Ethical wills, life review, and reminiscence are tools that have been used by psychiatry, palliative medicine, hospice, and faith communities to assist seniors in bringing focus to their lives, especially during their last years. Although each tool has its special function, the idea behind ethical wills is the transmission of wisdom, personal values, and family lessons from one generation to the next. Their origin traces back to biblical writings, and they have been used throughout history, especially by the Jewish community, to pass on treasured insights through time. Yet, what is the best method to transmit values from one generation to the next? Ethical wills can take many different formats such as writing letters, constructing a list of values, or even writing responses to a series of questions. This presentation argues the best way to construct ethical wills is by narrative. This view is supported by the work of Stanley Hauerwas, one of the most influential contemporary Christian ethicists. He argues that values are best understood and expressed within a narrative context. Ethical values independent of narrative context lack specificity and detail. Narrative conveys the purpose or meaning of a person’s life, and within the story one finds the fundamental values that a person holds. In narrative, values are apprehended as being authentic; truth is carried on the story’s shoulders. This presentation surveys the important differences between ethical wills, life review, and reminiscence in their current use. After looking at some current methods for generating ethical wills, it argues, vis-à-vis Hauerwas, for the priority of narrative in the conveyance of values from one generation to the next. It concludes with concrete suggestions about how to construct ethical wills based on narrative.