Tribute to a Late Colleague
With long days on the job, colleagues often become like a second family. When a co-worker has died, it is appropriate to find a way to pay tribute. Giving a eulogy is probably one of the saddest things we are ever likely to do and when it’s for a work colleague, there’s the added need to be particularly careful regarding the feelings of the family. You’ve lost a co-worker, but they’ve lost a brother, a wife, a son or mother – so if ever there’s a time to tread carefully, it’s now.
When you’re writing your tribute speech, remember, your role is to speak about what the departed was like in a his/her professional role – not to give her/his biography; that is a job which should be left to those who know it best – his/her family.
Find below, sample tributes to pay your last respect to a late colleague.
Sample Tribute / Eulogy to late Coworker #1
Tribute to a late co-worker
How does one express the amazing essence and spirit of [insert name] – his / her selfless generosity, uncompromising belief in all that is good and his/ her unwavering commitment to family and friends?Words, even the very best of words, cannot pay tribute or truly capture the sense of loss that we are all feeling today.
The loss is there, tangible and real within everyone…but [insert name] exemplified life, love, laughter and an irrepressible belief and faith in seeing the best in everything…even loss.
And so today we honor him / her, by profoundly feeling and expressing our loss, but also by remembering [insert name] – an amazing person who has played a unique and special role in all of our lives.
We remember [insert name] as a [father / mother / brother / sister, colleague]….
[include personalized memories and stories here]
As a father / mother / colleague, [insert name] will be deeply missed. In the years that lie ahead, I’m sure his/ her children [ insert names of children] will always remember how…
[include personalized memories and stories here]
[Insert name] was a loyal colleague to some and a special friend to many and today we honor this as we recall special moments…
[include personalized memories and stories here]
Amazing, unique, special…absolutely!
[Insert name],
We’ll remember you with all your special nuances and our memories from all the days gone before that we were privileged to share with you…
And today we’ll grieve for you, and cry for you and even smile because of you…
And in all the tomorrows we’ll feel you – gone in some ways, but your presence ever near.
Go well…stay well…always.
Sample Tribute / Eulogy to late Coworker #2
Mrs [name], [children first names], family members, colleagues and friends.
Sorrow fills our hearts this sad moment, a sorrow that is deep and personal. [Name] has silently closed the door of life and departed from us. Our lives will be empty in the areas that he had brightened for us.
Albert Einstein said, “The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive.” In one word, [name] was a man who gave. He gave much to his work, to [list one or two]. That is why ladies and gentlemen as we are gathered here to say goodbye to him, I would like to speak in celebration of his life. Here was a life that demand notice….a life that exemplified brilliance…a life that inspired emulation…a life that burned so that others’ paths were lit.
I have known [name] since [year] when he joined the [organisation or Division or business] of [organisation] as a [position]. [Name] was a strategic thinker, a visionary who was brilliant, innovative and creative. As such, he contributed much to the development of the [organisation name]. He generously gave us his knowledge, his expertise, his skills.
[Name] was deeply concerned with improving [list] and he was very keen to innovate [list]. He initiated and implemented much in this field during the [number of years] that he was at [organisation name].
For example, [list achievements here]
As ……
When as [name] also ….
Later, as a member of the …..
[Name] did not limit his work to just [organisation name]
In [year] [name] was ….
[Name] was living proof of how fine a person can be. He was a good boss to the people in his charge, a loving husband to his wife, and a devoted father to his children. He was also a good friend to many of us and a great colleague. The character of the life he lived might be summed up in a few words: he was sincere, he was earnest, he was loyal.
As [position], [name] led his staff in such a way that he exemplified leadership. He gave energy, commitment and inspiration to his staff and to others with whom he worked. The [name] I remember was a happy [name], one who not only was cheerful in himself but who gave much cheerfulness to others. He had a beautiful smile, a sense of humour and a gentle demeanour. [Name] was bright, logical and systematic in his thinking. He was always willing to share his ideas and information. He was passionately interested in …… matters and would advise us on …… . Many of us found him to be a splendid person of great intellect and big heart.
In his career as [career position] he worked with passion, integrity and energy. By his death all the people who knew him will miss a highly intelligent, vibrant individual with a rare friendliness and charm of personality. [Name] was a genuinely warm and wonderful individual—one we will miss greatly. Our sorrow is lessened only slightly with the comforting thought that we had the privilege to know him.
Ladies and Gentlemen I would like now to read a poem [OPTIONAL]
[A poem can provide consolation,
further enrich the “story”
or change the pace of the Eulogy]
A poem to consider …
Life is but a stopping place,
A pause in what’s to be,
A resting place along the road,
To sweet eternity
We all have different journeys,
Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
But never mean to stay…
Our destination is a place,
Far greater than we know.
For some the journey’s quicker,
For some the journey’s slow.
And when the journey finally ends,
We’ll make a great step forward,
And find an everlasting peace,
As our special reward.
Mrs [name], [children first names] our hearts and prayers are with you at this most difficult time. Adlai Stevenson the US Ambassador to the United Nations (1961-65), once commented about a man and his contribution: “It is not the years in a life that counts; it is the life in the years.” Ladies and Gentlemen, [name] lived. We will all miss him. Goodbye, [name].