Eulogy for an uncle

Uncles are often the family member who taught you something your parents never quite would have. How to throw a curveball. How to change a tire. How to leave a tip. A eulogy for your uncle should carry the spirit of those small tutorials. The broader frame for any eulogy is in how to write a eulogy.

Speak for the cousins

If your uncle had several nieces and nephews, ask each of them, by text, for the first scene that comes to mind when they think of him. Pick the two or three best and attribute them by name. The cousin section is the heart of an uncle eulogy.

Example opening

I learned three things from my uncle Frank. How to back a boat trailer. How to whistle for a dog. And how to leave a room without making it weird. I am going to use the third one when I am done.

What to include about an uncle

• One scene from a family gathering or shared trip
• The relationship he had with your parent (his sibling)
• The way he was around children
• A phrase or saying he used often
• What you learned from him that you still carry

If he was a second father

For some families, an uncle was a parent in everything but title. You are allowed to say that out loud. He was the man who walked me to school after my dad died. He was an uncle in the paperwork. He was a father in the days. One line like that, said simply, will hold the entire room.

Reading the eulogy

Practice it once in the car, alone, with the radio off. If your aunt is also still living, ask her to read it first. Our practical guide for the day, breathing, pacing, where to look, is how to read a eulogy without crying. If you also need an opening, browse our list of eulogy opening lines.

When you are ready, Stillwith helps you draft yours.