Writing Bills Eulogy Was Difficult
I was asked to write the eulogy for Bill (good friend of mine) who died from a premature heart attack. I talked to Bill's family and friends to collect stories and memories, then I sat down Friday to write the eulogy, the funeral was scheduled for Sunday afternoon so I thought I had lots of time. Well after a couple hours of trying I was stumped... who would have though writing a eulogy could be such a difficult thing :)
I wanted to say the right things, not offend anyone, or miss anything important, I wanted it to be light yet respectful and most importantly I wanted it to be something that people would remember Bill by.
So I tried again Saturday morning but things just weren't flowing right. I decided to started looking online for some help. After visiting many websites I finally came across a website that had a very practical eulogy guide. What I liked about was the six-step plan and the "fill-in-the-gaps" templates it contained. I my eulogy stared from scratch and was able to finish in only a couple hours.
Well the funeral came and I gave the eulogy. I couldn't believe the number of people who came up to me afterwards thanking me and telling me what a great job I did and how the eulogy really captured Bills personality. So if anyone feels stuck or is unsure about how to write a eulogy then I recommend this guide to them. From what I remember it contained specific guides for writing eulogies for a friend, co-worker, mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, uncle, aunt, grand father and grand mother.
How to Write a Eulogy Worth Remembering
Writing a eulogy can be difficult and emotionally draining, especially if you were close to the person that has passed. It's never an easy thing trying to find the right words to say and how to say them, and expressing (or not expressing) the emotions you are feeling. Trying to find the words to sum up the point and the quality of a person's life and give an impression of who they were can be a tough thing to undertake. But there are some things you can do to help make it easier on yourself. Let It Flow... The Tears, That Is...
First of all, don't fight the emotions that you're feeling when writing your eulogy. Of course you're sad, and few people would honestly expect you to feel otherwise. It isn't easy to lose a loved one. Even though you're upset over the loss, think of the way that your loved one would have wanted to be remembered, and use that tone in your eulogy. Would they want people to be happy that they have moved on, to have their life celebrated? In that case, try to bring some lightness into your eulogy; tell the joke they always used to tell, or recite a line from their favorite movie. Be Organized
A good eulogy always requires some form of organization. A eulogy is a semi-formal speech, so getting up at the podium and rambling is not really a great option. If you want to talk about their lives, have a point. Work up to reaching your point and clearly state it but remember that you don't have to give every last detail. The people who were involved in the special moments can remember the small details, your eulogy should just highlight the best moments. Take and Use Notes
Nobody said you had to memorize your eulogy. Keep in mind that, at the funeral, chances are you will be overwhelmed with emotion along with everyone else, and that can make it difficult to remember even the most carefully memorized sentences. Use notes, and make them easy to see with dark print in a large enough type. Many people hate to stand in front of people with notes, but trust and believe that the people at a funeral will understand why they are necessary. Keep it Positive
Even if you think the person who passed wasn't always the nicest, or that they were really grumpy in the morning, that isn't something you want to say at a funeral even if it is common knowledge. A funeral is a time for people to remember someone lovingly.New Text / Write module
by SteveC
Hello my name is Steven Clarke and I know first hand how difficult it can be to write a eulogy.
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