Craft Heartfelt Eulogies

A well-structured eulogy typically includes an introduction explaining your relationship to the deceased, personal stories and memories, their character traits and achievements, the impact they had on others, and a meaningful conclusion. Including personal anecdotes makes your eulogy more authentic and helps celebrate the unique qualities of your loved one.

Most eulogies are between 3-10 minutes when delivered, which is approximately 500-1,000 written words. A 5-minute eulogy (around 650 words) is often ideal as it provides enough time to share meaningful memories without being too lengthy. Consider the overall funeral service timing and whether there will be multiple speakers when determining the length.

It's completely natural to become emotional while delivering a eulogy. Take deep breaths before speaking, practice your eulogy several times beforehand, bring water with you, include planned pauses in your speech, and remember that showing emotion is appropriate and expected. Having a backup person ready to take over if needed can also help ease anxiety.

Yes, tasteful humor can be appropriate and even healing in a eulogy, especially if the deceased had a good sense of humor. Funny anecdotes or stories that highlight their personality can bring comfort and smiles amid the grief. However, ensure the humor is respectful, appropriate for all audience members, and truly reflects the person being remembered.

Focus on objective positive qualities, acknowledge their relationships with others who loved them, highlight their achievements, and find common ground in shared experiences. It's important to remain respectful while being truthful. If the relationship was particularly difficult, consider declining the opportunity to speak or enlisting help from someone who had a different perspective.

Our eulogy examples are designed to inspire and guide you, but ideally, you should personalize them with specific details, memories, and reflections about your loved one. You can certainly use phrases or structures from our examples, but adding your unique perspective and memories will create a more meaningful and authentic tribute.

No, there's no expectation to memorize your eulogy. In fact, having a written copy or note cards is recommended as emotions can make it difficult to recall memorized content. Reading directly is perfectly acceptable, though practicing beforehand will help you make occasional eye contact and deliver with more natural pacing and emphasis.

The tone should reflect both the personality of the deceased and the nature of your relationship. Common tones include reverent, celebratory, reflective, or a balance of these. While acknowledging the sadness of loss is natural, most eulogies aim to celebrate the person's life rather than dwelling solely on grief. Consider what would have resonated with the person you're honoring.