A eulogy is a great piece of writing used to entertain people about a person’s life, to acknowlege people who have passed away and to remember them in a special way. Eulogies are usually read at funerals. Eulogies provide information about the deceased person including personal quotes and stories, but most of all with the love that the reader had and always will have for that person.
Get Facts and Information
Marriage dates, places lived, children, and so on. Now think about the stories you remember, or the turn of phrase or typical behavior that captures your loved one’s character so well. Talk with other survivors, so the picture you present will include their ideas as well.
Come up with a theme
A theme gives unity to the eulogy, helping your listeners to see the rich patterns of this life. For example, let’s say you are giving the eulogy for your late mother. As your theme, you decide to talk about your mother’s ability to make a home wherever she hung her hat.
How do you keep calm?
It doesn’t sound easy, but you can do it. If you’re worried about choking up or breaking down in the middle of your eulogy, you can take a moment to compose yourself, then carry on. This is perfectly acceptable. If you’re afraid you might break down while in the middle of the eulogy and find yourself unable to recover, ask someone ahead of time to be ready to take over at a signal from you. Give them a copy of your eulogy. Just knowing you have a backup speaker will probably be all you need to stay calm.
Finalizing Your Eulogy
After you’re satisfied with your first draft, have another person or two including a non-relative read and critique your eulogy. You may get some good feedback on areas you may not have considered.
Then practice speaking the eulogy if you’re going to make the address at the funeral service. It can help you to maybe re-organize the eulogy and to learn areas you may want to stress during the reading. If you think you’ll be too emotionally overcome, select someone who is good at public speaking.
Find inspiration in things that rekindle old memories, stories, or feelings about your loved one. You can flip through old photo albums, watch old home videos, or look at scrapbooks. Ask friends and family members for their stories and fond memories.
Decide your tone. It can be sad, serious, thoughtful, or humorous. You are best positioned to judge which is suitable for the occasion.
Consider a Theme
When I wrote my mother’s eulogy, it began as an ad-hoc report of what my mother’s guidance and parenting meant to me and my sisters. But eventually I settled on the theme of breaking the cycle of poverty and I’ll explain the reason.
Mom lived in dire poverty as a young girl in Jamaica and later as a teen in Belize where I was born. After my father’s untimely death she left us with relatives and came to America. She then re-married and began a career as a Dental Assistant.
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