Memorial speeches can be challenging to compose, especially for loved ones and caregivers who are deeply emotionally attached to the person who has passed away. Those people also might have to make funeral arrangements while taking care of other family members, handle complex logistics, and even cope with personal health issues. Thus, I’ve decided to share a guide that might make things a bit easier for those who want or are expected to speak in public about the life of the deceased person. I originally posted it on my website, MyPersuasivePresentations.com, and am sharing it on FlourishingBeyondCancer.com (FBC) as I continue to support its mission.
We offer help to people grieving the loss of someone to cancer (or another serious illness) who may be asked—or feel compelled—to speak at their friend’s or loved one’s funeral, memorial service, or public tribute.
If you’re hesitant to take the podium, you’re not alone. You might feel overwhelmed, distraught, or unsure how to express your thoughts. We understand this is a difficult time, and whether public speaking makes you uncomfortable or you struggle to write, this guide will help.
Our goal is to help you craft something relevant, sincere, and impactful—a tribute that honors the life of the person you’ve lost. Your words have the power to connect with and comfort people; we can help you improve this ability.” ~ FBC
For in-depth information about speech-making, Click Here.
Memorial Speeches | Elements
(After a Death Resulting from Cancer or Other Illnesses)
- Give an opening acknowledgment
(Thank attendees for coming and acknowledge shared grief) (If appropriate, also acknowledge people who were especially helpful to the patient before the death occurred.) - Mention the loved one’s name
(You might use both the person’s full name and a nickname. Make their presence vividly personal.) - Offer reflections on their character and spirit
(Mention the person’s core traits and values) (However, if “everyone” knew the departed person as a comedian, tell a different story that demonstrated their generosity, or something they secretly and silently did to help others in need.) - Acknowledge the battle with cancer
(Respect their courage and resilience) - Provide personal memories or stories
(Use anecdotes to paint a picture of their life, not just their illness) - Describe the Impact they had on others
(Family, friends, community, and beyond) - Say how you think they will be remembered
(Qualities, lessons, love left behind) - Give a message of hope, unity, or continuation
(Carry forward their spirit, lessons, or dreams) (If appropriate, you might mention who will assume care for people left behind, such as children, pets, even plants that were loved, etc.) - Close with gratitude and love
(Gratitude for having spent a portion of your life with the departed and gratitude for the support of those gathered)
Sample Medium-Length Memorial Speeches
Dear Reader, of course, you insert the appropriate words wherever changes are applicable. That often will be where you see words in brackets like these […. ].
For simplicity’s sake, I’ve left the plural pronouns in the document, even though we’re referring to the death of one person. You can change the pronouns from they and their to he or she wherever appropriate.
Opening Acknowledgment
Good [afternoon], Everyone. Thank you for being here today to honor and celebrate the life of my beloved [Name]. Your presence means more than words can express. In times of grief like this, it is shared love and memories that hold us together and enable us to move forward.
Mention the Loved One’s Name
[Name] was a bright light [source of strength] [guide and mentor] [example of loving kindness] in all our lives. To say their name is to summon warmth, laughter, kindness, and incredible strength.
Memorial Speeches | Reflections
Talk about character and spirit – things that made people love the departed person.
[Name] had a way of making everyone feel seen, heard, and valued. Their laughter could fill a room, and their compassion had no limits. They taught us, through their actions, that life is not measured by time, but by the depth of our kindness and the breadth of our love.
Acknowledgment of the Battle with [Cancer or Whatever Conditions Were Applicable]
When cancer came into [Name]’s life, it met a worthy opponent. Though the journey was hard, [Name] faced each day with unwavering courage, deep grace, and even humor. They taught us not just how to live, but how to fight with dignity and heart.
Personal Memories or Short Stories
I will never forget the Sunday afternoons we spent together—sharing coffee, telling stories, dreaming up plans for tomorrow. Even when treatment made them tired, they somehow made space to lift others up, to listen, to love. Those moments are treasures I will cherish forever.
Mention the Impact They Had on Others
[Name’s] life touched so many—family, friends, neighbors, health providers, and even strangers. It had a ripple effect of kindness that will continue to spread through all of us.
Memorial Speeches: Talk About How the Person Will Be Remembered
We will remember [Name] not by the illness they endured, but by the incredible life they lived—their compassion, their strength, and their unwavering love. Their spirit remains, stitched into our hearts and our memories.
Give a Short Message of Hope, Unity, or Continuation
Even in this sadness, [Name] would want us to carry forward with hope, with love, and with the same fierce spirit they showed every day. Their story does not end here—it lives on in each of us.
Closing with Gratitude and Love in Memorial Speeches
Thank you, [Name], for loving us so well. Thank you all for loving [Name] so much. Let us honor them by living our lives with the same openness, courage, and boundless love that they shared with the world.
A Shorter, More Religious or Spiritual Memorial Speech
[Opening acknowledgment]
Thank you for gathering here today in love and remembrance of [Name]. It is said that when two or more are gathered in love, the spirit of God is among them—and I believe that is true here, now.
[Mention of loved one’s name and reflection]
[Name] was a beautiful soul, full of light, kindness, and quiet strength. Their journey here may have ended, but their spirit has simply moved into a new and everlasting life, one untouched by pain, where only peace remains.
[Acknowledgment of their battle with cancer]
Though cancer tested their body, it never touched their spirit. [Name] met each day with faith, courage, and grace, teaching us all that the soul’s power is greater than any earthly trial.
[Memory and impact]
We remember their laughter, their hugs, their prayers whispered for others even in their own struggle. Their love was a reflection of the Divine, and it lingers still among us.
[How they will be remembered and message of hope]
[Name] lives on—not just in memory—but in the unseen realms, closer than breath, cheering us on, loving us still. Love never dies; it transforms. In honoring [Name], we honor life itself, sacred and eternal.
[Closing]
May we carry forward their light in our hearts. And until we meet again, may God hold [Name]—and each of us—in the palm of His hand.
Shorter Universal Spiritual Memorial Speeches
[Opening acknowledgment]
Thank you for bringing your love and your memories here today as we celebrate the life of [Name]. In moments like this, we are reminded that the bonds between souls are stronger than time, distance, or even death.
[Mention of loved one’s name and reflection]
[Name] was, and always will be, a beautiful light in our lives. Their kindness, their laughter, and their spirit touched everyone they met—and that kind of love does not vanish; it transforms.
[Acknowledgment of their battle with cancer]
Though their body faced a fierce struggle, their spirit never wavered. Through every trial, [Name] remained full of grace, humor, and hope, reminding us that the human spirit is far greater than anything that happens to it.
[Memory and impact]
We carry forward their laughter, their lessons, their fierce love. It lives in the way we treat one another, in the moments we choose kindness over anger, hope over despair.
[How they will be remembered and message of hope]
[Name] is not lost to us. They have simply moved into another form of life, just beyond what our eyes can see. Their energy is still here—in every sunrise, in every act of love, in every heartbeat that remembers them.
[Closing]
Today we do not say goodbye. We say thank you. And we promise to keep their light alive by living with the same love and courage they showed us.
A Short, Universal Blessing You Can Add at the End of the Speech if You Wish:
Memorial Speeches | Alternative Endings
Closing Blessing
May the love [Name] shared with us remain a guiding light in our lives for as long as we each shall live.
May their courage inspire our own, and may their spirit surround us with peace.
As we walk forward, may we feel their presence in the quiet moments, the warm sun, the laughter, and the love we give and receive.
And may we honor them by living our days with open hearts, gentle strength, and endless gratitude.
Go in peace. Go in love. Go with the light.
Memorial Speeches | Closing Blessings
Very Simple, Short Blessing (2–3 lines)
May love be what remains.
May the memory of [Name] lift us in our hardest moments and comfort us in our quiet ones.
May we walk forward carrying their light.
Poetic Blessing (gentle, flowing)
In the hush between heartbeats, may we hear their laughter.
In the stillness of morning, may we feel their embrace.
In the weaving of our days, may we carry their spirit—soft, strong, and eternal.
Memorial Speeches | Universal Prayer Blessing
Great Spirit of Love and Life,
We give thanks for the soul of [Name],
whose light touched this world and now dances beyond our sight.Carry their spirit gently among the stars.
Let their love ripple through the universe, touching all who remember them.May we feel them in every breath of wind, every ray of sun, every quiet moment of beauty.
And may we live our lives wide open to love, in honor of theirs.So may it be.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
For Personal Counseling or Help in Speech Writing
I’d be happy to give you a free consultation for up to 30 minutes, first, if you wish. Click Here to learn about the certifications that qualify me to assist people in need. The sessions are called Sip & Share Sessions on Zoom. To take advantage of this opportunity, email me at
MyPersuasivePresentations@gmail.com
and put “Request Sip & Share + your topic” in the subject line. I’ll reply, and we’ll coordinate schedules to see how I may assist you. Some people just want to talk and/or learn a couple of tips for de-stressing! That’s fine, too.
You can use the same email address if you already know that you want to discuss booking me to write your speech. Just change the subject line to read “Request Sip & Share to discuss speech writing.” Here’s a link about all the kinds of speeches and presentations with which I can help you or that I can do for you.
I hope this is helpful, and I am happy to answer your questions.
Do It The Write Way! Let My Fingers Do Your Talking!
