Gary Michaels

I'm not just a professional eulogy writer; I'm also a Trekker, and I'm a True Believer. There. I've said it. I'm not ashamed of either of those two things. Basically, it boils down to the fact that I love Star Trek and I love Marvel. Sadly, one person who epitomised both of those fandoms passed away last week (at the time of writing). There's no denying that Sir Patrick Stewart was an incredible actor. He was probably best known as Charles Xavier (aka Professor X) in the X-Men movies and/or...

When I sit down with a family to discuss a eulogy, there's a question that comes up again and again, usually delivered in a slightly apologetic tone, as though it's somehow improper to ask. "Is it alright if we include a bit of humour? Would people think we weren't taking it seriously?" My answer is always the same: humour, used thoughtfully, is one of the most powerful tools available to a eulogy writer because writing a eulogy is rarely an easy task. I think that's because, when someone we...

As the colder nights start to pull in and it begins to get darker earlier, it's a time of year that's bittersweet for me. I actually love it being dark at 4 PM! Winter brings so much joy, from birthdays and Halloween to Christmas with the family. Yet, it’s also the time of year I lost my parents, and I miss them the most. One regret I still carry is from when I sat with my Mum during her end-of-life care in the hospital. I spent hours holding her hand, comforting her, as did the rest of my...