When my dad died, my mum wanted to express her love and say goodbye with a personal tribute. Despite having been a professional actress her whole life, she didn’t want to stand up at the funeral and deliver her eulogy. She felt the pressure would be too much and feared it might take her out of the moment, preventing her from simply listening to others share stories about his life. She also wanted to ensure her words were delivered exactly as she intended, in her own voice, and didn’t want them read aloud by a celebrant.

As a professional filmmaker, I suggested she write the eulogy and that I record it with her beforehand, so she didn’t have to speak on the day. We created a simple, professional-quality voice recording. On the day of the service, everyone at the crematorium heard her voice and her tribute with clarity. She was able to give my dad the send-off she wanted — nothing forgotten, no tears clouding her words, just a heartfelt goodbye exactly as she wished.

Some months later, my friend Simon’s mum passed away. Having heard my mums eulogy, he and his two sisters wanted to do something similar. They asked me to film videos on the beach where their family had spent summers in his mums beach hut, capturing a place that had been a spiritual home for them. At the wake, relatives came to me, telling me how beautiful the films were and asking if I could create similar tributes. That’s how Eulogy Films was born.

There are many businesses offering slideshow edits or recordings of funerals, but few help the bereaved tell their story directly, in their own voice, and in a way that truly reflects their feelings. I have a real passion for helping people, and this became a way to use my skills to support families in a deeply personal and meaningful way — starting a new chapter in my professional life.

Our Story

By Kent Mathews

Narissa Mathews

Audio Eulogy for Husband Tony.

Despite being a professional actress, my mum knew she wouldn’t be able to get through my dad’s eulogy if she had to stand and speak in front of family and friends. I suggested recording it in advance so it could be played during the service alongside the slideshow. While the other eulogies were delivered in person, hearing my mum’s voice fill the crematorium was deeply moving — intimate, calm, and full of love. Little did I know then that this moment would inspire me to create the same experience for others in years to come !

I just knew I couldn't get through delivering the eulogy speech at the funeral, but I also did not want a celebrant who never knew Tony to read it out, so when Kent suggested recording it in advance it just made sense. On the day of the funeral it was fantastic not to have that on my mind and still deliver my tribute in a personal way.

Narissa Mathews

★★★★★