Writing a Eulogy

Preparing a well-written eulogy is crucial to honoring those who have recently passed. The words you speak will likely leave a permanent impression on funeral attendees. Afterwards, they may forever associate your speech with the deceased individual. It is therefore necessary that you take time to prepare a very meaningful, sincere, and passionate eulogy. Below are some tips to help you with the process:

Selecting A Theme

Consider those aspects of the deceased's life or character that people would cherish and reminisce on the most. For instance, my friend's father grew up in a very poor division of Delphi, India. Despite the many obstacles in his path, he still managed to earn a PhD in Economics. He then traveled to the United States, married, and gave birth to my friend. As my friend grew up, his Mother and Father encouraged him to study hard so that he could be successful one day too. To honor his father, my friend chose to write about how his father overcame poverty and then instilled the ethics of hard work to his children.

On the other hand, my other friend's Mother was the heir of a very successful and throbbing corporate empire. But instead of focusing her life on materialism and the accumulation of wealth, his Mother chose to build homes for the poor, help people get jobs, and serve as a community organizer. During her funeral, he spoke about her desire to help others achieve success and happiness.

My point is to take a really hard look at those aspects that really defined the deceased's character. What did they care for in life? Were they loving? Did they work out? Did they go out of their way for other people?

Focus On Accomplishments

To really delve into your theme, you may need to know certain dates and places. Don't be afraid to make calls and dig into the deceased's life. If people seem uncomfortable or nervous about offering details, just explain that you are trying to honor the deceased's life by explaining his or her accomplishments.

At the same time, don't overdue it. Nobody wants to hear a long, tedious autobiography full of dates and places. Your goal is to assemble the most relevant information into a clear, precise, and meaningful speech.

Preparing A Final Draft

Once your first draft is complete, recruit some friends and family to critique it. Make sure at least one non-related individual reviews it as well. You need to observe how a third-party reacts to your eulogy. They may notice inconsistencies that you missed over.

Afterwards, PRACTICE your eulogy. With practice, your performance will get better and you may notice portions of the eulogy that need reorganized. Furthermore, some people discover through performing that they are unable to complete the eulogy without becoming emotional. In such a case, it may be necessary to ask somebody else to perform the eulogy.

All in all, your meaningful needs to be sincere, meaningful, and relevant to the deceased individual. Most importantly, focus on the positive aspects of the deceased's life. This is not the time to contemplate over their faults and mistakes. It is a time to honor the passing of somebody unique and special.