A eulogy is not an easy thing to deliver, and examples of eulogies might make your task a little
easier. It involves speaking before a group of people about the person who has died. This can be
quite a daunting task, since if you are the person presenting the eulogy, chances are you're
emotionally affected by the death of the person, as well as having to cope with writing and
presenting the eulogy. Examples of eulogies may be just the helping hand you need.
Step one here right now is DONT PANIC. Yes it's easy for someone else to sit back and say that, but
since you have to do this anyway - the best thing for you to do (since you may not be thinking
clearly at this point) is to take a deep breath, and follow guidelines which will show you step by
step how to write a great eulogy you will be proud of. So lets get started.
It is a responsibility you have been given, so you know you need to do this right - no matter how
impossible it seems at the moment. You know you can't just copy examples of eulogies with a word
changed here and there - you want this to be just right, so the person deceased would be proud of
you. Every word you say will go home with everyone listening to you, so you want it to be
personal.
The time required to prepare a eulogy and deliver it will vary from one person to the next. However
as a general rule, it might take you hours and hours to research if necessary, depending on how well
you knew the person, and how much more information you want or need from others.
You may need to seek information from others about the following:
1. Other family member's memories
2. Memories and stories from friends
3. Stories from co-workers or employers
4. Memories and stories from neighbours
5. Stories from other associates
Don't be surprised if this part of the process provides some comfort - finding out things about your
loved one that until now you had no idea about.
It's important at this point, not to just give in and copy something you find in examples of
eulogies and change the name. You can find enough skill by folowing along the steps outlined to
write and read a eulogy to be proud of. This is both respectful for the deceased and for the others
listening.
The skill needed to do this is not as difficult as it seems at this very moment. Just try, and you
will be amazed at what you can do. Just concentrate on one step at a time - let's go.
Following your research stage, grab either paper and pen, or your keyboard, and head off on the next
step. You're going well. This is where you need to make notes (point form only) about what you are
going to say. No sentences - just things like a name, a city, an era (eg childhood),
awards/accomplishments, more memories etc. Keep in mind - at this point only points - no long
sentences.
Ok - you are doing really well to have progressed this far. It should be a good feeling to be doing
this the right way and not stealing someone else's ideas from examples of eulogies. Well done. Now
lets press on. The next thing to do is to simply take the list of points you have made, and put them
into some sort of timeline order eg childhood events before adult events etc.
Nearly there - keep going. The next thing to do is to expand on the points you have made. It does
not have to be spectacular writing, just in your own words, and just what you need to say to explain
the point or the story. You should read the sentences out loud as you write - pretend your cupboard
is a person, and read it out loud to your cupboard. If it just didn't sound right, say it again the
right sounding way, and rewrite your sentence.
Sentence after sentence, it will all start flowing easily. When you have completed all of the
sentences and covered all of the points you have made, return to the start and read it out again.
You may discover one or two more changes. Don't worry at this point that you do not have an
introduction or conclusion yet.
The introduction is the next thing to tackle. You could mention some of the things you will miss
about the person, incorporating a short story or memory, comment or statement using the person's
name.
The final thing to add is the conclusion. You could include in this a blessing, a prayer, a nice
poem, and other final thoughts you'd like share.
Then all that is left is to read the entire thing back to make sure it sounds like you want it to. A
good idea is to either read it to someone else and ask them to help you with anything that doesn't
sound right, or get a tape recorder and record you reading it, and play it back. Then you can listen
for yourself. Congratulations on making it to this point - you know you have done a good job no
matter what you have written, simply because it is personal and came from you, and you didn't take
the easy way out and copy examples of eulogies.
This is an opportunity for you that you will never get back again, so as a few last comments,
remember grammer is not important, but your personalized message is. Express the feelings you have
and don't be afraid of emotion. You are there for these reasons, as a tribute to the person and
their life.
