Losing a loved one is an incredibly challenging experience. Being overwhelmed with grief makes it difficult to approach the planning process of a funeral. This sentiment is particularly true when attempting to find the right words to honor your loved one in a eulogy. If you're struggling with the writing process, follow these tips to create a moving presentation.

How to Write a Heartfelt Funeral Eulogy

1. Make It Personal

Unlike an obituary, you don't need to focus on specific life details, such as birth, marriage, and death. Instead, you want to showcase their personality and what set them apart. While you can highlight career and academic achievements — as well as hobbies, only use them as a jumping-off point to expand with stories that give insight into their life and what mattered to them. Regardless of what points you choose to include, it's important to maintain a positive tone. 

2. Seek Input From Loved Ones

Using your own experiences and relationship with your loved one helps create a solid foundation for the eulogy. Yet, it can be limiting only relying on one perspective. Since the speech represents the family and not just the speaker, ask friends and relatives to share some of their favorite memories of the deceased. Include a few of these anecdotes in your talking points at the funeral to ensure you're presenting a well-rounded view of your loved one.

3. Make It Conversational

Traditional speech writing can come across stuffy, so instead, write the eulogy as if you were talking with a friend or family member. This approach provides a more meaningful, heartfelt presentation, even if you're reading directly from the page. To ensure that the speech translates conversationally, practice out loud during the editing process. You can even record it and play it back so that you know which sentence structure and phrasing seems the most natural. 

Leesman Funeral Home has helped families across the Greater St. Louis area honor their loved ones for over 80 years. Located in St. Clair County, IL, the locally owned and operated funeral home provides compassionate assistance and a healing experience. Learn more about their funeral, burial, and cremation services online and direct any questions to a friendly staff member at (618) 286-4511.