Writing a Eulogy

What is a Eulogy?

A eulogy is a well-crafted speech intended to commemorate a loved one who has died. It is usually presented at a memorial service or funeral by someone who was close to the deceased and knows them well.

A eulogy may contain:

A condensed life history of the loved one
Details about family, friends, work/career, interests, and achievements
Favourite memories of the loved one
Favourite poems, songs, quotes or religious writings
The most touching and meaningful eulogies are written from the heart. A eulogy does not have be perfect. Whatever you write and deliver will be appreciated by the people in attendance.

A eulogy usually takes approximately one to several hours to prepare and five to 10 minutes to deliver.

How to write a Eulogy

What You Need:

Memories, stories and anecdotes
Poems, stories and/or religious writings
Paper and pen or a computer
Water for the delivery of the eulogy
A handkerchief or tissues – just in case

Start by realising the task at hand

Writing and delivering a eulogy is truly an honour. It is an opportunity for you to bring the deceased person back into the minds of those in attendance. Your words will paint a picture of the deceased through the memories, anecdotes and stories you tell. A eulogy allows the audience to remember the person – who they were, what they did and what they enjoyed about life.

Recall your own memories

Think about the deceased and the relationship you had with them. Where you met (if you’re not family), things you did together, humorous or touching memories, and what you will miss the most might be things you decide to share.

Gather information about the deceased

Talk with family members and close friends to gather important information about the departed. Even co-workers may have valuable things to share. Some important information to include in the eulogy:

Age/date of birth
Family and other close relationships
Education/work/career, hobbies or special interests
Places the person lived
Special accomplishments

Organise

You may want to organise your notes and drafts on a computer program, plain paper or note cards. Use whatever method is most comfortable to you. Some people prefer to prepare and deliver a serious eulogy, while others will want to keep the tone light. A mix of both elements, solemnity and humour is usually best. It allows the audience to grieve appropriately but to also share in the celebration of a life well lived. Create an outline of your speech and fill in the information you gathered about the person. Keep in mind how much time you will have to deliver your eulogy. It is best to err on the short side, especially if several people will be speaking.

Write

Write your speech in your own voice. That means to write it in the same way you would normally talk. Don’t get bogged down by the formalities of writing. Your audience will want to feel like you are talking to them, not reading from a script. Keep in mind the most important thing – write from your heart.

Review and revise

The first draft is usually not the last. Read through it and decide what to keep and what to toss out. You may want to read it to family or friends to get their feedback or read it into a recording device so you can listen to it yourself. When you think you are done, let it sit overnight. Review it again the next day when it will be fresh again. Make any necessary revisions.

Rehearse

Practice reading the eulogy several times to become familiar with it. You don’t have to memorise it unless you really want to. You will want to know it well enough that you won’t have to read it word for word but it is a good idea to have a written copy, or at least notes, that you can refer to.

Finalise a copy

As mentioned before, it is a good idea to have a copy of the speech printed out for reference. Again, use the method most comfortable to you whether it is a computer program, note cards or plain paper. A couple of useful tips – print in large text so it’s easy to refer to and number the pages so you don’t get them mixed up.

Deliver

Even if you are comfortable speaking to large groups of people, a eulogy can be a difficult speech to deliver. Try to remember that you are doing this to honour the memory of a loved one, not gain the approval of the audience. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and picture the deceased in your mind, then begin. Try to speak slowly and breathe throughout. It’s easy to hold your breath when you’re nervous. If you need to pause and take a deep breath, do it. Remember that just as you wrote from the heart, deliver from the heart.

Tips

Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
Have a glass or bottle of water handy, as well as a handkerchief or tissues.
Have a backup plan. If you cannot continue, have someone else on hand and prepared to deliver the speech for you. Give that person a copy of the eulogy beforehand, just in case
Remember that it’s okay to show emotion. If you become emotional and start to cry, that’s perfectly normal. Take time to regain your composure, but if you’re unable, defer to your back-up person.