The speech that a close family member or friend gives during the funeral is called a Eulogy. The responsibility of recounting the life experience of that person is on the one making the Eulogy. Even if you’re not good at talking, you’d be doing a disservice if you cannot create a good Eulogy for the deceased individual. You’re not aiming for perfection, but you want your Eulogy to be meaningful.
Being asked to write a Eulogy is difficult if you don’t know the first thing about giving a speech. There are also many Eulogy examples too. A Eulogy is more than just a simple speech, it’s a commemoration of the life of an individual. Here are some quick tips to writing a Eulogy.
1. The Big Picture
Everyone has a life story, and no life is uneventful. Mention turning points in a person’s life, like where he went to school and what made him want to pursue a career. Major turning points include traveling, migration, and going to other places. What’s important is that you see the big picture. If the person spent her life in town, mention the people that inspired him.
List the things the person holds dear. Ask around if you don’t know the details. It is not recommended to downplay anything, and you should gloss over any faults. Always keep in mind your objective.
You should aim to magnify the strong points and downplay the flaws.
2. Notes and Lists
Although your speech should flow and not be too robotic, you need notes. Transfer your notes into a cue card. Even if you think you’ve memorized your speech, you may forget something. When you’re standing on that podium, your mind will go blank for a while and your list might save you from embarrassment.
3. Time Your Speech
Time will not stop when you’re on stage. Practice your speech so that you know how long it is. The important thing is that you mention everything that you planned on saying.
Write out your speech and don’t worry too much about misspelling or mispronouncing something. Stick to what you planned and do minimal revisions.
