- a short heartfelt tribute for an adored younger brother
Contributed by: Maxine Torres, San Franscisco, California, USA
When Maxine's much loved younger brother died, she found herself simultaneously grieving his loss and celebrating the qualities that made him truly awesome. He adored his family. He looked after people. He fed them, kept them company, mended their plumbing...Junior was a truly beautiful, precious man of God.
This is her eulogy for him. We hope it inspires and helps you to write about your own brother.
First and foremost, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your support and prayers for my family over the past two very difficult weeks. It means a lot to me and my family to know how much my brother has touched so many lives.
To sum up what Junior meant to me in a few short paragraphs is impossible. I am not even used to him being gone yet. I have been so overwhelmed with emotions.
Anyone who knew Junior, knew how much he loved his family. He worked hard to provide for them. He was such a selfless person. He was beautiful inside and out. I am so incredibly grateful and blessed to have shared this precious life on earth with him.
Junior was taken way too soon; however, I know he was greeted in Heaven by both my Mom and Dad. Life is a gift from God. I was extremely blessed to have had him as my baby brother for 51 precious years. Although, he had a short life, it was so very full and filled with love and laughter with so many amazing moments.
Junior was loved by everyone! He was such a warm person. He had such a good spirit and a huge heart! Although he was quiet, his presence was always known. He was such an easy person to get along with. My brother had so many amazing qualities which is what I will miss most! He fancied a very simple lifestyle. It did not take much to make him happy.
He had a passion for cooking and would seek new recipes on-line. He would even send me photos of his awesome baking! The other day Marilou even showed me packets of seasoning that Junior kept stored in a plastic container. He was always ready to cook a meal at a moment’s notice. That was my brother! He made sure everyone was comfortable and taken care of.
When we were younger, Junior was the sibling who was always asked to do chores, and he never complained. When we were teens, he used to always escort me to the shopping mall when I needed someone to accompany me. He was reliable and could be counted on.
Junior was my Dad's shadow. Believe it or not, he learned how to drive a car at age ten. Growing up, my Dad taught him how to do some plumbing and fix things around the house.
While I was reminiscing with Marilou, she mentioned that Junior would even volunteer to repair friend's homes in need of plumbing or maintenance. And of course, you know how that goes...word of mouth. Soon, circles of friends would call upon Junior to help out.
One thing for sure, is that my Dad instilled such great values and the importance of family in all of his children, and I believe Junior will also pass on his legacy.
Marilou: you were the love of his life. Joshua: you were his shining light and laughter. Joemar: he was so honored to call you his son. Benjamin was his first born and will always have a special place in his heart.
Joemar, please take good care of your Mom and Joshua while your Dad guides you from Heaven. Please always check in with Auntie Gail to make sure she's okay.
Marilou, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for loving my brother unconditionally and for being such a special part of his life. From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate all the sacrifices you made during his hospital stay and for being there for him endlessly.
I was very blessed to have been with Junior during his final days on earth. Thank you, Marilou, Joshua and Joemar, for being with me by his bedside, for sharing love and light as Junior peacefully departed. He was ready to go home to be with our Lord.
Thank you, Junior, for being there for Kelsey-Shanelle in time of need and for helping her move into her new condo. Thank you for helping her install her TV and inviting her over for those wonderful lunches and dinners that she would always share with me. Thank you for spending precious time with her. She is so very blessed to have known such an amazing Uncle!
Thank you for spending quality time with our sister Gail and for providing her with a ride to work whenever she needed one - for always being so dependable. Gail has such a heavy heart without you and is having such a difficult time coping with your loss. Her heart is aching!
That 100 watts smile - so contagious, and that laughter was so endearing.
Marilou shared some recent photos of Junior and what stood out were the ones with their grandson Jah-Jah. Those photos truly depict how happy Junior was.
I MISS him so! It's so painful to be on this journey of losing my brother. I wish he was still here! We went out to lunch the other day, and Junior was missing. I am reminded everywhere I am that he is missing and no longer here. I can never pick up the phone to call him again and hear his beautiful voice, or tell him I love him again.
My sister Gail will no longer be able to have her morning coffee with him. My daughter Kelsey-Shanelle will never be able to enjoy his amazing meals again. Life will never be the same without him! My heart is bleeding and broken! I wish I had spent more time with him and talked to him more often.
I am immensely grateful that the Lord allowed me to spend time with him during his final days and allowed me to say "good-bye". I will always LOVE him and am deeply blessed for our time on earth together.
Junior, may you go in peace and be with our Lord and with Mama and Daddy. Heaven now has a new Angel to look after us. You will FOREVER be in my heart and will always be my baby brother. I LOVE YOU!
Maxine's sincere and heartfelt eulogy for her younger brother Junior has been online for several years now. Over that time, it's been read by thousands of visitors looking for inspiration and a way to begin writing a eulogy for their own brother. Some of them have left comments.
If you'd like to add one of your own, please do so. I welcome conversation. Sharing and acknowledging each other's experiences makes a person feel a little less alone with the task they have to do. It's a simple gesture but a powerful one.
The link will take you to my 'About me' page where you'll find a contact form to use. Please let me know you are commenting on Maxine's eulogy for Junior. I promise I'll respond as promptly as I can and if you wish, I'll add what you have to say to the comments below.
Corinna says:
Beautiful. Thank you so much. I thought I was reading about my own brother who recently passed away.
Heen says:
Thanks so much for sharing.
Sarah-Jane says:
You have my sympathy. I am sorry for your loss of your brother. He was similar to mine who passed a week ago at 63.Your words were comforting and helped me to write a great tribute. Thank you!
Pedro says:
Thank you, and God bless you and your family. I lost my big brother this week at the age of 65 years. This speech is beautiful and has given me the strength to write for my family. Thank you.
Carol says:
God bless you and your family. I had to read your post. I lost my brother recently and his name was Junior too. Thanks for the inspirational words.
Peter Cowley says:
This is so true. Great thoughts.
Simon says:
Very inspirational heart-warming eulogy. I met and know your brother through your expressive words.
Lee says:
Excellent! What a truly moving eulogy. Thank you. It has given me the strength to write one for my brother whom I lost recently. I was in tears whilst reading it, because it so reminded me of my own younger brother. Many thanks.
Mary-Rose says:
Thank you. It was a beautiful speech. May Junior's soul rest in peace.
Marvin says:
God bless you and your family. This is beautiful. My little brother passed on Xmas Day. I am absolutely devastated as he was 37. His funeral is in one day and today I was asked by my family to speak. After reading your beautiful words I can now bring myself to write for my angel. Thank you so much.
Susan (who runs this website) says:
Many thanks Maxine for sharing your love of your brother with us. Now people from all over the world will read this and be helped. That's a very special gift.
Here's a collection of resources to help you craft a unique and meaningful eulogy for your brother.