Giving a Eulogy

Giving eulogies at funerals at funeral homes in Camillus, NY is an honor that is often bestowed on close friends or family members of someone who has died. The deceased’s family believes that you are able to capture the spirit and the character of their loved one in a way that no one else can.

But giving a eulogy can be difficult because you are surrounded by emotion and you yourself are emotional at the loss of a friend or a family member. One of the biggest fears you may have is that you will not be able to get through the eulogy without breaking down or you may not be able to get through it all.

You need to know, first of all, that it’s okay to get emotional when you’re giving a eulogy. It doesn’t need to derail you from honoring your friend or family member because the focus is on them, not on you.

What should you say during a eulogy? How do you organize a eulogy? Should you write your eulogy down? Do you need to practice giving your eulogy before the funeral or should you just wing it?

Eulogies are meant to describe the character and the legacy of someone who has died. You don’t need to rehash your friend’s or family member’s whole life. Instead, focus on what made them special to you and others. Character traits like kindness, generosity, integrity, love, and gentleness can be highlighted with personal stories from your experience and that other people who knew the deceased have told you.

Organizing a eulogy is just like organizing anything else. Group stories about each character trait together, making sure they flow together either chronologically or thematically (work, family, community, etc.). People remember best what they hear last, so make sure the most memorable character trait that you want to the mourners to know about your deceased friend or family member is the last one in your eulogy.

Most of us have a good idea of what we want to say until we’re actually standing in front of a group of people. Then, it’s as though a switch gets flipped and our minds go blank. Because of this, you should write your eulogy down.

Write all of it down. You may think that you can just list points you want to cover and you’ll remember what you want to say about each one. While you may remember some, you may not remember others.

If you type it, be sure that the font size is large enough for you to be able to see it easily. Make sure you have adequate spacing between sentences and paragraphs so it’s easy to keep your place and so that the eulogy flows smoothly as you give it. You don’t want to lose your place or be straining to see words when you are honoring the life of someone you care deeply about.

Unless you are a professional public speaker, it’s not a good idea to wing giving a eulogy. Instead, practice giving it several times in front of a mirror. Watch for any gestures that may be distracting to the mourners. Listen for places where you may get emotional or where you stumble for words (if you stumble for words, you might want to rewrite that sentence).

After you’ve practiced your eulogy a few times alone, ask your family members or a few close friends to be your audience so you can present the eulogy to them. Ask them for feedback and suggestions.

Once you’ve incorporated that, you’ll be prepared to pay tribute to your friend or family member in a way that shows them honor and respect.

For more information about giving eulogies at funeral homes in Camillus, NY, our compassionate and experienced team at Bagozzi Twins Funeral Home, Inc. is here to help you.