How to Write a Eulogy in Four Easy Steps
Details
Before writing a eulogy, gather notes about what you want to include in order to make a rough draft. Do you want to talk about where the deceased was born and lived? What they did for a living? Who their family and friends are? No matter what you include, make sure to check and double check the facts, spelling, and details. Nothing is more embarrassing than being asked to give a speech about a deceased person's life and then making it appear as though you barely knew them at all.
Familiarity
It is important when writing a eulogy that you share familiar anecdotes about the deceased -not just ones that the two of you shared, but ones with which most of the attendees will be familiar. If the deceased was known for their charity work, sense of humor, kindness, or work ethic, emphasize it. A eulogy is a celebration of a person's life, delivered by a loved one. If you have been asked to deliver a eulogy, it is your responsibility to celebrate your friend or family member's life. Don't keep it staid and impersonal.
Humor
A funeral does not always have to be a sad time -and depending on the personality of the deceased, they may not have wanted it to be as such. Don't be afraid to share humorous anecdotes about the deceased that you or others remember. Don't make it a stand-up comedy routine, but you don't have to have everyone in attendance crying buckets to be effective. A mix between humor and solemnity is generally best.
Don't Proselytize
I understand that many churches like to emphasize themselves at a funeral, but I personally find it in very poor taste for a eulogy to be made into a recruiting tool for a church instead of a tribute to a loved one. There is a difference between emphasizing the deceased's religious beliefs and sharing a few hymns and barely mentioning the deceased at all. When writing a eulogy, if you find that you've barely mentioned the deceased person at all, it's time for a re-write.
Published by Taren Eastep
I live in Tennessee where I attend a small college and am a history major. View profile
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