Eulogies by Aubrey has been featured in HuffPost! Check out the article below (you'll especially enjoy it if you are a fan of HBO's "Succession"...)

How to Write a Good Eulogy for a Funeral

Thank you to reporter Caroline Bologna for this awesome opportunity : )

-Aubrey

It's a fact of life that our pets pass away. Almost all of us have unforgettable memories of that special dog or cat or pony or fish-in-particular, that still resides in our childhoods, even if not in our current lives.

I have been blessed with several fur friends and babies throughout my life. My family had several cats and dogs and fish throughout my childhood and teenage years. Even a couple horses and a potbelly pig at one point! But there are those few that really stand out in my memories, and made an indention, if you will, on my young heart:

-There was Kimberly, my first pet goldfish, whom I named after the Pink Ranger
-There was Tuff, my first puppy, an Australian Shepherd that I got on my 7th birthday
-There was Alexandria, my bunny, who lived in my room first, and then outside
-There was Spongebob, my beautiful oranda goldfish, who lived a very long time for an oranda goldfish
-There was Gracie Lou, who came into my life at age 12
(-And there is Sue Ellen, our sweet and cuddly family cat we have now! She was my granddad's first.)
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Then, of course, there was all their inevitable ends:
-I'm not sure what happened to goldfish Kimberly, I think my Mom told me she went to live at the vet's one day. (As far as I know, she is still there!)
-Tuff was sadly run over by a neighbor's truck (his hobby was chasing moving tire wheels).
-Alexandria was adopted into a family that had more bunnies to keep her better company.
-Spongebob lived a long and happy life. I cleaned his tank one day, and the next day, he was afloat.
-Gracie Lou was with me for 19 years. You can read her story here.
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My black and white angel Gracie...in particular, I don't think I will ever get over her loss. It often doesn't seem like she is really gone. I can still hear her uniquely loud purr, and her super girly, high-pitched meow.
When we moved to our new home last year, we had to leave her behind in our old backyard, where she was buried. I talked to my sister Cassie about my feelings surrounding the fact that we'd have to leave her there...
And then Cassie came up with an amazing idea. Sort of like an urn, she suggested getting a container and filling it with dirt from her grave. So that's just what I did. I bought a clear glass container with a latch lid at Wal-Mart, gently grazed some dirt from the top of her grave before we moved (and also added in some flower petals from the vine growing above her). This precious dirt came with us to our new home. I added a label to the side of the glass, and set it next to her picture:

I know many people live in apartments or rent homes and do not have the luxury of doing what I got to. But if you are ever in the situation in which you must leave a piece of your heart behind, like I did, I hope you find comfort in remembering my sister's wonderful idea. Having that dirt, as simple and lowly as it is, has brought me so much comfort.

Have you experienced the loss of a pet? How did you memorialize them?

-Aubrey

 I will never forget the first time LMP captured my attention. I was a teenager (it was probably around 2004ish). We had received a magazine in the mail advertising rock memorabilia, Elvis included. I had been a fan of Elvis growing up; my family listened to his music through the years (not to mention I had a Granny who loved him more than any of us!) I had heard of his daughter Lisa Marie, but she had never really been more than a passing thought, if I'm being honest.

Inside this memorabilia magazine, in between the pages trying to get you to mail-order a "golden" record of an album from the good ol' days, or a life-size photo blanket of your favorite music icon, long passed away, was an small insert. On this insert was a black-and-white photo of one of the most beautiful - if not the most beautiful! - women I have ever seen. I will never forget it; it was a photo of LMP, looking sideways at the camera, with the words, "Lisa Marie Presley/To Whom It May Concern."

While I cannot add the image to my blog, you can search "Lisa Marie Presley To Whom It May Concern" and find the exact photo I am talking about. Still gives me shivers!

In reality, the insert I had seen was nothing more than an advertisement for Lisa's new album, her debut album, which showcased her own songs sung with her own smoky voice, in a distinct way that finally separated her, so to speak, from her very famous father, Elvis Presley. Her style was different and she moved differently, but even so, in her eyes and in the curl of her lip when she sang, you could see how she favored her dad in many ways. Over the years, she sang a few moving "duets" with Elvis...see one of my favorites below.

When Elvis tragically passed away in 1977, Lisa was only 9 years old, and she found herself suddenly thrust into the world's spotlight, with the burden of Elvis's legacy, including his estate at Graceland, on her young shoulders. As a teenager, she turned to drugs, and even as an adult, she struggled. She was married several times in her life, most notably to pop superstar Michael Jackson, and was the mother of four children. In 2020, her son Benjamin took his life, and her heart was shattered. He was buried at Graceland, where Elvis and other members of the Presley family are interred. And when Lisa Marie died on January 12th of this year, she was buried next to her beloved son.

LMP had so much left to give to the music world and to her fans. But I think she knew deep down, especially after her son died, that her time was not far away. I will always remember her, her stunning voice, and her beautiful soul.

--Aubrey

To my valued clients,

Good news! I have gotten a few inquiries lately concerning obituaries, as well as general reviews+edits for a eulogy that has already been written. The main questions being: does Eulogies by Aubrey also offer obituary writing services? Are you able to review or provide edits to a eulogy that has already been written? If so, what are the fees?

First, the answer to these questions is a confident YES. Please see below for a bit more explanation concerning the fees.

I have updated my FAQ page to reflect this, but here is the basic run-down:

• For a standalone written obit, the fee is $80.
• For a general review/edit of a eulogy already written, the fee is $195.
• As always, upon request, I offer a complimentary obituary for each eulogy order.
• I am only able to provide the written side of an obit service. Contacting the desired newspaper or website is not included with this service.

For the sake of comparison, my standard fee for a complete written eulogy order remains at $265.

I hope this clears things up a little bit : ) Please let me know if I can explain things further, or be of further assistance.

--Aubrey

 Christmastime is upon us once again. No matter who you are or how you celebrate, everywhere we look, we are faced head-on with all things merry and bright. The month-long noise of jingle bells, shopping, parties, kids, school, work, family, friends, etc. are poured onto plates that are most likely already overfilled. When grief is added to the mix, the holidays become even more of a complex maze to find our way through. Christmas can feel more like a deadline than a happy, joyful event. Anxiety can loom overhead like a dull, gray cloud, covering any rays of light that you are desperately hoping to glimpse.

This holiday season, know that you are not alone. It sounds cliche, and maybe it is, but it is also true. Grief is heavy, and many of us have to carry it alone. Individually, on our own beautiful grief journeys, alone but together nonetheless.

Here is a mental exercise you can do, that I pray helps you find your ray of light.

When I had my second baby, my postpartum season was especially difficult. I often felt alone in my thoughts and struggles. One say, I saw a post that helped me feel just a little better. It was an illustration someone had made showing a new mom through a window. It was the middle of the night, and she was awake with her sleepless baby, walking around the nursery and trying her best to lull the crying baby back to sleep. I immediately felt for this painted mother, with the exhausted look on her face, as I was exhausted as well...but then something amazing happened. Something simple, yet so amazing, and something that I have always kept close in mind.

The illustration panned out slowly, pulling back from that nursery window to show the wider street, to show the neighborhood, to show the city, to show the continent, to show the world. Mothers and fathers in windows everywhere started popping up suddenly, throughout the night, in their own nursery windows. With sleepless babes, struggling individually, but somehow still going through it together. Somehow closer together than any of them imagined. It gave me a sense of peace, knowing that another mom somewhere (and probably not too far away at all) was also awake in that moment with me, exhausted too, and also struggling to cope with it all.

This holiday season, no matter what struggles you are going through, when it just becomes too much...try this exercise. Close your eyes and picture yourself looking out your own window, surrounded by the colors of your own thoughts and memories. Then slowly pan your vision out away from your window, and scan it down the street. Slowly scan it throughout your town, throughout your region, your country. Scan it across the whole earth. Peer into the windows you pass. See all the others just like you, looking out their windows, surrounded by the colors of their own thoughts and memories. And send them a loving thought, a similar vibe, a prayer of love and understanding, whichever you prefer...and imagine them doing the same for you.

I am certainly sending prayers and warm thoughts to you and yours this holiday season. To all my clients past, present, and future, and to anyone struggling this year, I see you. And you are not alone. May you find peace in the chaos this Christmas season, and may your New Year be filled with renewed hope.

--Aubrey

-Aubrey

-Aubrey

The myriad of emotions that accompany the loss of a loved one are not lost on me. So much time and energy-draining work goes into planning a funeral or memorial service.

When you are tasked with giving the all-important eulogy while yet mourning your loss, on top of everything else, reliving memories and searching for the right words to say may be the last thing you want to do.
The nature of grief is a strange thing, and when it is all said and done, you may be shocked at just how utterly exhausted you are. And yet, you still want to do right by your loved one and family, and deliver the very best eulogy you can.

That is why I started Eulogies by Aubrey. I have discovered that my passion and expertise is ultimately in serving others within funeral service, and specifically through the written word.

Contact me today to learn more about how I may help you, or click here to begin your custom eulogy order.

-Aubrey

How much do you charge for a eulogy?
 
I charge a one-time fee of $265 for an approximately 1000(plus)- word eulogy. Any revisions you require, within reason, are included in this charge.
 
How do I pay and when?
 
I am able to accept all major cards as well as PayPal. I do request payment before I begin work on your eulogy, simply to protect against those few who would take advantage of the reverse process.
 
How long will it take for me to speak my eulogy?
 
Depending on how much information you provide, your finished eulogy will usually contain 1000+ words and should generally take between six and eight minutes to deliver. If you would prefer a longer or shorter eulogy, please let me know.

How long will it take for you to finish my eulogy? Do you take rush orders?
 
I will work to complete your order and have it sent back to you within 48 hours. I cannot always accommodate rush orders, but if you need it sooner or within a certain time frame, please still let me know, and I'll see what I can do.
 
How will you get my completed eulogy to me?
 
I will send your eulogy to the email address that you provide me on the order form (please ensure that your email address is spelled correctly/does not block my emails via firewall, etc). I will send it as a message and also as an attachment so that you may print/utilize it at your convenience. If you do not receive your eulogy within 48 hours, please check your spam folder. It will be sent from eulogiesbyaubrey@gmail.com.

 Can I see one of your writing samples?
 
Yes. Click here to be taken to my Eulogy Examples page.

I've already written out parts of my eulogy, but need help putting it all together and making it sound good. Can you help with that?

Absolutely! Many of my clients already have all of their thoughts on paper and simply need me to make it "speech" worthy. If this is you, email me what you have, and I'll take it from there.

My loved one has not yet passed away, but it is imminent. I'm thinking of going ahead and starting the brainstorming process for their eulogy. Can you help?

Yes. It's actually a fairly common - and even smart, I would say - move to try and get your thoughts down (things that you would like represented in your eulogy) ahead of your loved one's passing. Just let me know if this is your situation, and I am more than willing to assist you every step of the way.

Do you also offer obituary writing services?

Upon request, I offer a complimentary obituary for each eulogy order.

I have dyslexia or another disability that makes it difficult to read. Can you accommodate for my eulogy?

Absolutely. Simple fonts, larger text size, extra spacing, and/or changing the layout of your eulogy can all help to make it easier for you to read. I will work with you until we get it just right for you.

I have suffered the loss of a child. Are you still able to help?

Yes. Please note that the form on my Order page is generally for adult loss. If you have suffered miscarriage, infant or child loss, please let me know in a message here. I have a special eulogy order form for you that I will send to you.

I recently lost my pet and plan to hold a service in their memory. Would you be willing to write a eulogy for them?
 
I would be honored. Our pets are our family and losing any one of them would be the same as losing a family member. Let me know in a message here, and I will send you a separate order form.

At this time I cannot bring myself to fill out the eulogy order form. Can you still help?
 
I understand that there are times when grief knows no words. There is an art to writing quality work with little information, and I'm confident in my ability to do so. Fill out what you can of the order form, submit it, and I will let you know if any additional information is needed.

It would be easier for me to speak with you over the phone. Do you take phone consultations?

Eulogies by Aubrey operates entirely online; we do not take phone calls. Any inquiries or concerns can be sent in a message here or to my email address, eulogiesbyaubrey@gmail.com.

I have sent you a contact form and/or submitted my eulogy order and provided payment, but have not heard back from you. What's going on?

Please double-check your Spam folder. Or, rarely, it could be that you have provided an unavailable email address. When sending me a contact form or placing your order, please ensure that the email address you enter in your form is spelled correctly, is not protected by a firewall or proxy that would block any incoming emails from me, etc. In the case that any emails I send to you come back to me as "Undeliverable," I can bear no further responsibility.

If we receive a payment from you, but do not receive your order form, we will do what we can to contact you. If we are unable to contact you, we can bear no further responsibility, and a full refund will be issued.

I am concerned about my privacy and would rather not send my information through your online order form. Is there an alternative?

Eulogies by Aubrey utilizes BoomForm, a secure application powered by the company BoomTech. We subscribe to this service specifically to ensure that any information our clients submit to us is secured and protected through encryption. If you are more comfortable, we are more than happy to email you the order form questions, just let us know.

I am not able to pay your fee right now, but I still need help with a eulogy. What can I do?

I am very aware that not everyone has the means to hire a professional writer to assist them with their eulogy, or even family or friends who are able to help. But I believe that every loved one who has passed on deserves a quality eulogy. So I offer anyone who needs it a free eulogy template. Click here for more information.
 
I see a typo in my returned eulogy draft, and I'm not happy about it. What's the next step?

While I strive to provide perfect eulogies for all of my clients, I am still human. If you have read through your returned draft and have found an error, please let me know right away, and I will be more than happy to correct it for you.

If excessive edits or changes to your eulogy are requested, to protect my time, I may require an extra charge at my discretion.

Can I request a refund?
 
I cannot provide a refund for a completed eulogy. However, if you have just paid and have decided not to use Eulogies by Aubrey, and in the case I have not already begun extensive work on your order, I would be happy to provide you with a full refund, no questions asked.

What are your hours of operation?
 
You may place your eulogy order 24/7/365*. For weekend orders and emails, for those submitted after 5pm Central, or for those submitted on holidays, please expect a response from me no later than the very next business day.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you have.

-Aubrey