Eulogy Writing
Creating a Meaningful Eulogy: A Guide for Families
Writing a eulogy for a loved one can feel overwhelming during your time of grief. At Simply Beautiful Funerals, we understand that crafting the perfect tribute to honour someone’s life is both deeply personal and emotionally challenging. This comprehensive guide provides practical steps and thoughtful prompts to help you create a heartfelt eulogy that truly celebrates your loved one’s unique life story.
Why Eulogies Matter in Funeral Services
A well-crafted eulogy serves as more than just a speech – it’s a celebration of life that brings comfort to grieving families and friends. Whether you’re planning a traditional funeral service, a celebration of life ceremony, or an intimate memorial gathering, a personal eulogy helps mourners process their grief while honouring cherished memories.
Professional Eulogy Support Services
Our experienced funeral directors often assist families who feel uncertain about writing or delivering a eulogy. We can:
– Provide additional writing prompts and templates
– Connect you with professional eulogy writers if needed
– Offer guidance on eulogy length and structure for your specific service
– Help coordinate multiple speakers for longer services
– Provide technical support for incorporating photos or music into your tribute
Some Thoughts To Include In A Eulogy
These headings are simply a guide to help you organise your thoughts. If you don’t know any aspect about the life you are writing about, don’t worry it doesn’t detract from the eulogy.
Birth
- Name, nicknames
- Date
- Location
Family
- Parents
- Siblings
- Other significant family members
Marriage(s) or significant relationships
- How where and when did the couple meet?
- Date of wedding
- Honeymoon?
Children
- Names
- dates of birth and places
- Anecdotes of being a parent
Characteristics
- Happy, easy going
- Worrier
- Loving, affectionate, friendly
- Generous, considerate, thoughtful
- Private, non talkative
Hobbies and Interests
- Arts and crafts
- Music
- Mechanical or building handyman
- Community involvement
- Fishing/sport
- Gardening
Holidays
- Annual family holidays
- House
- Caravan
- Camping
- Travel in Australia/ Overseas
Life as a child
- School experiences
- Schools attended
- Liked/disliked things about school
- Sports or school activities
- Activities
- Guides/scouts
- Sport outside of school
- Amusing anecdotes
- Tertiary studies
Work Experiences
- Age left school
- First job
- With which company
- Doing what duties
- Happy?
- Subsequent jobs
- Companies
- Duties
Other:
- Pets
- Grandchildren
- Names
- ages
- Grandparent name?
- Books
- Movies
- Television
End of Life
- Onset of illness(es)
- Diagnosis
- Place and time of death
- Surrounded by family or alone
Tips for Delivering Your Eulogy
Preparation and Practice:
– Write your eulogy in advance and practice reading it aloud
– Keep a printed copy during the service in case emotions overwhelm you
– Ask our funeral director about microphone and sound system setup
– Consider asking a family member to be prepared to step in if needed
Managing Emotions During Delivery:
– It’s completely normal to become emotional while speaking
– Take your time, pause when needed, and remember that mourners understand
– Focus on celebrating your loved one’s life rather than the sadness of their passing
– Keep tissues nearby and don’t feel pressured to rush through difficult moments
Alternative Options:
If delivering a eulogy feels too challenging, consider these alternatives:
– Ask another family member or close friend to read your written tribute
– Record a video message to be played during the service
– Create a written memorial to be included in the order of service
– Share multiple shorter memories among several family members
Our compassionate team at Simply Beautiful Funerals can help you explore these options and ensure your tribute becomes a meaningful part of your loved one’s funeral service.