with her. She spoke about him with so much love, showing us kids pictures of them together.

By the time she turned 17, her parents decided it was time for Sofia to get married, so her mother picked a good looking boy with lots of assets and even arranged the marriage with the local minister. . . what they didn't know, was that their baby girl had already found who she wanted to marry.

That man was a young officer, who took her away in middle of the night and brought her to his home. Her stepfather was secretly happy, but he pretended otherwise until he was sure that her decision was final. But she was certain - it was either my grandfather or nobody!

They had a small, modest wedding, but their marriage was happy and fulfilled. They always did everything together, finishing each other sentences, taking care of the household and of their kids. They had two children and her husband lived long enough to see both of them get married and have grandchildren. She never regretted anything, always saying to my grandfather that he was her lucky star.

To be honest, even though she will always be my favourite family member, I must take this opportunity to look back at some character traits we'll all remember her by the most. As I mentioned she could be stubborn and strongly defended her own opinions.

I must share a little anecdote, in which her strong character stood out, and which taught me an important lesson. 

An Anecdote about My Grandmother 

It was mild summer night, when my younger sister and I decided to go out to a local pizzeria to hang out with some older boys and drink some beer. Grandma approved, gave me her house keys, told us to be careful, to come home around 1 am, and to watch out for our drinks. It was around 3 am, when my angry 65 year old granny, wearing only her nightgown, busted through the door, yelling at us, the boys, and even at the owner of pizzeria!

She made all of us go home straight away, swearing at us the whole time. I had never heard those kind of words from her before in my life, and never again after that.

The following morning and the entire next day, she didn't say a word about it, and was acting completely normal. My sister and I were seriously afraid to say anything. By bed time though, she sat us down and we had an endless talking to about values, morals, the behaviour of young girls and about trust, respect and responsibilities. On that day, I think  I learned one of most important lessons in my life, thanks to granny's special methods.

She taught me all about following your own roads to happiness, not paying attention to what other people think about you, but staying honest to yourself and people you love. Thank you grandma for teaching me that.

Quote - Follow your own road to happiness

Even if you can't see or hear me right now, I want you to know that I grew up to be the person you always knew I'd become.

As we all know, she always had that “sixth sense”, seeing all the potential in the person. It was like she could see the future in us. That is how I know, even though we're all sad about her leaving us now, we shouldn't let sorrow grab us in her dark arms.

When we love someone, it's hard to let them go, but as one wise man once said

“Nothing is eternal except our love for our family; when we keep them in our hearts and remember all the good stuff we had together, they can live forever in our memories.”

I know our Sofia is up there somewhere, keeping an eye on all of us and waiting for us to meet in Heaven, when our time comes.

Now I'd like to thank you for coming here today, Sofia would appreciate that, being such a sociable as well as a family person her whole life. She would be so happy to see all of us gathered together in these hard and sad times, comforting each other, and remembering her.

From all my heart, thank you all.

Pink funeral flowers with heart

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5 touching sample eulogies for a grandmother.

Britni Luczak

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A touching eulogy is often the best and most memorable way to say goodbye to a loved one when they rest. But not everybody can write a perfect eulogy.

Therefore, if your grandmother has just passed on and you want to write the best eulogy for her, you need to know the essentials of writing a eulogy. This article offers 5 touching sample eulogies for a grandmother to help you get started. To ensure that the eulogy that you wrote for your loved one reaches as many family and friends as possible, consider the funeral live stream to be able to watch the funeral online in real-time.

What’s a Eulogy?

Eulogy

A eulogy is a statement (written or spoken) in praise of a person who has just died. This statement is usually delivered by an appointed individual as part of the funeral service. In the United States, a eulogy is normally delivered at the funeral home during or after the wake.

However, you should not confuse a eulogy with an elegy, which is a poem or song written in tribute to a dead person. Neither is a eulogy the same thing as an obituary, which is a published biography recounting the life of the dead person.

If you are a catholic priest, you are prohibited by the rules of the Mass from delivering a eulogy for the dead as part of a homily during a funeral Mass.

The term eulogy was first recorded in the 15th century as a Medieval Latin term eulogium. A eulogy is usually delivered by a relative of the deceased or a close family friend. It is also important to mention that a eulogy is not limited to only humans; animals and things can also be eulogized.

The Difference Between an Obituary and a Eulogy

Obituary and Eulogy

As above-mentioned, a eulogy is completely different from an obituary. In simple words, a eulogy is a statement made at a funeral in honor of the deceased, while an obituary is the announcement of the person’s death. Obituaries are normally printed in newspapers or advertised on TV.

Also, the term eulogy is derived from the Greek word eulogia, which is translated in modern English to mean something related to “praise” or “true words.”

The word eulogy only has a connotation of a funeral service, and while this is mainly where eulogies are delivered, it is not a strict rule at all. Eulogies can also be delivered at retirement parties, graduations, or even birthdays.

But having said that, “eulogies” for people who are still alive are normally referred to as toasts or just simply speeches. On the other hand, the term obituary was first recorded in English in the early 1700s. It also has its roots in Latin.

To be exact, the term comes from the Medieval Latin term obitarius, which means a record of the death of a person. It is also related to the Latin word obitus (departure or death), and the verb obire, which means to go toward.

Why a Eulogy for a Grandmother is Important?

why a eulogy is important

A eulogy is one of the best elements of a funeral service, as it serves as a way of honoring the departed soul. It is also a way of celebrating the life of the deceased and stating how much the deceased person means to you. Through a eulogy, you are able to remember who the person was and what they did in their lifetime.

That’s why writing a eulogy for a grandmother has to be brief and well-organized. You have to tell different things about your grandmother’s life and celebrate her accomplishments in a short period.

Also, a eulogy for your grandmother will serve as an inspiration to the people in attendance, encouraging them to live a more fulfilling and successful life and to accomplish even more than what your grandmother has accomplished.

4 Tips for Writing a Eulogy for Your Grandmother

4 Tips for Writing a Eulogy

While eulogizing your grandmother is one of the most difficult moments, you will ever go through in your life, it is also the perfect time to celebrate her life and accomplishments.

Therefore, you can make this a memorable moment by writing a touching and unforgettable eulogy for her. Here are the most important steps to take when writing a eulogy for your grandmother.

1. Take Your Time to Reflect

Before you start writing the eulogy, take your time to reflect on the life of your grandmother recalling how she impacted the lives of other members of the family and the community at large. Let your mind wander down the memory lane to reminiscence all the amazing things about your grandma.

This will bring back to life all the sweet memories you had forgotten about. And each sweet memory will lead to another. Just give in without restrictions and allow yourself to think of everything you and your grandmother shared together.

2. Write down Your Memories and Feelings

This is your opportunity to write down every good memory, feeling, and anecdote about your grandmother. So, engage in freewriting , turning all your thoughts into words.

Don’t worry about order or theme; just write your thoughts as they come and be as specific as possible. That way, it will be very easy for you to write the actual eulogy because you will have enough details to pull from.

3. Make an Outline for Your Eulogy

Read through the memories you’ve written down and organize them into a neat, consistent, and comprehensive theme. Finally, create an outline for your eulogy, ensuring you have a clear introduction, content, and conclusion. Then, go through your items and see how you can tie them together.

4. Write the Actual Eulogy

When you are writing your eulogy, make sure you identify the main areas of focus and ensure the main theme revolves around them. Use this opportunity to tell the true story of your grandmother. With simple words, let everyone in the room have a clear picture of your grandma, allowing them to share the bond that comes through grieving.

Sample Eulogies for a Grandmother

Sample Eulogies

1. “It’s the little things that seem to stand out the most—her rolled-up Kleenexes, her colorful muumuus, her iced tea and fried chicken, the aroma of her kitchen or a “yoo-hoo” from the other side of the door letting you know it was all right to come in. I’ll remember her tapping her foot to Lawrence Welk or cheering for Johnny Bench (her favorite ballplayer).

There are so many things that I can see and feel as if they had just happened. I’m sure everyone here has memories much like mine. They are good memories, something we’ll always have to cherish. It isn’t often in our lives that we come across someone so special that that person stays with us forever. Grandma was that kind of person.”

2. “The only way to get hurt in this life is to care. Grandma cared more than most, loved more than most, and was made to suffer more than most because of just how much she cared.

But no matter how many times she was knocked down or made to endure things that no one should, she just kept coming back; caring more and loving more — opening herself up to even more pain. Yet there were never any complaints or bitterness — it was the only way she knew how to live.

The kind of love Grandma felt for us was love without condition. She may not have approved of everything we did, may not have liked some of the decisions we made, but she didn’t lecture, she didn’t judge.

She just kept loving us, letting us know that she was there and if we ever needed her, we could count on her to listen, to comfort, to help. She lived a simple life. It didn’t take much to make her happy—a phone call, a card, a visit, or a kiss before saying good night. We were the most important people in the world to her. She lived to make our lives better and was proud of us.”

3. “Money can be squandered and property ruined, but what we inherited from our grandma cannot be damaged, destroyed, or lost. It is permanent, and it keeps her from becoming just a wonderful memory.

It allows her in so many ways to remain just as alive as always — alive through us. There have been and will be times in our lives when situations arise where we’ll want so much to talk to her, be with her or ask her just what we should do.

I hope that, when those times come, we can begin to look to each other and find that part of her that she gave to each of us. Maybe we can learn to lean on each other and rely on each other the way we always knew that we could with her.

Maybe then she won’t seem quite so far away. So, for your wisdom, your courage, your humor, tenderness and compassion, your understanding, your patience, and your love; thank you, Grandma. After you, Grandma, the mold was indeed broken. Thank you so much. I love you.”

4. “My name is Jackie and I am one of Annette’s grandchildren. It is difficult to put into words how much my grandmother meant to me. She was a strong-willed and intelligent woman. She was very successful and achieved a lot in her life.

She passed a lot of wisdom down to her children who I am happy to say passed it on to me. I didn’t get to spend as much time with my grandmother as I would have liked, but even though our time together was limited I felt like we developed a strong bond.”

5. “My grandmother loved life; she loved her family, she loved her friends, she loved her pets, she loved nature and she loved god. No matter what situation she was presented with, no matter how challenging; she was able to overcome it.

My grandmother always taught me that no matter what happens in life, if you remain calm and positive you could overcome it. It was lessons like that, that I will remember the rest of my life.

It is incredible what a smile and kind heart can do. For as long as I can remember my grandmother always shared with me the importance of faith.

My grandmother was a very religious woman, but would never preach her faith. She showed me how a belief in God helped shape her life. I owe my grandmother for my passion and faith in God.”

With these sample eulogies for a grandmother, you should be able to eulogize your grandmother in the most memorable and touching way. Although these samples may not say the exact thing you want to say about your grandmother, they should serve as your inspiration.

Britni Luczak

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  6. Pin by Lily Knotek on Dedicated to my nan, miss her so much x

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COMMENTS

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    So, for your wisdom, your humor, tenderness and compassion, your understanding, your patience and your love; thank you, Grandma. After you

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    Grandma's zest for life, her unconditional love and her kind spirit is what made her my hero. I refuse to live life in a bubble because each and

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    She had to look out for the interests of her children. So we will give her a pass on this one. She was independent. ... She was perfect. Perfect in every respect.

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    “Nothing is eternal except our love for our family; when we keep them in our hearts and remember all the good stuff we had together, they can live forever in

  10. 5 Touching Sample Eulogies for a Grandmother

    4 Tips for Writing a Eulogy for Your Grandmother · 1. Take Your Time to Reflect · 2. Write down Your Memories and Feelings · 3. Make an Outline for