5 HELPFUL TIPS TO WRITE AND DELIVER A HEARTFELT EULOGY
It's an unfortunate and haunting fact, but all living things will experience death. During the time after the death of someone, taking time to reflect and remember the positive contributions they have made to your own lives and the lives of others can be a hugely rewarding experience.
A deceased person's loved ones have the opportunity to mourn and celebrate their life at a funeral. This is also where they can write a eulogy to commemorate their beloved one. A eulogy is a speech that commemorates the deceased, and it can either be the deceased person's close relative or friend who'll write and deliver it. If you're that person, it can bring great responsibility because you want to do well for the deceased and their family, this is your chance to provide an impactful speech.
If you're given the honor of delivering a eulogy for the deceased, you should write a eulogy that's heartfelt and honest. We list some tips in this article to help you get started.
#1 - Keep It Brief
The number one tip for writing a eulogy is to keep it brief. When you're delivering the speech in memory of the deceased, you don't want it to be a prolonged act. Keep it concise to give the bereaved family time to include other tributes and readings. This can be done by providing a general outline of the life the deceased person led. At cremation services there is a limited amount of time to conduct the funeral service.
Additionally, you should stick to the main points you'd want to talk about. For example, if you're going to talk about the deceased person's family, what they did for a living, and their personality. Whatever it is, make sure that you address it briefly and to the point.
#2 - Make It Personal
Perhaps the most significant thing about delivering a eulogy is that you can talk about the deceased person however you like. It's not like a regular speech where you need to stick to the main points, but you can make the speech personal either way.
When you make the speech personal, you can talk about the deceased person's personality, beliefs, and other vital aspects of their life. You can also talk about the overall effect that the deceased had on you. This gives an emotional and personal touch to the speech and lets everyone understand who the deceased is and who they have lost. Where appropriate, include funny stories that may make the mourners smile, or even laugh. It’s important to reflect on the good times.
#3 - Put Things In a Positive Light
You mustn't go on and on about the deceased person's flaws and other negative aspects of their life. Instead, you should focus on the good. For example, if the deceased was a loving husband or wife, you can discuss how much they enjoyed the relationship. Furthermore, you can talk about how you'll miss the deceased and always remember what they did for you.
This is a time for the deceased's loved ones to remember them for the good things they did and not the wrong things. Additionally, this will allow the bereaved family to be grateful for what they had and remember that the deceased was a good person.
#4 - Use a Conversational Tone
The best eulogies are written in a conversational tone. It's not meant to sound like a formal speech, although it can be formal. It should sound like you were talking to the deceased and telling them how much you'll miss them.
You want to keep it intimate, and you want the bereaved family to feel your emotions. This will make the speech more powerful, and the family will feel more connected to the deceased.
#5 - Make a Written Copy
You don't want to stand at the lectern and then forget what you want to say. Thus, you need to write out a copy of the eulogy and read it aloud. Practice it at least a few times before you go on address the congregation and deliver it. This will let you know if there's anything that you can add or remove to make the eulogy better. It'll also let you make sure that you won't forget what you're going to say, and it'll help you deliver the speech without hesitation. Most importantly if it becomes too difficult to read the words during the funeral service then the minister or celebrant will be on hand to take over and offer support.
Conclusion
Eulogies are an essential part of anyone's life as they help us remember the person who has died. They're also a chance for us to come together and celebrate the lives that were lived. All in all, it's an excellent way to honour the deceased and not a moment that should be ignored.
If you’re looking for funeral homes in Sandhurst, Holmes Funerals is the one for you. We understand how precious your deceased loved ones are to you, so we’ll ensure that we’ll give them a send-off that they deserve. Reach out today and allow us to help you.
