What to say

Eulogies & Obituaries

Delivering a meaningful eulogy or writing an obituary can be daunting, even for seasoned speakers. We understand the challenge and have gathered resources to help guide you through the process.

Eulogies

Delivering a meaningful eulogy can be nerve-wracking, even for seasoned speakers, but it doesn’t have to be. Summarizing someone’s life in a few minutes, balancing somberness and humor, can be challenging. However, writing and delivering a eulogy is therapeutic and an honor. Here are some tips to help you craft and present an eloquent and memorable eulogy.

Gather information.

Talk with family members, close friends and co-workers to get important information on the deceased. Some important information to include in the eulogy is the person's family and other close relationships, their education/career, hobbies or special interests, places the person lived or traveled to, and any special accomplishments they had.

Organize your thoughts.

Jot down your ideas by whatever means are most comfortable and familiar to you. Create an outline of your speech, and fill in the information that you gathered about the person.

Write it down.

This is not a toast at a wedding where you can make off the cuff remarks, and you should not ad lib a eulogy. Writing it all down allows you to include and remember every detail you wanted in your eulogy. When you bring a copy of your eulogy to the podium, make sure it is easy to read. Print it out in a large font or, if it is hand-written, leave a few spaces between the lines. Keep in mind the length of your eulogy; it’s best to keep things on the short side, especially if there are other speakers.

Review and Revise.

Your first draft will not be your last. When you think you are done, sleep on it, and look it over in the morning when your mind is fresh again. That will be the time to make any necessary revisions.

Practice, Practice, Practice.

Read over your eulogy several times in order to become familiar with it. Practice in front of a mirror, read it to your friends or family, and have them give you feedback. Become familiar with your speech so you can recite it without making it look like you’re reading from a script. The more practice you have, the more comfortable you will be.

Make them laugh, but be respectful.

When delivering a eulogy, it's important to remember that a funeral is a solemn occasion. Nevertheless, it's okay to include some humor in your speech. Share a light-hearted story about the person that everyone can relate to. Just make sure the humor is appropriate, as there will be children and elderly individuals present who may have different sensibilities. Laughter can be comforting and can help people cope with their grief, so a well-placed, gentle humor can bring back heartwarming memories of the person who has passed away.

Don’t be afraid to show emotion.

Funerals are highly emotional occasions, and it's natural to shed some tears. If you feel that your emotions may overwhelm you, consider having someone you trust deliver the eulogy for you. Give them a copy well in advance if you think this may be necessary.

Have a glass of water as well as tissues handy.

Writing an Obituary

Writing an obituary is a challenging and emotional task. Start by gathering information from family and friends about the deceased's childhood, education, career, hobbies, and interests. Also, speak to the funeral home for details on the date, time, and location of funeral services or related events. Using the template below will help streamline the process, ensuring a well-structured obituary.

Instructions: Replace all items CAPITALIZED below with the appropriate information.

[GIVEN NAME] [MIDDLE NAME (AND NICKNAME)] [SURNAME NAME], [AGE], of [CITY], [STATE], passed away on [DATE OF DEATH] in [LOCATION OF DEATH].

Funeral service will be held at [LOCATION] on [DATE] at [TIME] with Reverend [NAME] of [CHURCH] officiating. Burial will follow at [CEMETERY NAME], [CEMETERY LOCATION]. Visitation will be held at [LOCATION] on [DATE] at [TIME]. [NAME OF FUNERAL HOME] will be handling the funeral arrangements.

[NAME] was born in [LOCATION OF BIRTH] to [PARENT’S NAMES] on [DATE OF BIRTH]. He/she went to high school at [SCHOOL NAME] and graduated in [YEAR]. He/she went on to earn a degree/certificate in [DEGREE TYPE] from [SCHOOL NAME]. He/she worked as a [JOB TYPE] for [COMPANY] for [NUMBER OF YEARS]. He/she enjoyed [ACTIVITIES/HOBBIES]. He/she received [AWARDS/HONORS] and was involved in [CHARITIES/ORGANIZATIONS].

[NAME] is survived by his/her [RELATION], [NAME] of [CITY]. (List all survivors: spouse children, siblings, parents, grandchildren, nieces and nephews). He/she is preceded in death by his/her [RELATION], [NAME]. (List predeceased: spouse, parents, children and siblings.)

Memorial donations may be made to [ORGANIZATION NAME], [MAILING ADDRESS]. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to [ORGANIZATION/NAME] [FINAL WORDS].

Remember most newspapers charge by the word. This template is good for getting the all of the information necessary included in as few words possible. However, this template is not written in stone. You can make any adjustments you may feel necessary.