When someone you care about passes away, you may be tasked with writing a eulogy for their funeral service. Eulogies should memorialize the deceased and celebrate their legacy with those who loved them most. If you need assistance with the writing process, here are a few guidelines to follow.

How to Write a Eulogy

1. Ask for Help

While you may have your own special moments with and stories about your loved one, speaking with other family and friends can give you even more information about them. Ask those closest to the deceased to share their fondest memories. Explore their hobbies, likes, dislikes, and more from people who knew them at different points in their life.

2. Focus Your Theme

You don’t want the eulogy to be unorganized or filled with so many different ideas and concepts that it becomes overcomplicated. Think about your loved one and decide on a theme that suits their lifestyle and perspective. Select anecdotes and information that help create a coherent flow. Also, account for the personality of your loved one and ensure your plans match what they would have liked.

3. Outline Ideas

Once you have your information and a theme, make an outline to organize your thoughts. Start with a sentence that sums up your loved one and the theme. It can be a quote, a song lyric, a line from scripture, or something wholly unique. From there, you can begin a chronology of their life or the memories you wish to share, or reverse it and begin with an event that happened recently.

4. Begin Writing

Follow your outline and start filling in details. This is your chance to flesh out stories, memories, and characteristics of the deceased. You may need to change the order and rearrange since some details may flow better near others. Once you complete a draft, read it out loud to catch any mistakes or fluidity concerns; edit as necessary. This also helps you practice saying the words for the actual funeral service.

5. Look for Feedback

After editing the first draft, ask those closest to you and to the deceased for feedback. Let them read it, or deliver it as you would during the funeral service. If your audience has helpful tips or corrections, add them in and edit once again.

For funeral arrangements and help with planning, contact Donald Jordan Memorial Chapel in Dayton, Middletown, and Hamilton, OH. The establishment offers affordable, compassionate funeral services, whether a loved one has recently passed or if you’re interested in preplanning a memorial. They also provide cremation services, caskets, and urns. To speak with a helpful staff member, call (937) 610-1900. Visit them online to explore everything they offer.