Audience: business or civic group, family members
Message: The deceased’s personal qualities contributed to our lives.
Tone: formal
Timing: 2 minutes

(Names of family members present), friends, business associates….

When we here at the office heard of (name)’s death, we were shocked and saddened. We stopped. We stopped our problem-solving,… our concerns for the work getting done,… our push toward all deadlines. Infinitely more important than such routine matters is dealing with the loss of one who had become almost like a family member to us at work.

Mrs. (name) and children, let me try to tell you what we knew of your husband and father in his dealings with us, his work friends. First of all, (name) was a brilliant businessman. People from all over the country—the competition, state agencies, trade associations, our branch offices—have both written and called our offices to express condolences.

Your husband and father was not only a brilliant businessman; he was a good listener. Many of us remember hours sitting in (name’s) office, asking his advice on work and personal matters. Things big and small. Like where to invest money as well as where to attend church. He listened to our concerns and offered advice freely.

Your husband and father was honest. He never stole a trade secret, equipment, or productive time from the organization. No debtor ever called our offices to seek repayment. His word was his bond. We didn’t have to ask for a confirming memo or letter on decisions (name) made. When he told us something, we could believe him.

Your husband and father was compassionate. He came to our homes in time of death in our families. He visited and sent flowers and notes to our hospital beds and those of our families. He contributed his money to worthy causes.

In fact, I’m often reminded of the time (name) had just returned from a three-week tour of our Japanese plants. When he arrived at the office suffering jet lag and learned of my own mother’s death, he climbed back on a plane and flew across the country to express to me his availability to cover my work assignments, his assurances that I would still have a job two months later after I settled lengthy estate matters, and his personal support and advice on family concerns. Then he traveled all night to a New York meeting the following day, ever mindful that his work associates were continuing to count on him there. I never knew (name) to refuse compassion to anyone in a time of need.

Your husband and father was loyal. He never told us, his employees, one thing and our colleagues and bosses something else. When we were right, he stood up for us. When we were wrong, he helped us see the other side—often to our benefit.

Your husband and father had a great sense of humor. He shared the latest Aggie jokes with us. He saw the light side of every situation. And he kept reminding us in our times of desperation with deadlines that it was, after all, just a job.

I’m sure you, more than we at work, know this side of (name)—his brilliance, his listening attitude, his honesty, his compassion, his loyalty, his humor. A reputation for only a few of these virtues is in itself a good fortune for his family.

But I wanted this group gathered together in his memory to know that we, his friends at the office, also knew him as more than a dedicated professional. We loved a genuinely warm individual—one we will miss greatly.

Simply remember that for all these virtues, (name) has not gone unrewarded by his sudden death. Death is, after all, only the side of life that we can’t see from earth’s shores. Who knows what God has in store for His child. We ask God’s comfort on you, his family, in your time of sorrow.

Audience: business or civic group
Message: The deceased achieved far more than the average.
Tone: formal
Timing: 4-5 minutes

Members of the family, friends, ladies and gentlemen….

There always comes a time at the end of all of our lives when we must leave those of us on earth and give an account of our labor. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans declared, “Every man must give an account of himself to God.”

That account is long for (deceased). Few among us achieve so much. Many of great genius sow seeds of progress that blossom only after long years. (Deceased)’s seeds have already bloomed in our lifetime.

The (deceased) Foundation has pumped new life into our nation’s research efforts to cure diseases that cripple and kill. It was (deceased)’s dream that we find a cure for cancer in her century. The dream still burns in the hearts of many scientists today. The foundation has also provided scholarships to promising medical students and talented artists.

The (name of theater) has also become a visible monument to (deceased)’s enrichment of the arts to our lives. The brick-and-steel structure, as well as the talent that performs there, reflects to the community the contribution of the arts in making us a civilized nation.

As a member of numerous boards and agencies, she helped shape policies that have radically improved our political and financial situation in the world. Few of us are untouched by those morals and principles that have shaped our corporate lives and our political policies.

During her (number) years, she traveled to (number) countries and spoke to millions about freedom, about the importance of art, about corporate charity as the answer to the threat of disease.
The many magazine and journal articles that have featured her achievements and analyzed her persona bear witness to her contributions. The written words testify to her knowledge and dedication to the causes she espoused.

Hear her now, as in l9—, she admonished the graduating class of (university) about their responsibilities to their fellowman: And I quote. [Insert quote here.]

Through these published records, she continues to inspire those of her generation and those who will come after.
If I have painted her as larger than life, it is because she was. As we can say of few people, the entire world is a better place because she has lived.

And even with this long account of achievement, I dare say (deceased) can look her Maker in the eye and say truthfully that she achieved with the utmost integrity. She challenged her enemies without malice or vengeance. She treated her friends with compassion and love. No one can ever say that her work has hindered the work of God in the world.

In summary, (deceased) has provided an example of what one determined, talented, caring individual can do for mankind.

Express grief over the loss, but avoid going into specific details of the tragedy or illness.

Offer specific praise of the deceased. If you didn’t know the individual well, pass on remarks or observations from others.

Close with gratitude for the deceased’s contributions in life.

Audience: family, employees and civic associates
Message: We remember her contributions to our corporation and to our personal lives.
Tone: formal
Timing: 3-4 minutes

Winston Churchill said it best: “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” As those of you gathered here today will agree, (name) made a life. Her sudden and tragic death grieved us, but it also focused our thinking on what is good and right about our spirit here at (corporation). I can’t think of a better example of that spirit than (name).

She didn’t just make a living here; she made a life. First, she offered her friendship. To those who worked around her most closely, she was known affectionately as “(nickname).” You could not attend a day-long meeting or seminar with (name) without her asking about your family, your vacation, or your health. Not routine were your answers, either, because as you talked to (name), you got the sense that she really listened to what you said,… that she really cared about your happiness and well-being.

And she valued each employee and client who passed through her door as an individual of worth, and she dealt with them all that way.

(Name) didn’t just make a living here; she made a life. She offered her integrity. Integrity is what you have when no one else is looking.

No detail was too small for her to handle. No risk was too minimal for her to give the pro’s and con’s full consideration. No financial decision was too large that honesty did not count.

(Name) didn’t just make a living here; she made a life. She offered her compassion. Many of you will remember her efforts in helping the community to rebuild after the (tragedy). She was also involved in our own annual charity efforts such as (names of campaigns). Pain and suffering pricked her heart, and she did more than bleed. She acted on behalf of those who needed her financial support and her personal energy in [insert details of the cause].

We honor her today by placing her photograph and a small plaque about her work here in our hallway. It’s our hope that those who pass by every day will be reminded of her contributions here at (corporation).

We also encourage you to emulate her commitment to make a life—not a living. To give rather than to receive.

Employment here is more than a paycheck. It is friendship, integrity, and compassion toward our fellowman. We honor (name) today and want her family to know that we share in their loss and respect their wife and mother’s contributions to our lives.

Of a Business Facility

State the specifics of the occasion—where, when, why, how—this facility has been established.
Point out benefits of the facility to the workers and the community.

Call attention to the contributions of those who worked to make the facility ready.

Recognize the responsibility of those who will work there and express confidence in them and their future use of the facility.

Of a Memorial for a Deceased Employee or Civic Leader

Recall virtues or contributions of the one to be memorialized and lead the audience to an appreciation of that person’s values.

Call attention to any obstacles this person overcame and how remarkable the achievement or contribution was.

Mention the effects or significance of this person’s life.

Encourage the audience to emulate those virtues or qualities or to uphold those values and support those causes that the deceased considered important.

Upon Presentation of a Memorial Gift

Express appreciation for the contributions or values of the memorialized individual.

Mention the significance of this individual’s life to you or to the organization.

Present the gift as symbolic of your sentiment.

Audience: business or civic group
Message: Bless the family of this individual and the ongoing contributions of the deceased’s memory.
Tone: formal
Timing: 1 minute

Dear Lord, (name) has been Your faithful servant on earth for many years. She has served long and well. As we as friends and business associates have gathered to remember her contributions to our lives, we ask that You particularly be near her family.

Rather than lessen the pain of the loss of a loved one, the years seem only to heighten our appreciation of that great loss. Specifically, we ask Your guidance for her son and daughter as they settle matters of (name)’s concern. Those of us who know her children well know that their adult lives have already produced gain in the world. Much of that, we know, is a direct influence from their mother’s life.

And then as business associates, we realize that many of our successes on the job are a result of (name)’s direction, advice, and knowledge.

Together we are thankful for her contribution and example before us. Those of us who didn’t get an opportunity to express our appreciation to her directly ask particularly that Your spirit grant her that knowledge in the afterlife.

Even now, her compassion in word and deed continues to glow within us. As she has honored us with her life, we ask that You help us honor her and her family today.

Thank You for Your eternal provisions for us all.

Audience: business or civic group
Message: Bless the ongoing contributions of the deceased’s memory.
Tone: formal
Timing: 1 minute

Please bow your heads as we each in our own way remember (name). This memory, of course, Lord, will not be our last. We acknowledge Your right and power both to give life and to take it.

We accept Your will in our lives, even when it may bring us heartache and even when we may not understand the reasons.

We ask that You as an all-compassionate God help us to carry on (name)’s work that we have gathered here to commemorate. As we have talked about and remembered his contributions to the community, family, and friends, we ask that you inspire us to do our part in seeing his efforts come to a successful reality.

Particularly, we ask Your blessings on (name of favorite project) that he loved and worked with.

Help those individuals who benefited from his efforts there continue in their progress to regain hope and stability for their lives. Help those in leadership to bring others into the causes for which (name) worked so diligently.

We trust confidently that today (name)’s spirit is at rest with You, his Maker. And we thank You that his example and memory is still among us, his friends.

Express thanksgiving for past and present opportunities.

Recall the qualities of the retired, deceased, or otherwise honored individual.

Look forward to the future with confidence.