Tips for Writing a Eulogy or Funeral Speech

When a person dies, it is customary for a eulogy to be written and recited at their funeral. A eulogy is a written composition, which is meant to be delivered as a speech, that observes and pays tribute to the person who has passed away. Typically, eulogies are performed by family members or close friends of the deceased person. There are also incidents, however, when a eulogy is given to a person before they pass away. This type of eulogy, which is called a living eulogy, is most often delivered to people who are elderly or terminally ill. Living eulogies allow the person the chance to be able to listen to and appreciate all of the kind and loving words that their friends and family members have to express about them. Due to the heavy emotional content and the writer being in a state of mourning, eulogies are a very difficult type of composition to craft. If you find yourself faced with the challenge of composing a meaningful and well-crafted eulogy, then reading this article will be very useful to you as it provides helpful tips concerning eulogy composition and delivery.
1. Make an outline: Before sitting down to write the actual eulogy, you should spend a solid amount of time brainstorming and creating an outline. You should try and think of as many personal notes and memories as you can about the person who passed away. A good way to go about this is by looking through old photo albums and by talking with other people who also knew the person. These activities will not only help you craft a meaningful eulogy, but they will also be very cathartic during your time of grief. During the brainstorming process, you should try to answer questions about the deceased person like, “What made this person happiest in life?” and “What will be remembered the most about them?”
2. A eulogy is not a biography: This point is very important to keep in mind. A eulogy is supposed to express the writer’s personal thoughts and remembrances of the person who passed away. It is not intended to be a play by play of the deceased person’s life and accomplishments. Elements that a quality eulogy can incorporate include: personal stories, anecdotes, quotes, poetic materials, and song lyrics.
3. Keep it real: You do not have to be the greatest writer in order to compose an effective eulogy. The most important aspect of writing a good eulogy is keeping it genuine and heartfelt. Eulogies do not need to use flowery or lofty language. In fact, it is generally much more effective if you use a simple, more conversational writing style. This way, you will be able to more successfully convey what the deceased person meant to you.
4. Practice your speech: After you have written and edited your eulogy, practice reading it out loud several times so that you can make sure it flows smoothly and that you are comfortable with all of the words and phrases. It is a good idea to practice in front of a few friends or family members as well so that you can both get used to reading in front of a crowd and gain constructive feedback. Eulogies should be kept on the shorter side and shouldn’t last longer than 4-6 minutes, just be careful not to read too quickly.
While writing a eulogy can be a difficult and very emotional experience, hopefully this article has provided you with some helpful tips that can make the process an easier one.