Practical Tips for Giving a Great Eulogy – One That Honours Your Loved One and Leaves People Glad to Have Heard You Speak

Whilst giving a fitting eulogy is about more than just a few tips, there are certain pointers which I have gleaned from my professional experience of over 100 funerals, and which can make a huge difference.

Three top tips for writing and delivering the eulogy are…

1. Speak from your heart. Allow emotion to come through, and don’t be afraid of getting emotional while you are delivering the eulogy. By being this way not only will your words ring real and true for everyone listening, but you will be helping them to connect with their own grief, and thus facilitating their process of healing.
2. There IS room for humour and laughter. People want to remember the good times, the love and the laughter. So telling stories which put a smile on their faces, and show the character of the person they knew and loved, is a very positive thing. And it is also healing – the saying “laughter is the best medicine” does not come from nowhere.
3. Don’t try and give the “perfect” eulogy – there is no such thing. In fact, recognise that whatever eulogy you give will be perfect, because it will be a reflection of your thoughts and feelings, and the thoughts and feelings of others if you have included these. So there are a thousand different eulogies you could give, and any one of them will be just right.

Plus, here are some practical tips for the day itself…

• Be clear on the times for leaving here and getting to the funeral.
• Take time for yourself to reflect/pray/get centered, and get present to the huge difference you are making today.
• Do a final run-through out loud, and/or close your eyes and visualise the whole thing going really well.
• Take two copies of your eulogy/notes, just in case.
• Take a small bottle of water and a handkerchief/tissues up with you when you speak.
• You may like to have a back-up person in place – this is someone who is prepared to read the eulogy on your behalf should you be too emotional. In my experience you will almost certainly NOT need to use this person, but having them in place can be a reassuring safety net.
• When speaking, remember to pause and breathe. You can even write B R E A T H E in large red letters across the top of each page if you feel you need reminding.

Finally, I acknowledge you for your commitment and love. Please know that you giving this eulogy will have a positive ripple effect far beyond what you will ever imagine. Really.

For a simple, 6-step guide to delivering the perfect eulogy, download my to-the-point handbook, How to Write and Deliver a Great Eulogy in 6 Simple Steps, complete with example eulogies, poems, quotations and public speaking tips. It comes with a 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee and you can see more here.

To buy the guide straight away, click here.