5 Tips for Writing a Great Eulogy

If you have recently had a death in the family and are interested in volunteering to deliver the eulogy, you would be forgiven for wondering what goes into writing a great one. Whether it’s at the funeral service held at a funeral home in Parkersburg, WV or at a memorial service held someplace else, a eulogy is an important part of the occasion. 

So that you have a good idea of how to craft a great eulogy, here are 5 tips for writing something that will honor the memory of the deceased.

1. >Think Happy Thoughts

While a funeral or memorial will bring together people who are all over the grief and mourning spectrum, that doesn’t mean that the eulogy can’t be upbeat. So focus on telling positive stories about the deceased. These stories should highlight what made them the great friend, relative, and co-worker that they were. And don’t rely solely on your own memories. Other family members and others who knew the deceased will have memories to share, too. Use as many of these memories as you can to explain how wonderful a person the deceased was and how much they will be missed. While you don’t have to avoid all of the more painful stuff, try to limit them or to put a positive spin on them if this can be done honestly and authentically.

2. Get Critiques

After you’ve written the eulogy to the best of your ability, get someone to critique it for you. Other people may find things to correct that you hadn’t noticed. They may also help to fill in any gaps in your recollections or recommend other things to include. So, by all means, get feedback from at least one other person.

3. >Practice

Writing and editing are important, but so is practicing the eulogy out loud. Whether you do it in front of a mirror or in front of a live audience of one or more people, you want to practice delivering the eulogy so that you can nail it when the time comes to do it for real. Practicing out loud will also help you to figure out how long it’ll take to give the eulogy. You don’t want it to drag on forever. Going over it will help you to know whether to add or to subtract from it. 

4. >Connect

When delivering the eulogy, make a connection with the people there. This means speaking from the heart, making eye contact, and communicating at a comfortable pace. You’ll be in the company of friends and family, so that should take away a lot of the jitters.

5. >Conclude on a High Note

When you come to the end of the eulogy, be sure to end on a high note. You don’t want to end on something negative or sad. You want to conclude with something inspiring and encouraging.

At Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home & Crematorium, we understand the importance of preparing a great eulogy to honor the memory of your deceased loved one. We also know that it’s critical to set up a funeral or cremation at a Parkersburg, WV funeral home when there’s a death in the family. Call us at (304) 342-8135 or visit us at 1118 Virginia St E Charleston, WV 25301 for the assistance you need in your time of need.