8 Powerful Eulogies Delivered by Women That Give Us Chills

A Wildflower Funeral Concepts Blog Post

When a woman stands to speak about loss, something profound happens. Her voice may tremble, but her words often reach deep into the marrow of our own grief. Over the years, we’ve heard eulogies from women that have not only honored lives lost but have inspired the living to be braver, kinder, and more present.

Here are eight unforgettable examples of female eulogies — moments when love, memory, and courage filled the room, leaving everyone forever changed.

1. Oprah Winfrey for Rosa Parks (2005)

In 2005, Oprah Winfrey stood before a nation to honor Rosa Parks, the woman whose quiet act of defiance on a bus ignited the Civil Rights Movement. Oprah’s words were deeply personal, connecting Rosa’s bravery to her own life’s trajectory.

“That day that you refused to give up your seat on the bus, you, Sister Rosa, changed the trajectory of my life and the lives of so many other people in the world… In that moment… you reclaimed your humanity and you gave us all back a piece of our own.”

It was not just a eulogy — it was a thank-you note from one generation to another, a recognition that courage can ripple through time and change the lives of people we will never meet.

2. Gloria Steinem for Dorothy Pitman Hughes (2022)

Activist and feminist icon Gloria Steinem delivered a loving, tender tribute to her lifelong friend and collaborator, Dorothy Pitman Hughes on Ms. Magazine. She spoke about Dorothy’s life not just in terms of activism, but in the everyday acts of compassion that made her extraordinary.

Steinem recalled a moment when Hughes helped a young boy see his own worth:

“Look at that hand — that is a unique hand in all the world. … As she praised each part of his small body, his face began to brighten.”

Her eulogy reminded everyone present that the fight for equality isn’t only fought on stages or in headlines — it’s lived out in small, human moments of connection.

3. Melissa Etheridge for Her Son Beckett (2020)

When musician Melissa Etheridge lost her 21-year-old son Beckett to opioid addiction, she didn’t give a formal eulogy, but instead shared her grief publicly, refusing to let stigma overshadow love. Speaking in interviews and memorials, she told the world about his creativity, his humor, and his struggles — not to sensationalize, but to humanize.

Her eulogy was raw: a mother’s heartbreak, paired with an unflinching acknowledgment of the addiction crisis and its toll on families. “My heart is broken,” she said, “but I will sing again. I will keep loving. That’s what Beckett taught me.” Following Beckett's death, Etheridge established the Etheridge Foundation to support research into treatments for opioid use disorder. Through her advocacy, she aims to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction.

4. Maya Angelou for Coretta Scott King (2006)

Poet and activist Maya Angelou honored her friend Coretta Scott King with a eulogy that felt almost like a hymn. In interviews Angelou described Coretta as someone who wore “hope like a crown”. In her eulogy she spoke of her “chosen sister” Coretta’s dignity, humor, and quiet strength.

Angelou reminded mourners that Coretta’s legacy was not simply in her marriage to Martin Luther King Jr., but in her own lifetime of activism and her unwavering dedication to peace and justice.

5. Roberta Kaplan for Edie Windsor (2017)

Lawyer Roberta Kaplan, who successfully argued before the Supreme Court of the United States on behalf of LGBT rights activist Edith Windsor, in United States v. Windsor, gave Windsor a moving eulogy that framed Edie's case as a profound love story between Edie and her wife, Thea, where Edie's courage and fight for equality were a direct tribute to their relationship. She praised Edie as a passionate, devoted, brilliant, articulate, and beautiful woman who was fearless in her pursuit of equality. 

6. Jane Fonda for Tom Hayden (2016)

Though divorced for decades, Jane Fonda wrote a warm tribute for her ex-husband, activist Tom Hayden. She spoke of their shared causes, their complex relationship, and her admiration for his lifelong commitment to peace.

Her words were proof that love can remain long after romance fades, and that honoring someone’s impact can transcend personal history.

7. Tina Fey for Carrie Fisher (2016)

Following Carrie Fisher's death in 2016, comedian Tina Fey released a heartfelt statement honoring the late actress. Fey spoke to Fisher's dual legacy as both a pop culture icon and a sharp writer. She famously said, "Like many women my age, Princess Leia occupies about sixty percent of my brain at any given time".

Fey also celebrated Fisher's candor, adding, "But Carrie's honest writing and her razor-sharp wit were an even greater gift". 

8. Hillary Clinton for Madeleine Albright (2022)

At the funeral of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton spoke of her friend’s wit, wisdom, and unstoppable determination to make the world safer for women and girls. She shared stories of Albright’s courage in standing up to dictators and her irrepressible humor in lighter moments.

“She knew the difference between having a job and having a purpose,” Clinton said.

The eulogy struck a chord — honoring a trailblazer while urging the living to keep pushing forward.

Why These Eulogies Matter

Each of these tributes shows us that a eulogy is not just a goodbye. It’s a bridge between the life that was lived and the lives that will go on. It can heal, inspire, and ensure that even in death, a person’s spirit continues to make an impact.

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