Your Go-To Guide in Writing a Eulogy for a Loved One

Posted on: Dec 15, 2019 Publish By: funerallink

It’s never easy to say goodbye to a loved one. Words cannot express the grief and the loneliness one experiences when a beloved soul needs to leave this world. Eulogies are considered an essential part of letting go and honouring the soul of a departed.

Some are given the privilege to speak, and this is a chance to express one’s feelings healthily and appropriately. If you were tasked to speak and provide a eulogy for a loved one, you might be overwhelmed and nervous about how you’re going to approach such humongous responsibility. In this regard, we compiled a step-by-step guide that will get you through.

Brainstorming and Organizing Ideas for the Eulogy

For starters, you’re going to need a trusty pen and paper for you to scribble down ideas for the eulogy. It is also essential to take note of the deceased biographical information like date of birth, relatives, characteristics and personality. You can also talk to his or her family and friends for their insights and contributions. More or less, this step will determine the central theme for the eulogy. It can be the persistent nature of the person, his infectious laughter or his charitable goodness and deeds.

After deciding on a central theme, organize your talking points to have a logical and understandable flow. For example, you can follow the timeline of the deceased person’s and the events to which his goodness shined. Then, choose the tone of the eulogy’s delivery. Do you inject a humorous personality? Or would you go for a serious tone?

Writing the Eulogy’s Introduction

When writing the eulogy’s introduction, limit it to two paragraphs with three sentences each. Inside, acknowledge everyone that attended the funeral and thank them for their presence. You can also mention family members who can’t participate in the funeral but is with you in thoughts and prayers.

After writing that portion, talk to everyone about the biography of the deceased. In this segment, you can mention his whereabouts, his family, parents, spouse, children, and anyone that is known to have a close relationship with the departed, such as his childhood best friend or college buddy.

Share Stories, Memories, and Qualities of the Departed

The best eulogies always serve to commemorate the deceased’s memories and moments with everyone and anyone they touched lives with. In this section of the eulogy, share moments that you shared with the deceased. Tell everyone how he liked his pancakes burnt. Or, you can talk about the time when he always adored people with the same heart like him.

Be wary in sharing funny anecdotes as it needs to be delivered in a light-hearted portion of the eulogy. Also, there are stories that you cannot tell out loud as it can be embarrassing for particular family members, so you should always ask for everyone’s two cents regarding a family story.

Final Words with Comfort and Goodbye

Last but not least, share the lessons you’ve learned or how the deceased became a significant part of your life. You can talk about the values that they imparted, the lessons in the moments that you shared and how lucky you have been able to be a part of the departed’s life. Close the eulogy with a loving goodbye to the deceased.

Final Thoughts

It is crucial to proofread your eulogy before speaking at a funeral. Double-check the information you have and ask for a family member or friend’s help regarding the tone and the message of the eulogy.

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