I once read a quote by physiotherapist Tracey Hawthorn that stuck with me. She said you “don’t want a person to focus on their pain because that’s what they do all the time… humor is a good one” (Source). I actually saw this play out in real life at my uncle’s service. The air in the room was so heavy you could cut it with a knife—until my cousin cracked a joke about his dad’s absolutely terrible toupee. You could physically feel the tension snap. If you have a relative like that and want to capture their spirit, our guide on crafting a funny eulogy for your uncle digs into how to balance the respect with the wit.
Quick Resource:
Funny Eulogy Generator – A guided tool that helps you balance humor and heart, turning real memories into a respectful, genuinely funny tribute.
We all know humor heals, but trying to be funny when you’re heartbroken feels impossible. So, I’ve put together a guide on how to do it right, along with a list of funny eulogy examples you can steal, adapt, and make your own.
What’s in this Post
I’ve broken this down by personality type—from the “Lovable Curmudgeon” to the “Tech-Challenged” relative—so you can skip right to the section that sounds most like your loved one.
The “Too Long; Didn’t Read” Version
If you’re in a rush, here is the gist of what matters:
- Punch Up, Not Down: Celebrate their weird quirks; don’t mock their actual insecurities.
- Read the Room: A joke that kills at the wake might bomb (or offend) during a formal church mass.
- The Secret Formula: Tell a funny story $\rightarrow$ connect it to a trait you loved $\rightarrow$ wrap it in love.
- Keep it Modern: Jokes about iPhone struggles or replying “all” to emails play well because we all deal with them.
- Make it Yours: Use the 25 templates below as a starting point, but swap in the real details.
These funny eulogy examples are designed to be “plug-and-play,” so you can honor your person without staring at a blank page for hours.
In a rush? The Funny Eulogy Generator can help you shape the right words in minutes.
Before You Crack a Joke: The Ground Rules
Comedy is risky, especially at a funeral. You have to weigh things carefully before dropping a punchline in a funeral speech. The “Punch Up” rule is the big one: you want people laughing with the memory of the person, not at them. Also, keep the “Safe for Work” standard in mind—you don’t want to scandalize Grandma or confuse the coworkers.
We talk a lot more about balancing someone’s “personal brand” in our broader funny funeral speech guide, but basically: every joke should act as a bridge back to how much you loved them.
Worried a joke might miss the mark? The Funny Eulogy Generator helps keep humor warm and appropriate.
| Comparison | Punching Up (Do This) | Punching Down (Don’t Do This) |
|---|---|---|
| The Target | Endearing quirks or funny situations you shared. | Insecurities, failures, or messy family drama. |
| The Vibe | “We loved him because he was this way.” | “It was annoying that he was this way.” |
| Example | Joking about how much they loved a bargain. | Joking about them being cheap or stingy. |
| The Result | Brings the room together. | Creates awkward silence. |
The Lovable Curmudgeon
This is for the grumpy-but-sweet relatives. These funny eulogy examples highlight that stubbornness we all found frustrating at the time, but charming in hindsight.
If this section feels painfully accurate, the Funny Eulogy Generator can turn those quirks into a loving tribute.
1. The “I’m Resting My Eyes” Napper
We all know the type. They swear they watched the whole movie, even though they were snoring through the explosion scene. This works because it’s gentle—almost every family has a designated napper.
2. The Thermostat Tyrant
If your dad treated the thermostat like a bank vault, this is for you. It turns that control-freak tendency into a funny quirk rather than a flaw. For more ideas on roasting a father figure with love, check out these hilarious eulogy examples to honor your dad’s memory.
Script Template: “Dad treated the thermostat like a priceless artifact in a museum—look, but don’t touch. I like to think he’s in a better place now, and I hope for his sake that place is set to a crisp 68 degrees. If it’s 69, I know he’s already trying to speak to the manager.”
3. The Coupon Hoarder
Maybe Grandma left behind a legacy of love and a drawer full of coupons that expired in 1998. This is a safe, lighthearted way to joke about frugality using physical objects everyone in the family recognizes.
4. The Directional Challenger
Some people just have no internal compass. If your loved one went out for milk and ended up in a different zip code, use this. It lightens the mood about the afterlife by wondering if it took them a few extra turns to find the Pearly Gates.
Culinary Mishaps and Foodie Quirks
Food brings people together, even when the food is… questionable. These examples celebrate the “unique” cooking skills and stubborn kitchen habits we’re going to miss.
5. The “Expiration Dates are Suggestions” Philosopher
This is for the mom who viewed expiration dates as a dare rather than a safety warning. We can all bond over the immune system of steel we built surviving dinner at her house.
6. The Burnt Toast Enthusiast
He claimed he liked his toast “Cajun style,” but we knew he just forgot the bread in the toaster again. It captures that stubborn pride in a loving way—and teaches us that anything is edible with enough butter.
7. The Secret Ingredient Reveal
Everyone begged for her secret recipe, only to find out “love” was actually just MSG and heavy cream. A funny reveal like this breaks the tension and celebrates those food memories while poking fun at the mystery.
8. The Restaurant Critic
This describes the person who would send back water for being “too dry.” Use this if the deceased was known for being charmingly picky. Just make sure people knew them as “particular” rather than rude so it lands right.
The Tech-Challenged
Tech struggles are basically a universal language these days. These examples poke fun at the generational gap and the hilarious misuse of gadgets.
These moments resonate because they’re real—use the Funny Eulogy Generator to personalize them with care.
| The Action | What They Thought They Did | What Actually Happened |
|---|---|---|
| Typing in All Caps | “I am making sure everyone can read this clearly.” | “WHY ARE YOU YELLING AT US GRANDMA?” |
| The Facebook Wall | “I am sending a private message to my grandson.” | Posted “How is your rash?” publicly to 400 friends. |
| The Facetime Call | “I am looking at my family.” | The family spent 20 minutes looking at their forehead and ceiling fan. |
9. The Reply-All Offender
We will miss his wisdom, but maybe not his accidental “Reply All” emails asking about the potluck. Use this for a colleague’s eulogy to humanize the workplace by highlighting a blunder we’ve all made.
10. The Tablet Photographer
You could always spot Auntie at a wedding holding up a full-sized iPad like a shield to take a photo. It paints a funny visual that makes us smile because we have all seen it happen.
11. The Password Forgetter
If the afterlife requires a login, we might be in trouble. This example involves a notebook labeled “Passwords” that just says “Ask your grandson.” It’s a sweet reminder of how much they relied on family.
12. The Voice-to-Text Poet
Her text messages were abstract art because she dictated everything. Quoting a text like “Love you period potato” highlights those affectionate communication quirks.
Hobbies and Obsessions
Passions often come with funny side effects. These funny eulogy examples look at the pastimes that consumed their free time.
13. The Golf Cheater
He was a man of integrity… except on the golf course where he used a “foot wedge.” This classic roast contrasts their virtue with a harmless vice.
14. The DIY Disaster
He watched one YouTube video and thought he was a licensed contractor. Noting that the house is held together by duct tape and confidence is a great way to celebrate their ambition and optimism, even if the results were a mess.
15. The Sports Yeller
The Philadelphia Eagles could definitely hear him screaming from his recliner. This connects his passion to a shared family experience of noise—great for the guy who coached the team from the living room.
16. The Collector of “Useful” Things
He collected strictly “useful” things… like twist ties and empty Cool Whip containers. It pokes fun at that Depression-era mindset of keeping junk for a potential apocalypse.
Family Dynamics and Parenting
Family life is full of repetitive stories and playful arguments. These examples touch on the funny realities of being a parent, spouse, or sibling.
Family humor is delicate. The Funny Eulogy Generator helps you find the right balance.
17. The “Back in My Day” Historian
Dad claimed he walked to school uphill both ways in a blizzard. Google Maps proves it was a flat half-mile walk. It’s a way to honor their storytelling ability while winking at the exaggeration.
18. The Unsolicited Advice Giver
Mom had an opinion on everything from your hair to your socks. Calling her criticism “aggressive caring” turns a potentially annoying trait into a sign of love.
19. The Favorite Child Debater
We spent 30 years arguing over who was the favorite child, and the will didn’t help. If you’re giving a joint speech, this diffuses rivalry with humor and leaves everyone feeling equally loved.
Script Template: “For years, my brother and I have argued over who was Mom’s favorite. I claimed the title because I gave her grandkids; he claimed it because he moved out first. Now that she’s gone, we’ve decided to call it a draw. Though, looking at the photo arrangement on the casket… I think I see a few more pictures of me.”
20. The Embarrassing Dancer
He danced like no one was watching. Unfortunately, everyone was watching. It celebrates confidence and a lack of inhibition, shifting the narrative from “embarrassing” to “joyful.”
The Partner in Crime
Best friends share a unique bond filled with bad influences and secrets. If you are writing a eulogy for a friend, these are for you. If you’re struggling to sum up that bond, a dedicated funny eulogy friend guide can help.
| Friendship Dynamic | Key Trait to Highlight | Humor Focus |
|---|---|---|
| The Enabler | Never said “no” to a bad idea. | “She’s the reason I have so many great stories and a slightly questionable credit score.” |
| The Vault | Knew every embarrassing secret. | “He knew where the bodies were buried—mostly because he helped me dig the holes.” |
| The Timekeeper | Chronically late to everything. | “She’s late to her own funeral, but we all know she was worth the wait.” |
21. The Bad Influence
If you are the average of the people you spend time with, she definitely owes me for my credit score. It acknowledges a chaotic dynamic while affirming that she raised your spirits every single day.
22. The Keeper of Secrets
She knew where all the bodies were buried—metaphorically, of course. This emphasizes deep trust and intimacy, perfect for a friendship known for being conspiratorial.
23. The “Five More Minutes” Friend
If we agreed to meet at 7:00, she would get in the shower at 7:15. You can address a flaw like lateness while pivoting to their value: she was always worth the wait.
24. The Worst Wingman
He would introduce me to people by saying, “This is Dave, he’s desperate.” It’s funny, self-deprecating, and highlights the deceased’s blunt attempts to help you find happiness.
25. The Permanent Borrower
I realized my hoodie and blender are permanently bequeathed to him now. It’s a lighthearted way to address the closeness of sharing possessions and the physical reminders left behind.
How to Turn These Jokes into a Tribute
Reading through 25 funny eulogy examples gives you a spark, but turning a random joke into a real tribute is hard when your brain is in a fog of grief. You might worry your joke will land flat or feel too “inside baseball.” For more advice on weaving wit into your speech, check out our collection of humorous eulogies and writing tips.
If you’re stuck, the Eulogy Generator can help bridge the gap. It’s an interactive tool created by professional eulogy writer Jen Glantz. It basically interviews you to get the details, checks the tone to make sure the humor lands with love, and helps you move from “I have no idea what to say” to a finished speech in minutes.
Ready to turn an idea into a finished speech? Try the Funny Eulogy Generator today.
Transformation in Practice:
- The Raw Joke: “He loved fishing more than he loved us.” (Too harsh).
- The Tribute Version: “We always knew where to find Dad on a Sunday morning. If he wasn’t at the breakfast table, he was out on the lake. And while the fish were usually safe from him, we knew that time on the water was where he found his peace to be the patient father we loved.” (Warm and funny).
Start writing your tribute here
Final Thoughts
Humor in a eulogy isn’t about performing a tight five minutes of stand-up; it is about celebrating the joy that person brought into the room. The best tributes balance the laughter with the tears, reminding everyone that grief and love are just two sides of the same coin. Trust your memories and use these examples to help you find the right words to say goodbye.
