Tribute to a late uncle: Sad and touching farewell messages

Many people have a soft spot for their uncles because they are always so good and caring. An uncle seldom scorns you no matter how bad you mess up. On the contrary, they lend their ears when you need them to listen to you and always give you the best advice. That's why it is a big blow for anyone to lose an uncle because that person would have lost not only an uncle but also a friend, role model, and advisor. In such a situation, the best thing you can do is to write the best tribute to a late uncle and celebrate the special moments you had together. Grace Kariuki, a marriage and family therapist, shared insights on writing such a tribute in an interview with TUKO.co.ke.

Writing a farewell message to an uncle who passed away is not an easy thing to do. You may have a lot to say but lack the words to express your feelings. However, since you want him to have the best send-off, you have no choice but to craft a beautiful passage worthy of the legacy he built. It does not matter whether it is one sentence, paragraph, or even a poem, but it must be from the heart.

Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, Grace Kariuki, a marriage and family therapist, explained that a tribute is an opportunity to be vulnerable and express your feelings about the loss of a loved one. Kariuki advised on using a sincere tone by speaking from the heart. She said:

It is an opportunity to be vulnerable about the gap they have left and what the deep loss you are experiencing is like. You also want to use first person to address the departed loved one as if they were present. This is quite powerful and endearing and creates a sense of connection and closeness.

Use a sincere and heartfelt tone while writing your tribute. This means that you endeavor to speak from the heart and avoid clichés or overly formal language. Be authentic by letting your words come from your heart rather than your mind.

Tribute to a late uncle

No words can be enough to describe a beloved uncle who passed away. The thought that you will never see him again will weigh heavily on your heart, but life must go on. The only thing you can do is to show your respect with moving tributes such as:

• No words can describe the loss I feel for my uncle's death. My heartfelt condolences go to the entire family.
• Uncle, you are gone, but you will never be forgotten. We may be apart, but your memory will live within me forever.
• I am only left with your memories to live with now. No words can express my grief. I pray that God will bring peace and solace to your family. Rest in peace, uncle.
• He passed away because his body had served its purpose. His soul had achieved what he came to do, learned what it came to learn, so he left a contented man.

• You are dearly missed, uncle. Those beautiful moments you shared with us will remind us of the great man you were. Rest in eternal peace.
• A million words cannot bring you back, I know because I have tried; neither can a million tears; I say this because I have cried.
• You have left your footprints with glory on the sand of time. Your name will be remembered for a long time, and your story will be told for generations.
• Your death is the longest parting there ever will be between us. But I won't shed tears because you have gone to a better place and I am sure we will meet again.
• You may no longer be here with us, but I will never forget you as a winner who lived life to the fullest. May your soul rest in peace.
• I will remember you even when I have forgotten all the rest. You were always true to me and my favourite. Missing you each second of my life.

According to Kariuki, heartfelt tributes ease the pain of the bereaved by making them feel connected to others.

There is a phenomenon I call shared grief. When we cry together and laugh together during this period of loss, it lessens the burden of the bereaved family. They feel connected with others.

Rest in peace tributes to an uncle who died

You may not know what to say at your uncle's funeral, especially if you were not close. However, there is no need to worry because you can still deliver a touching farewell message. You can achieve this with messages like:

• Rest in peace, uncle. You truly were a wonderful soul, and I pray that God will reward you in heaven.
• The price to pay for having a great uncle is too high. You experience the wonder, the joy, the tender moments – and at the end, tears come. Rest in peace, uncle.
• Death is something inevitable. If a man has achieved what he considers his duty to this world, he can rest in peace. I believe my uncle made that effort and has earned his eternal sleep.
• I have never cried this much before. You have left me with beautiful memories that will always stick in my heart. Rest in peace, uncle.

• I know not how to console my grieving heart at your departure. This mourning is not the best way to bid you goodbye, but I can't control myself. Rest in peace, uncle.
• You have only rested temporarily as you wait to rise and receive your allotted inheritance. Rest in eternal peace, uncle.
• When he passed on, all things soft, beautiful, and bright left with him. So it is hard to say R.I.P to my favourite uncle.
• Death isn't extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamb because the dawn has come. So rest with the angles, uncle.
• You have taught me to embrace death because life cannot exist without it. R.I.P uncle.
• What is lovely cannot die, but it passes into other loveliness. Rest in peace.

R.I.P quotes for dead uncle

You can explore many topics regarding what to write when your uncle dies. R.I.P quotes acknowledge that he is in a better place and is probably watching over you from above. The best R.I.P quotes for a dead uncle include:

• Death cannot be a person's end if he can live on in those who have been left behind because our bodies are only wilted leaves on the tree of life. R.I.P uncle.
• We can't lose the people we love, not even to death. They continue to influence our everyday decisions, and their love leaves an indelible ink in our memories. It is an honour for our lives to be enriched by such souls. R.I.P uncle.
• Losing someone you are so close to is something that alters your life forever. Rest in peace, dear uncle.
• Life is pleasant, and death is peaceful. It is the transition that tends to be troublesome. Rest in peace, uncle.

• I don't know where or when but I know we will meet again. So rest in peace till we meet again, uncle.
• My uncle had a great soul that served anyone and everyone at all times. Such a soul never dies. On the contrary, it brings people together even after the person dies. R.I.P.
• There will never be goodbyes for us. Wherever you are, you will forever be in my heart. R.I.P. uncle.
• Goodbyes only exist for people who love with their eyes. There is no separation for those who love with their heart and soul R.I.P till we meet again, uncle.
• Two of the hardest things to say in life are hello for the first time and goodbye for the last. May you R.I.P, uncle.
• Only those who lived uprightly can enter into peace; they are sure to find rest as they lie in death. R.I.P dear uncle.

Frequently asked questions

1. What do you write when an uncle has passed away? A touching tribute to celebrate his life or a statement on the gap left behind.
2. How do you write a memorable tribute? First, you write a relevant thing about the person who died, which can also be something that matters to you.
3. How do you eulogize your uncle? By selecting the best memories, you shared with him.
4. How do you end a funeral tribute? Keep it simple with a goodbye or a thank you for your time together.
5. What should you not say in a eulogy? Don't focus on the cause of death, grudges, bad memories, and shortcomings.
6. How long should a funeral tribute be? It can be anywhere between 3 to 5 minutes.
7. How do you talk at a funeral without crying? Prepare in advance, don't rush through it, and don't worry about getting emotional.

What to avoid

The family therapist who spoke to TUKO.co.ke advised against making the tribute too long or too short. At the same time, she advised against being too formal or too informal. Kariuki explained:

The balance here might be something like "Grace had such a passion for learning" in place of a chronology of Grace's academic achievements. Share how the bereaved's achievements and career aspirations impacted you. Share what they did to mentor you or encourage you to become what you are. These kinds of personal experiences connect with audience and offer much solace to the family.

She also discouraged people from being overly negative about their experiences with the deceased and focusing too much on the loss. Kariuki said:

Find a balance between the experience of the loss and the celebration of how they lived. I normally say mourning is remembering how they died and it is alright. We also need in our tribute to express our experience of how they lived. Sharing both in the tribute can bring much comfort to the family.

If one must express the negative about how they lived, use compassionate language and express empathy and kindness as you talk about their life challenges. It connects better with the audience and the family.

An unstructured tribute can leave the audience and family confused. Try to identify the message you desire the audience to take with them. Try an introduction (how you know the departed), then personal stories (how you experienced them), and conclude with a heartfelt message of loss (what you will miss about them), hope (what you will remember them for/how they impacted you positively), and promise of support to the bereaved.

A good tribute to a late uncle describes your relationship with him when he was alive. It can be about his character, something good he did, what he dislikes, or even a memory you shared. If you are writing the eulogy for an uncle who has passed, you should focus on the positive aspects of his life and how he impacted others.

Tuko.co.ke published an article on what to say to someone with a sick family. The grief of having a sick family member is depressing. If you know someone who has a loved one struggling with illness, it is a good idea to give them words of encouragement and bring some positivity to their lives.

It is best to encourage them when in a challenging situation while using comforting words as an overwhelming emotional burden is on them.

Source: TUKO.co.ke