How to write a eulogy

The word eulogy comes from the Greek word eulogia, which means ‘praise’ or ‘thanks’. A eulogy is a written or spoken speech given in honour of a deceased person. While there are no strict rules for writing an effective eulogy, here are a few things you may wish to include:

 

1.  Birth details: date and place of birth, parents and siblings.

2.  Growing up years: schooling, favourite hobbies as a child, sports, pets, childhood moments

3.  Employment: occupations, accomplishments, awards, values

4.  Marriage/partner: how the couple met, if applicable, when and where they were married

5.  Memorable family moments or achievements in the local community

6.  Details of children, their spouses, and grandchildren, etc

7.  A ‘life lesson’ or key idea that sums up the person: “Mum was all about love.” “Dad showed us what it looks like never to give up.” "Family was everything to her."

8.  Values, favourite sayings, character qualities, religious faith and practices

9.  Favourite adult pastimes and hobbies

 

It’s impossible to sum up a person’s life in one eulogy, and there will be many things you cannot include (or even remember during your time of sadness). But using some or all of the points above – where applicable – can give everyone a better appreciation of the person’s life and how much they meant to you.

Here are some other things to remember when preparing a eulogy:

  • Before you start writing the eulogy, find out how long you have to speak. The average person speaks with more than 100 words per minute. If you have around 5 minutes to speak, try aiming for 450-550 words.

  • If you have trouble thinking of things to write, it might be a good idea to get ideas from people who knew the deceased. They might remember stories or milestones that might inspire you to know what to write.

  • When writing the eulogy, try to give it a little bit of structure. It might help to share reflections on the person's life following the flow of their life, from their childhood to later years. Alternatively, you can group your reflections together under themes, such as "work", "family", "hobbies", "values". Some kind of structure to the eulogy may help people understand and appreciate it better.

  • If there is a lot of material to share in the eulogy, it might help to share the speaking duties with another family member or members. This shares the task, and will allow more family members to speak. It might also help to send the eulogy to someone else to read through.

  • Once you have a first draft, practice it a few times, checking for how it 'flows', and for how long it takes to say. The more you practice the eulogy, the more you'll feel confident to say it on the day of the service.

  • Don't forget to bring at least one printed copy of the eulogy with you on the day! Printing a few copies with large, easy-to-read letters will ensure you don't have to strain your eyes to read your notes.

  • When it comes time to deliver the eulogy, remember to breathe! You are doing a good thing by delivering the eulogy. Breathe deeply, relax your shoulders, and take a sip of water. When you stand up in front of everyone (bringing your notes with you), take your time, introduce yourself, and go for it. You can do this! 


If you'd like to talk to someone about arranging a funeral, please contact Evermore Funerals on 07 3544 6880, or visit our website for more information: https://www.evermorefunerals.com.au/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Evermore Funerals: here for good

Welcome to the blog of Evermore Funerals! Our goal can be stated simply: we want to provide caring, affordable funeral services to the people of Brisbane and beyond. Started by three Brisbane locals, we want to provide high quality help to people during their time of loss, and we think that kind of help shouldn't cost the earth. We have assembled an experienced team of funeral professionals, who are ready to assist you when you need it most. We are 100% Queensland owned and operated, and service all suburbs of Brisbane and surrounding areas like Ipswich, Samford, the Sunshine Coast, Redcliffe, Beaudesert, and the Gold Coast. With the cost of living rising, and service providers continually raising their prices, we know it's getting harder to make ends meet. That's why we're committed to providing you with the quality care you need, without the enormous price tag. Whether it's a no-service cremation, cremation service, burial or memorial service, we'd love a cha...
Read more

What if I'm overseas when my loved one passes?

  It happens. Sometimes you're on a lovely holiday to Europe or the USA, and you get a message from a family member telling you that someone you love has died. The mood of the holiday can totally change, even if you're only on an interstate holiday here in Australia. Not only are you dealing with the loss of someone close to you, but there can be a real feeling that you have to rush back home to organise or attend the funeral. And yet, it is possible to take some of the stress out of such a difficult situation. If you're on holiday and you suddenly need to arrange a funeral, please get in touch with us any time and we can walk you through your options. It may be the case that you don't need to wrap up your holiday early. Evermore Funerals can be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through many means: International Calls: +61 7 3544 6880 Calls within Australia: 07 3544 6880 Email us at: admin@evermorefunerals.com.au Find us on Facebook and message us: https://www.fac...
Read more

How do I obtain a QLD Death Certificate?

  What is a "Death Certificate"? A Death Certificate is a formal document issued by the Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages . It certifies that a person's death has been formally registered with the state government. A Death Certificate will contain a range of essential details about the deceased, including: personal details including date and place of birth other family information, including names of children and marriages (where applicable) a summary of the causes of death Why do people request a Death Certificate? A Death Certificate is usually required to finalise estate matters, such as acquiring superannuation funds, claiming life insurance, and closing various accounts. Some families also like to keep a copy of the Death Certificate for their family records. A family can also request extra original copies of the Death Certificate in the future if needed. Who applies for a Death Certificate? The funeral director is usually responsible for registerin...
Read more