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A eulogy is a speech delivered at a funeral that’s meant to pay tribute to the deceased. If you have been tasked with writing one, you may be wondering how to begin and if there is a right way to honor your loved one. Below are a few tips.

How to Write a Eulogy

1. Speak With Close Family & Friends

Even if you have your own ideas and memories that you want to share at the funeral, speak with close family and friends to gather more. They can share stories from times you weren’t around for or an anecdote that effectively sums up who they were as a person. Family can also help you remember important details, especially if you’re overwhelmed and feeling stressed during such a difficult time.

2. Give the Basics

Make sure to include basic details about your loved one such as their full name, nicknames, where they grew up, if they were in the military, and who their spouse or children are. Include major milestones like special awards or achievements, and share some of their favorite hobbies and skills.

3. Use Photos

funeralBrowse old photos to inspire personal stories about the person you’re writing about. Photos can job your memory, reminding you of special times you may have forgotten. Pictures of the person can also help you build an order for your eulogy so you can organize your speech.

4. Create a Chronology

Organize your eulogy so it has a clear beginning, middle, and ending. You can approach it chronologically, starting with the deceased’s birth and childhood and moving forward. If you don’t want to give a historical timeline, you can still use this approach to organize your stories and anecdotes.

5. Keep It Concise

Stick to about 500 to 1000 words, which should be about three to five minutes when spoken aloud. Try not to go too far over five minutes and limit it to 10 minutes, at most. While you want to make sure your speech honors your loved one perfectly, you don’t want to take away from the rest of the services by speaking too long. Some locations will also only allow a certain amount of time so that the rest of the funeral proceedings stay on track.

 

If you have recently suffered a loss E.C. Nurre Funeral Homes is here for you. Compassionately serving Amelia, New Richmond, and Bethel, OH families since 1870, the funeral home has offers personalized funeral services to those grieving a loved one. In addition, they’ll assist with cremation and burial services, as well as pre-planning for future services. To speak with a caring representative, call (513) 753-6130. Visit them online for more on their grief support services.

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