How to Write the Perfect Eulogy

A eulogy is a speech given during a memorial service. The purpose is to highlight the beauty and wonder of the deceased’s life. Your grief will make it difficult to begin but you may find that writing about your loved one’s experiences provides an outlet for your grief. There’s nothing you can do to reverse death. Talking about your friend can be healing.  

A eulogy should be at least a couple minutes long. The sweet spot seems to be around three to five minutes. Any longer and you risk your audeience growing antsy. People can’t pay attention for that long. You want to fully express yourself but you also need to think about your listeners. The funeral experience is for every mourner.  

Practice reading your eulogy before the funeral. Public speaking engagements are daunting even if you’re feeling cheerful. Doing it when you’re feeling wretched is like an olympic feat. Practicing first will make the process easier.  

The best eulogies are full of vibrant stories of the deceased. If you need more ideas to flesh out your speech, speak to the rest of the deceased’s loved ones. You can use their stories to influence your story. It can help you give a complete picture of the deceased’s life.  

Take a few hours to yourself and start brainstorming ideas. Really think about what you want to say. You’re going to be representating your relationship with the deceased. Forget about all of the bad things that happened and focus on the good.  

The tone of your euology will depend on the manner of the deceased’s death. A eulogy for an elderly person who lived a long happy life can use humor and try to be a celebration of life. The eulogy for a young child who died painfully or unexpectedly. In the latter case, you should use a somber tone.