Tributes Obituaries and Eulogies
Tributes, Obituaries and Eulogies
If you search on Google for the phrase 'Pay Tribute' you will find millions of results.
…Tributes to Amy Winehouse poured in from fellow celebrities in statements and posts on Twitter…
…Friends and family of the victims paid tribute to their loved ones on Facebook…
…Tributes pour in for Chirac, a 'great statesman' who loved Europe
and typically, these tributes are for people who have died recently. So the broadest use of the term tribute is for a memorial tribute - also known as a eulogy.
A memorial tribute is typically read at a funeral and often published online so that those who could not attend in person, or who would like to add their comments later, can read the tribute and respond if they wish.
An obituary tends to be shorter and more factual, and was traditionally published in a local newspaper so that friends of the deceased who had not received the news would be informed via the obituary. The typical form of an obituary is:
John Bryan Smith
November 14, 1923 – January 13, 2020
John B. Smith loving husband of Jane Smith and father of Ann, Bobby and Clint, passed away on January 13, 2020 in Chicago, IL after a short illness.
He is survived by his daughter Ann, and sons Bobby and Clint.
Memorial services will be performed at West Paths Cemetery on January 17 2020 at 3:00 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made in John's name to The Tribute Charity
A memorial tribute is typically longer, more personal, and if published online (or if good audio visual equipment is available at the memorial service) can contain many images and even video clips. Adding pictures helps to really capture and share the wonderful memories that we have of our loved ones.
The word Eulogy comes from the Greek words for 'true' and 'text', so a eulogy is basically true words spoken about someone (after their passing). While an obituary is factual, a memorial tribute or eulogy is an opportunity to highlight some memorable times in a person's life, and to remember them in a positive, uplifting way.