How to write a funeral tribute for the brochure (with examples)
Updated 6 October 2026
Quick answer
A good tribute is short (250 to 500 words for a brochure), personal and specific. Open by saying who you are to the deceased, share two or three real memories or qualities with an example of each, say what they taught you or what you'll miss, and close with a farewell such as "Rest well, Daddy" or "Damirifa due". Read it aloud before you send it to the secretary.
A simple structure
- Opening: who you are to them, and one line about who they were. ("Daddy, I still can't believe I'm writing this.")
- Two or three qualities, each with a small true story. "He was generous" means less than the time he paid a neighbour's child's school fees without telling anyone.
- What they taught you, or how they shaped your life.
- What you'll miss.
- A farewell: a prayer, a Bible verse, or a line in your own language.
Example: tribute to a father
Daddy, You were the first person I called with good news and the first I ran to with bad news. Now I don't know who to call. You taught us that hard work is a form of prayer. Every morning at five you were already in the shop, and every evening you still found time to check our homework by lantern light. You were generous in quiet ways. Only at your one-week did we learn how many school fees you had paid for children who were not your own. I will miss your laughter, your Sunday jollof, and the way you called me "Maame" even when I became a mother myself. Rest well, Daddy. Until we meet again. Your daughter, [Name]
Example: tribute to a mother
Maa, You carried this family on your head, like the trays of kenkey you sold at the station so that five children could go to school. You never had much, but no visitor ever left our house hungry. You prayed for each of us by name, every night, and I believe those prayers are why we are standing today. Thank you for your patience with me when I did not deserve it, and for the lesson I hear in your voice whenever I am tempted to give up: "Fa wo ho to Nyame so" — leave it to God. Damirifa due, Maa. Sleep well. Your son, [Name]
Tributes from different people
A brochure usually has a biography (written by the family, in the third person: born, schooled, worked, married, church, children) and then tributes in the first person, in this order: spouse, children, grandchildren, siblings, the church, then colleagues and associations. The secretary of the funeral committee collects them, so send yours early and keep to the length they ask for.
Writing in Twi, Ewe, Ga or another language is welcome. If the family is mixed, a short English translation under it helps everyone.
Share the brochure, not just the print
Family abroad and people who couldn't attend want to read the tributes too. With Memora you upload the finished brochure and share it by link or QR code, in WhatsApp groups and on the poster, so everyone can read it on their phone and you can print fewer copies.
Collect and record funeral contributions with Memora
One contribution link and QR code for everyone. Donors send MoMo and get an SMS receipt once you confirm it, cash at the table goes on the same list, and the report is ready for the family meeting.
Questions people ask
How long should a funeral tribute be?
For a brochure, 250 to 500 words is usual; the funeral secretary may set a limit. If it will be read aloud, aim for two to three minutes.
What is the difference between a tribute and a biography?
The biography is the family's factual life story of the deceased, written in the third person. A tribute is a personal message from one person or group, written to or about the deceased in the first person.
Can I write a tribute in Twi?
Yes. Tributes in Twi and other Ghanaian languages are common and often the most moving. Add a short English version if many readers don't speak the language.